The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1850-11-28
WESTERN RAILROADS.

T. WESTERN RAILROADS.
We make the following extract from ar
argument on the question, care we build
ing too many RaiIroads?'' contained in the
last number Of the American Railroad
Journal
s.Now We believe that az general rule
the roads TO be built will pay much better
than those already constructed; for the rea-
son, that experience enables US to build
much cheaper, and secondly, because eve
~ additional milo opened adds to the value
Of those already built. Another reason is,
that great majority Of the roads in pro-
gress, are in those parts Of the country bet
ter adapted TO cheap construction than the
Eastern States, where has been the theatre
Of operations. In addition TO this, is the
small cos. Of right Of way, ETC., which in all
fdensely settled sections make up large
portion Of the final cost. In the Western
States, the roads Of which call for more Tor.
eign aid than any others, railroads can be
buit at one half or one quarter the cost Of
roads in the East. The expense Of gra-
ding, bridging, right Of way, superstructure
depot grounds, etc., are very slight. On
the other hand; the prospective business Of
these roads is very great. We all know
the inexhaustible fertility Of the soil, and
the ease With which every article Of food
can be raised. The quantity for export is
enormous. and the whole Of this is thrown
upon railroads where they exist, from the
character o. the ordinary public ways. So,
too, all consumed in that section, which is
not produced there, has to be imported
from distance. We have every reason
to believe that the average income Of the
Western roads will be equal to the Eastern,
while their cost will be vastly less, and that
consequently while the latter are at large
discount, the former will cotnmrnd pro-
MUM. So long as the stocks Of these roads
can be maintained at premium, or rather
can pay a good dividend, we have nothing
to fear from their progress, for the reason
above given.
Another reason why the rapid construc-
ton Of railroads in the West will not tend
to embarrass the business operations of the
country is ia the wealth they create, inde-
pendent Of the income from their dividends.
Everything saved in transportation is SO
much added to the wealth Of country.
II is very easy 10 see how a railroad may
save in this way, to community, its whole
cost ia two or three years. When this IS
done its cost is no longer felt. l. has re-
deemed itself. All the leading railroads
there will soon pay for themselves in this
way, asd when this is accomplished what
ever hey earn becomes additional capital
1s1 Ne promotion 9l new works.
A USEFUL INvENrIoN.-The newly.in-
vented steam diving bell, built recently at
Paducah, KY, is accomplishing wonders
on the Western waters. She was built for
the express purpose Of rescuing property
from sunken vessels, and soon after being
launched and prepared for business she
proceeded up the Cumberland river to the
wreck Of the steamer Charles Carroll, and
in about three or four weeks time the en-
tire cargo in the hull, consisting Of some
500 barrels pork and lard, was taken out,
and finally the hull itself was raised and
removed from the channel Of the river, to
which It had formed very serious obstruc-
tion. This extensive job completed, she
proceeded to the Ohio, where the machine
nv and boilers Of a sunken boat were Ia
ken out. Thence she was directed to the
spot, short distance below Cairo, where
the steamer Neptune sunk, thirty years
ago, and with a dive of fifty five feet num-
Der Of articles were rescued which were
considered hopelessly lost. The iron chest
Of the boat, containing suhdry articles and
a pocket book filed with what were once
bank notes, were among the contents Of
the chest, but they disappeared as soon as
brought in contact with the air, aud moth
| ing remained but the calfskin in which
they were envcloped. About five hundred
pigs Of lead, in good state of preservation,
were also taken from the deep, and jar
Of butter, decidedly the Oldest now extant
The jar is said to be curiosity in its way,
with the identical saucer on the mouth to
preserve the contents from injury, and
shows the care Of the shippers Of this ne.
cessary article in those primitive days.
National Intelligencer.
The above boat was constructed by
Messrs. Nelson s. Eads. A sample Of the
butter, we undcrst and, is in the possession
Of COL Eads Of this county, as also some Of
the other articles obtained from the wreck
Of the Neptune. -
AN Onn DrscoyfRY.-It is stated, in the