The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-08-28
From 1he Boston Daily AdUertiser.
English and Mnssachusetts Railroads

The British Railway Board furnishes annually n
report OF their proceedings, which, with the tables
accompanying 1t, compiled from returns made to
Parliament by the several railroad companies, af-
lords the detailed information of the condition
and progress Of the railways of the United King
dom This information Is in some particulars more
full than that afforded by the annual returns of
railroads IN tins state, required by law TO be made
TO the Legislature in the month OF January
What strikes one iOrcibly on pcrusal of the
English report Is the immense extent and cost of
the British railways. IL appears that the extent
OF the railways opened for use in the United King
dom up 10 the 3st Of December last was O23 uiiCs
the entire cost Of which amounts to E22O, 900 600
sterling, or l,O56,OOO,OO0. IL appears from this
statement that the average cost Of British railways
with their builings, appurteuances, and equip
mcnts, amounts TO the enormous sum Of ) 10000
a mile.
According to the returns made to the Legislature
IN March last the length Of railroads at that time
open and IN daily operation was 40, miles, the
aggregate cost of which was : So 957 ,3lO showing
an average cost, including buildings, appurte-
nsnces, and equipments Of : I5 ,243 per mile OF
THIS extent Of railroad, POI mes only consist Of
double track. The rest consists Of a single track,
but throughout, tho whole locomotive trains both
Tor passengers and freight, run with nearly tho
same regularity, and with very little increased
hazard OF interruption, those roads which con
slst Of Il double track. In England tic roads CON
sst nnOetly OF double track and this accounts in
part for the greater cost. The extent and coat of
British railroads above stated, embraces all tho
vi.
United Kingdom. The proportion beyond the
limits Of England is fully equal to the proportion
OF Massachusetts railroads above stated, lying be-
yOnd the limits Of the State.
Comparing, therefore, the extent and cost Of rail
roads IN each country with its extent Of territory
and number Of inhabitants, we have more than
mile OF railroad In operation for every seven square
miles OF territory, and for every eight hundred and
hity inhabitants IN the State In England the pro-
portion Of railroad Ia not equal one mile of road
Tor eight square miles Of territory nor one mile Of
railroad for every 1850 inhabitants.
we compare the cost Of the works Of the two
countries with the population, it appears that the
cost of the Massachusctts roads is equal to S5j 80
for each inhabitant, az shown by the new census;
and the cost of the works Of the United Kingdom
- equal 20 SCI for each inhabitant Of England,
supposng the present population TO be, it doubt
lees ~, something over " 900 600
II we compare the degree Of accommodation az
Ordcd by the railroads Of the two countries by the
actual use which has been made of them, in pro-
portion TO the number of inhabitants, we find that
IN Massachusetts the number Of travellers in l5Ig
was over eight millions, for nearly million of in
habitants OF the State--making average Of eight
journeys by railroad to every person resident i'm
the state and that there were n thousand railroad
travellers in the year for every square mile Of ter
rtOry. On tho railroads Of the United Kingdom
the whole number Of passengers in lS49 was Co.,
5il 900, which, If divided by the population Of
England alone, say seventeen millions, gives an
average of less than four railway travellers TO each
inhaOitant, and twelve hundred and sixty travel.
lers for every square mile of its densely peopled
territory.