Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1849-03-07
Rait1soads--Their advantages.

A&nsohuss.Inelr advantages
We commend the following facts from a
speech delivered at Cobasset, Mass. by P.
p. F., Degrand, on the lst ult. On the
opening OF the South Shore Rail Road, 10
such as have any doubts as 10 the adsanta.
ges of such roads passing through country:
III we take into view the actual wealth
created by the existence OF d Rad road, it /
will be found that the actual cost Of u road
Gas to the whole community is less than
nothing. Take for instance the above
named road. The actual rise Of land on
its borders, caused by the making Of it. call
not be valued on an average at less than
800 an acre, for strip 2 miles WIDE on
each side Of it. A square mile contains
$40 acres; which gives 1850 acres for ev-
cry mile of The road, taking strip miles
wide on each side Of it. The rise OF S5O
per acre on 1850 acres gives an additional
value to the lands of $l2S. 600 for every
mile OF the road. Each mile Of the road,
therefore, creates wealth to the amount Of
Sl25, 900; while The road only, costs per
mile $23. 900. Whence it necessarily
follows that it costs. in fact, 500, 900 per
mile less than nothing. Is not the case
demonstrated beyond oil eoubt and cavi?
Will not. in fact, the land very soon rise,
in some places. 10 20 cents per square loot
which makes $S, 500 per acre? f? This rise
of the land. aud Of other property, reel and
personal, right and left OF q Rail road, ac-
counts for the facility y ith which thousands
of millions have, within the last 20 years,
become tangible, and have been spontane-
ously appropriated 10 make Railroads OF
vast extent, in all parts OF the world
The existence of rail roao not only Gre
ates the wealth which repays Its own cost,
but it also creates the means wherewIlh TO
build the mex, railroad.
This vast creation of wealth, by the ex-
is,ence Of Rail road, will eusily produce
the cost ofthe Rail road line, in continua-
ton of the South Rail Road (via Boston,
10 ST. Louis, No., or TO some other point
in the West and, thence 10 San Francisco,
the centre ofthe gold region, and the fu.
ture centre of the trade Of the Pacific and
of India. Private enterprise, aided by do
nations from Congress Of alternate sections
of land will do much to carry this line to
st. Louis, Mo. But farther on, the National
arm should, in is might, push unheslta-
tingly the great work to completion. in the
shortest possible time. 1t should do it by
the mighty lever Of public credit-thus lea
: wing private resources 10 fill up the mani
fold channels of employment, opened by
: our late vast accessions, 10 our already
vast empire.
From ST. Louis. Mo. TO San Francisco,
the distance is 1900 miles. At $66, ,666 per
mile. fully equipped, the rail road will cost
500, 600, ,0O0. Le,n charter with this
capital be granted by Congress to COM
pany in which individuals take the stock,
& furnish So 900. 900 Of the capital, OBJ
tainlng from the u. S. the loan Of the u.
S. Stock Tor the balance. Let his COM
pany be bound 10 carry the maii, troops
and munitions of war. on very reasonable
terms; Sc let Congress also grant them
through the public lands strip l0 miles
wide. on the North side of the road, and
let the company be bound to build the road
with AMERICAN IRON and other materials
: exclusively IF domestic origin.
Let US now consder what viii be the
consequences of such a plan:
Thus fortified, with tangible means. the
road will be built in S years. When
built, its very existence will defend our
possessions on the Pacific. 1t will avert
all danger oflndian wars. north and south
of its line. Upon its bed, telegraph wire
will enable the government 10 issue Its Or
ders TO California and to Oregon, with the
rapidly Of light:ing-and will transmit
individual correspondence with the same
electric speed.
In case Of declaration of war against
tie U S. by a European power, the in
s,ahtaneous transmission of the news and
Of the implements Of war. including even
seamen, to our possessions on the Pacific
c ,ast, would give us the command Of the
trade OF our enemy in the Indian seas, apd
enable US to protect our own.
The cost Of this line of Rail road will
be more than repaid, even by the mere
additional value given to Government lands
on the South side Of the road. even for a
strip only 10 miles wide. Employing i
ron and other materials exclusively Ameri
can. will give life and animation at once to
a great mass of industry now lying DOR
mant. Fhis plan will finish the road in 5
years. Another plan suggested by some is
a grant Of land, and raise the funds by its
sale. This plan would take SO years 10
finish it, & increase its cost eight fold.
As to the constitutional power of Congress
10 make the loan, there can be no doubt
by any.
Eailroad tn fT,e p.csfsc.
Mr.. Benton has introduced into the
United States Senate bill TO provide for
the construction of n central railroad from