The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1850-01-17
WESTERN RAILROADS.

A statement OF the cost ana the CIV
deods Of five Of the principal Railroads ~
the East, shows on an aggregate capital Of
nearly ono hundred millions Of dollars, an
average dividend for five yesrs Of almost
per cent. The few Railroads that have
been built in the West demonstrate sheil
expense 10 10 upon an average but little
moro than onstRIf Of that Incurred in The
erection Of similar Roads in the East, anc
With respect to the business that will Dc
transacted upon them, those that have been
put 10 operation, prove they will DO more
lucrative than Roads Of the same expense
10 any portion Of the Eastern country
Such demonstrations must have favor:
hle Influence on the minds Of those who
have money to invest.
The Chicago and Galcua Railroad has
surpris,d lie warmest friends in the amount
cf business that has already been transact
ed upon it. Running out into vast pral'
RE. distance Of only about thirty miles
from Chicago, intersecting no towns, yet
], has been found necessary to put upwards
Of sirty freight cars, and three double pas
,eneer cars upon it for the transaction Of
the business that has already accumulated
-business whose existence previously was
scarcely acknowledged. So true il is that
= Railroad makes wealth, sufficient not on
" to repay its own cost, but to build the
next Railroad.
Since writing The above We have receiv-
Cd paper showing the cost, receipts and
expenditures Of the Little Miami Railroad
in Ohio. Ia 1876 its receipts were Sll6,-
O42; 10 lS47, S22l, l39; in lS4s, $780,
Os4; and 10 lsle, 1921 1893. Thus show
ing the increase Of the gross receipts Of
lS49 was Is per cent over that Of lS4S.
nearly so per cent over that Of lS47, and
almost treble that Of 1916. When the
idea Of constructing this Road was first
preached it met with much opposition,
fually few were induced TO embark III
the hazardous speculation and the work
commenced amid the jeers Gifts opponents.
The Capital Stock Of the Company is about
$1,000, 900, abou, $500. 600 Of which has
been borrowed. The receipts the last
year after paying all expenses, including
the interest on the loan, left an actual prof
it Of 10 per cent.
These are the figures far single Yves
tern. Railroad, built, however, in more
popuIous portion Of country. The best
criterion BY which TO estimate the expense
and The profits Of Railroad connecting
wab the Mississippi al this place, is fur
nished in the Chicago and Galena Road;
although il is admitted by those best ac-
quainted with the route between Rock Is
land and Peru that the latter is far more
eligible site for Railroad-and that the
actual expense would average little more
than twothirds of that Of the Galena and
Chicago Railroad the same distance. The
following interesting article we copy from
the Chicago Tribune, believing the statis-
tics il contains and the remarks Of the edi-
tor, to be Of more convincing nature than
any arguments we could use in favor Of the
immediate prosecution Of the Rock Island
and LaSslle Railroad; aware, as we know
the reader must be, that if the former Road
succeed, The latter cannot fall
The Galena and Chicago Railroad furnishes
an anomaly in the history Of such enterprises
Built from the city through an open and sparse.
" settled prairie, passing through no villages
and, until very recently, its western terminus be-
ing at whatever point il was convenient TO cree,
q temporay station, j, has nevertheless, from the
day that train was first pu, in motion W on il
not only paid all expenses Of running, but also a
the road as has been used.
Our statistics commence with the first o.
March, as prior to that time the business Of the
road had been exceedingly limited At this pc.
Rod the road was completed about ten miles out
Shortly afterwards on additional two miles were
finished. and the station removed to the termi.
nus. The following shows the rate Of progress.
which has been made upon the road since then
Station removed from OsPlan to Cottage Hill, fou,
miles, July 4th.
Cottage Hill 10 Babcock'.
Grove, miles, Aug Is h
Babcock's Grove to Wheat.
on's 5mles, Oct 18TH
Wheaton's 10 junction, five
miles, Nov. llth.
Junction to S.. Charles, Ga
miles, Dec. lltb.
The St. Charles Branch road is about four anf
. half miles in length, aud has been constructed
and is owned solely by the citizens Of St. Charles
to whom much credit is due for their enterpris
and energy in pushing it through in time to NEE
the main trunk Of the road at the point of juno
eian