Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1849-03-28

the eastern rail roads, which it soon will
Finally, if we do not vote sfor Subscription
when we have the opportunity, we shall long
have reason to regret it.
"A FARMER.
| I'VE are requested to publish the two
following articles from the portage County
&c last
From the Portage County Wing
Mr.. EDITOR The question now at issue
before the people of Portage county, viz
that of subscription to the stock of the
Cleveland and Pittsburgh Railroad, is of
sufficient moment to arouse the attention of
every citizen to the actual merits of the pro-
posed improvement, and every we'll ascer
tanned fact and opinion, resulting from ex-
perience, must tend to produce proper
understanding Of the subject by the public.
The hesitation Of many persons arises from
doubt Of the advantage of the road to the
community and from fears of the stock pro-
wing improbable.
With regard to the benefits arising from
this Railroad, it may be proper to refer to
valuable treatise by RoDr. STEPHENSON, of
England, celebrated Engineer, upon the
advantages of Railways, Mercantile and
A Aoricultura]" A brief extract will suffice.
He says .... E-..
"The advantages of railways to the inter-
nal commerce of the kingdom are incalcula-
BILE. The time occupied for the transit of
goods between Manchester and Liverpool,
before the establishment of railway, was
a6 hours; but they were sometimes month
on the road, and the cost was 15s. a ton;
now they are conveyed with certainty in
two hours, for rs. a ton. Between Man
chester and London the charge was 70s. to
sOs ton, and they were several days on
the road; now they are conveyed in few
hours for half the amount The canals
have been obliged to reduce their fares; in
some cases they have been lowered from
33s to As Goods are now conveyed from
Manchester through Liverpool or London to
America, in less time and at less cost than
they would formerly have been conveyed
from Manchester to Liverpool.
"The charge for goods by wagon was,
until the establishment of railways, as much
as Is ton per mile, at an ordinary speed
Of to d miles per hour, and by canals
from 3d. to Is. per ton at less speed, and
delayed during winter for weeks. Now the
London and North Western Railway carry
bale goods at I'd. ton at a speed of 20
miles an hour In fuel the advantages have
been enormous; the price has been greatly
reduced to the poor in inland districts, and
is not higher in winter, when most wanted,
than in summer; rail trucks are not stopped
by frosts like canal boats. The farmers
are benefited by the cheap conveyance of
manures, of limestone, chalk, &C., and by
the carriage of their livestock, grain, &c, to
good though distant market towns"
Railways have not received any grant
of monopoly. If the Government had shut
up the Queens highways forbidden all
coach or horse OF steam carriage traffic on
those highways, closed all canals, or stopped
all river barges or coasters; then indeed
railways would have received monopoly.
But they have been subjected to all possible
opposition, and, Notwithstanding their costly
construction and expensive working, they
have, by fair competition, by superior ac-
commodation; greater safety, and lower
charges, drawn to themselves the largest
part of the traffic of the kingdom; but this
is not monopoly
Such is the testimony of one thoroughly
conversant with the subject respecting the
results in densely populated country, the
resources of which have been for many
years in full development, and in which ev-
erv kind Of business meets varied competi-
ton.
With such results in country like Great
Britain, what should be expected in these
United States, the resources of which are
but partially developed, and in which there
is ample room for the enlargement of every
branch of business? ...
The people of the New England States
have entered extensively into the system of
improvement by railroad, and the results
have demonstrated the correctness of their
Judgment. The formation Of the country
through which the most important of the
New England railroads pass, rendered the
graduation very expensive, yet these roads
have been found to be profitable, the dlvl-
dends varying from to IL per cent-an
impulse was given to business generally
Immediately on the opening of the roads
and it is estimated in these States that gen
orally along every line and mile of road, Tor
width of about miles each side of the
centre line, the farming lands have been
f enhanced in value ten dollars per acre since
t the completion Of the roads.
The cost of graduation of the Cleveland
: and Pittsburgh railroad will not be more
than half that of the same length of road il
t New England-and the through business
E. will without doubt be immense, as this rout'
e will be shorter than any other from tn