The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1850-07-25
Railroads.
DTA friend, TO whom it was written, kind
ly furnished Va the following interesting let
ter for publication:

er for publication:
PORTLAND, Maine, July IL, 1850.
Dear Sr:-It 10 astonishing how much a
man may read from books and newspapers on
the subject Of Railroads, and yet how little
he may know or realize practically of the
manner in which they are got up, construct
ed, stocked and worked. In this part Of The
TIE people have been for several
years constructing Railroads at cost vary
ing from S25 600 TO So, 900 per nile, running
through sections of country whose resources
were comparatively already developed. They |
have not been content to build only such and
so many roads as were necessary Tor the bu I
siness oil the regions through which they were
to run. but they have been building rival
routes where but one route was needed and
they have been doing these things for years
past, and not out OF the abundance o! means
M the disl 0sal oi'rch corporations but out OF
bankrupt treasures and over-strained credit
mot la all cases, to he sure. but in very
many cases. Many OF our people think that
to build a railroad from Evansville into the
interior is II fearful and hazardous undertak-
ing, and yet If they could only realize what
many sections ofthis past of the country have
done. what obstacles they have overcom
what sacrifices they have made, and what
they have accomplished--the difficulties
which we labor under would shrink into in
Significance. We are building road through
country whose resources are not developed,
which is capable of supporting and which
will soon support twenty souls where it now
supports one, and TO which the road is IN this
age Of improvement absolutely necessary. and
we are building a road at IA cost so small that
we are now, in our present thiniy settled part
of k,,iII
many srctions oil this part OF the country were
able TO build the roads which they have built.
We have never dreamed Of the shifts which
soIue OF these eastern companies have been
driven TO. know one company which has
now an excellent road built at Il cost of about
S2S 600 per mile, and come cling no very
large cities together which raised the means
by selling about half their stock nj fifty cents
on the dollar. / know OF another compauy
which has built road still more expensive
through country not more promising. which
had TO raise vast sums by selling their stock
nj thirty cents on the dollar; aud yet with all
these sacrifices if the parties interested in the
property benefited by them had built the
roads, they would still have gained by the OPP
Grafton. Such have been the effects of the
railroads OF this section Of the country upon
the property and business in their neighbor-
hood. So much for the mode OF getting up
railroads in the East. and the difficulties often
in the way of raising the wind
Now as 10 the mode of construction. ] was
unable to learn whilst in the west, that there
WAS any eastern railroad using the bridge or
U rail; and that there was any railroad which
had adopted neither the broad nor narrow
gage SO called; that any eastern rails were
laid on continuous bearing; that in these
old railroad regions the crosS-tes were ever
laid five or six eet apart; or that any east
ern railroad was laid down without c airs al
the joints of the rails. Indeed. az far East lis
New York, have been unable to fad any
J railroad man with whom have conversed on
the subject, who could give me any iuforma.
ton on either of the above heads: but have
travelled over one road laid down on cross
ties alone, without drains. have today
: passed over another road which was lait
; down win chairs and which is now bring IN
E ken up and rclaid without chairs, and | cal
, speak from experience. that that part now re
laid without chairs, although not yet settle,
and solid. is made the smooihest and hes
!, part ofthe road. have to day travelled ov
? er many miles of road laid Oh Il coniinuou
!, bearing. and which has been down tire,
years; the bearing stills are 6 inches by II
> inches, and lie upon the gravel alone and ar
u tied inch ties IN the top of the sill place,
from 3 10 6 feet from centre 10 centre. Thi
e is a main artery road with engines weighin!
e twenty-five tons; and IL gentleman in the car
observed that it was the best road that he ha
Z ever travelled over.
: Since arriving in this city this afternoon a
If 4 o'clock, have spent an hour with the Trea
II surer and Superintendent of the Atlantic
. St Lawrence Railroad, and learn from tier
that their road and two other roads in hi
l. vicinity are Of 1-2 feet gage, and are lai
is with the bridge or U rail and upon "a coutinu
, Gus bearing; the longitudinal stills lying o
the ground and tied with Il three inch tie Il
into the top of the sill at intervals of fe,
rs from centre tn centre. These gentlemen IN
~ well satisfied with this mode of CONSTRUCTION
re and prefer the tc the L rail, after havin
seen them both tested. have an inviiaiu
TO go over the Atlantic & st. Lawrence roa
tomorrow, which shall avail myself of, (;
the purpose Of increasing my small stock
practical railroad knowledge. Within I'll
INST five or six days, have travelled OH te
% railroads. and since leaving home, upwards
oo twenty. have made it Iny husiae::, noth
d observe and enquire on. ..a mus far am WE
- satisfied win The plan adopted by the Boa
20 OF Directors Of The Evansville & Illinois Ra
u road, AMI equally well satisfied with the Ia
re cuts OF their Engineers. believe, and
ca know II to he the opinion Of our Presidcr
Judge Hall (who has spared no pains TO il
'" form himself OH all mooted questions OF co
rs siruciion) that Mr.. Bewley will make us
xt model road. / think he has accomplished
he wonder IN shortening the route as he has don
=. I'd saved the comprnv $50, 900 in origin
~ CO Il of construction, when compared with Il
VI route adopted by the corps OF u. S. Ens
myers in their survey of 1885; and every mi