New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1850-07-17
zines. until the public mind WIS wearied and wOr.

C0VVNVlTN1,
a nv Anea themselves Of the idea they formerly
Tenouhced railway WAS p-niac,ai ba,xss,
bNet poor and Manchester, and than commenced
,nAt ignorant opposition OF which ore Of the bl,s
oooSs contains such pregnant proof Bv this /,
appears clearly that the transit between Live-oool
ana manchester bad long been T. sufficient IL "a.
stated IN evidence, that places were bespoke COR
goods, Ike places at a theatre. "It ia no, vogr
turn yet, was a common reply, If extraordi in srv
energy were required; and il vas clearly proved
thaf the moDopozers would only send as much
cotton as they chose, arbitrarily fixing the on unity
a, thirty bags week. The f'ty-Gve mile. b.
canal occupied as long as the distance y Ne =.
York. The boats were too few to convey the
goods and on one canal the prOJrietOrs received
for their yearly dividend the am0unlof their origin.
cl investment. In vain were the agents in9o-.
tuned to render conveyance more rapid and less
expensive. The monopoly remained with the
owner of the canal, who, blinded by long course
OF success could not see that with the increase Of
business, an Increased communication must be
opened and it is singular that, when the railroad
was FIRST contemplated, and its promoters applied
20 the agent TO take some shares, An ans yer wOr
thy oil on aUtocraic government rather than CO n
merclal age was gwen, Of all or none.' TIE
shre wd merchants of the North chose the latter
alternative.
OBJECTIONS II, HE sCHEMF
The difficulties, therefore, with which the new
invention had 10 contend were legion aud the
Parliamentary inquiry, already alluded 10, produced
one OF the most remarkable blue books ever pub
ished. A few extracts from the folio will evince
the extraordinary ideas entertained on the subject
the extraordinary ignorance evinced by men re-
garded as scientific, and the yet more extrsordna-
ry prejudice which marked the progress of opn
ion on railway transit. IL is, however. right 10
say, that the friends and foes Of the proposed
scheme were equally INSCRIPTIONS in their endeav-
ors to forward their interests, as levels were taken
without permission, strawberry beds destroyed,
cornfeds trodden down, and surveys taken by
night, at the risk of life snd limb. On the other
hand guns were discharged at the in,ruders the
land was watched incessantlyi and the enthasi-
asm OF the great engineer OF the line mario WY
escaped being cooled in horsepond.
The objections urged by the opponents Of the
railway were worthy their cause. twas contend.
ed by them that canal conveyance was quicker
that the smoke OF the engines would injure the
plantations of gentlemens houses and one wit
ness more imaginative than perceptive, described
the locomotives as terrible things" although, on
further questioning he admitted he had never seen
one. IL was boldly declared, that a gale Of wind
would stop the progress OF the carriage that there
would be no more practical advantage in q railway
than in a canal that Mr. Stephenson was totally
devoid of common sense; that the plan was erro-
neous, impracticsbe, and unjust; and that the
tendency of the railway would be TO increase the
price of carriage. Ii was declared to be based on
fraud and folly; that balloons and rockets were as
feasible and that the whole line would be under
water for two and three weeks in succession.
MORE LIONS Is THE WAY
d" II is quite idle and absurd said one, " 10 say
the present scheme can ever be carried into execu
ton under any circumstances or in any way
Whenever" said another, with the authority of
an oracle, Providence in Lancashire is pleased to
send rain or little mizzling weather, expeditions
il cannot be- A third gave it as his opinion, that
no engine could go in the nighttime, because"
he added, more Scripturaly than soundy, "the
night time is period when no man can work.
twas said that no one would live near spot
passed by the engines that no houses would lot
near station and that all property on the line
would be frightfully deteriorsted. Not content,
however, with proving the impractca5ility of the
plap the most frivolous causes were adduced TO
show why this, the grandest national project ever
b. ought forward, project which has changed the
face and features of the land, the commerce OF the
country, and the social his bits of the rural Popula-
ton, should not be allowed to pass.
The public services OF railroad were pat IN
with the annoyanc which an indivld.
ual would receive from the smoke Of the engines
coming within $50 yards Of his house and il was
patheticay added, a." Can anything compensate for
this 2" Gentlemen objected because it would in
lure their prospects and landowners because it
would ipure their pockets! Pictures of ancient
family residences destroyed by the smoke were
vividly Drawn. The claims Of unproteste females
and reverend gentlemen were strongly urged and
pathetic representations were given OF families,
who had lived for centuries ia Their ancestral home,
leaving the dwelling place Of their youth, and go.
ing to another part Of the town.
FOLLY Or Mr. SUPPRESSION
Mr.. Stephenson It was boldly declared, "is
totally devoid Of common sense. He makes schemes
without seeing the difficulties Upon this shuf
fling evidence, we are called TO pass the bill" at
Is impossible 20 hold this changing Proteus in any
knot whatsoever 1t is the greatest draught
upon human credulity ever heard Of
There is nothing said one, bat long ssdgy
Grass TO prevent the train from sinking into the
shades Of eternal night They cannot 90 so fast
as the CANA" said another third appealed to
he pocket. If this bill succeeds, by the time
railroads set going, the poor, guled subscribers
will have lost all their money; and instead OF loco
motive engines, they must have recourse TO horses
lr asses, not meaning 20 say which Those whose
interests would be effected decided that "ocOmo.
ives could not succeed and numberless were the
ineers at the idea OF engines galoping as fast as
i've miles an hour. One sapient gentleman thought
he trains might 60 a, four miles aud half in fine
weather, but not more than two and half in wet.
Nv hen we set out with the original prospec-
.us was the remark OF the counsel, ave were
70 gallop | know not at what rate. believe it
was twelve miles an hour, with the aid of devil
y the ltfu Di X lOfOuOtlNc sLtuB as pOsLillOD VI
he fore horse, and an honorable member sitting
behind him TO stir up the fire, and keep it up a. full
'peed. will show they cannot go six. | may be
sble to show we shall keep up with him by the
anal" "Thus, Sir, prove that locomotive en-
zines cannot move at more than four miles and
luarter an hour; and show the scheme is bot
omed on deception and fallacy."
RUN OF VESTED INTERESTS.
Turnpike trusts were 10 be ruined, and therefore
silroaGs were not to be forwarded and il was
leemed unanswerable to say that the canal inter
SITS would be hurt by the rail. Though it was
proved by others that more money had been offered
or land If the line passed through than if it did
not, it was of no importance in the eyes Of those
1ho blinded by selhshness, refused TO be con-
'inced. The wsr.cry on one side was the venera-
bic vested rights !" on the other, progress
Men prosiy and pa,he.icslly talked OF tempting
Providence by travelling at the rate OF twelve
niles an hour The fine breed OF English horses
would be deteriorated, and our cavalry be wors.ed
II the first onset The prosperity Of great com