The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1850-10-03

te located and il needs ony the facts proved by
on s,itvey TO confirm this assertion.
| A pamphlet was published as early as 1920,
| by W, e. Redield, Esq, in which he designated
I precisely the route which is now recommended
| Tor your adoption, as part OF that important line.
Having formerly had the Of being associated
with this gentleman in exploring Railroad route
! through the eastern counties OF New York, and
knowing how much confidence is placed in him
by the citizens Of that State, who are much in
debted TO him for his zeal and public spirit in
many other instances, feel much satisfaction in
the re ec ton, that the results OF our survey can
now be presented to the public as additional proofs
OF tilat foresight and discrimination which are
I frequently exercised by enlarged minds. 1t is
true that the suggestions OF Mr.. Redfied might
I then be regarded premature, but they laid the
4 foundation Of what has since been effected. The
! Erie Railroad to which his remarks gave the
i first impulse. will be soon completed to Dunkirk,
and other railr Dads also in rapid progress along
] the southern shore Of Lake Erie TO form con-
tnnous line from New York city 10 Chicago
| The Michigan Central Railroad and the Buffalo
ana Mississippi Railroad, are vieing with each o.
ther for the business of the West. Mr.. Redheld 8
rem irks have been prophetic as far as the south
end ofiake Nichigan--why should they no. be e.
qually regard to Peru and Rock Island rapids?
| he friends Of the Rock Island Railroad, have
however, still stronger reasons for expecting the
aid of Eastern capital: definite offers have heen
make to furnish T rail, and all the rolling stock
for the road provided the citizens Of Illinois will
construct the road-bed and furnish the ties
But the high character TO which the road is en- :
| ed and which il will assume when correct
ideas are disseminated as to its value and inror-
tance will ever render its stock an object Of COM
petition.
To explainits various advantages, shall solicit
your attention, ist, 10 the mechanical effect OF
light grades and the degree Of economy TO be de-
rived from them with good rail, and particularly
on tile railroad in qnestion-2d, 10 the amount Of
traffic il will receive in the outset-3d, the re-
sources of the adjacent country, when fully de-
veloped by the influence Of the Railroad in its
! connection with various railroads fast approach
ing to meet it from the East, and the immense
bushes. they are capable Of producing -4th, the
circumstances which must inevitably render the
Roek Island and La Sale Railroad one OF the
most important routes in the Western country.
if not superior 10 every other--lst, there is much
! in the working Of railroad, and in the nature o
the business that varies the effect OF the grades,
| il would embrace however, too extensive and
CON picated subject, TO attempt fall explana-
tion oi il in this repoTta simple Illustration may
suffice 10 show the value Of level railroad. and
al hongh no, absolutely correct, will show from
practical result, the great superiority Of the line
| trace d oui br our survey.
TO ascend grade OF 81 feet TO the mile, re-
qu,es three times the power that is necessary on
| q level with the same load; but it the load re-
! CURED only one thild Of the power Of the engine
il is evident that 81 feet 10 the mile would be nc
obstruction; ii is equally evident however, that i
full load were provided, the cost OF a Locomo-
tise power would be three times as much as
would be needed upon level track with fu
! load.
On the Western railroad frcm Boston TO Al.
banv. the ruling grade il so feet TO the miie-al-
tho in some places i, rises 10 Ell hty; an engine
| that ould draw 900 tons OF freight. on the Rock
| Island and La Sale Railroad, could only draw 81
| tors on the Boston road SO FAR then as the haul
age is concerned, there would be an ad nntage o.
,oar TO one: but the haulage is only thirty-tve
per cent Of the whole cost OF transportation, ant
al,ho. there is much economy on light grades, ART
sing from other causes, the whole gain in tavo
Of the Rock Island Railroad would not great
de al exceed 100 per cent, (for the performance o
the same business On the Boston Railroad tht
TRANSPORTATION Of a barrel OF -four for 900 miles
costs 25 cents: al The slme rate per mile, on o.
miles the cost would be 10 37l0O cents, but a
leading and unloading, booking &c, is the same
in both cases. i2 cents would be actually the same
if the grades were alike. The Rock Island Rail.
road howe has 100 per cent advan age, cen''
therefore, would cover all costs, for Transporting
a barrel OF -four from Rock Island to Peru The
result is the same il ascertained by another mode
Of computation; so cents being the cost per mile
Of running freight train, the cost OF Transporting
900 barrels OF flour 10 Peru, would be 83 time!
60 cents, or SAC. 80, or 2A cents per 6arret--al
lowing -2 cent for depot expenses and cent
pro6f cents the total, corresponds with the De
toction IRON the Boston Railroad. II the Inc
ouaIitirs OF traffic may be considered as adding u
the estimate which is based u on the maximum
load. there are circumstances fully 10 balance
The difference; the bulk OF the freight upon TIM
a., hnn
pork and live stock; together with coal and lnm
ber. Under good management, it cou,d hardly
ever happen that full train could not be made up
ant on a road where inexhaustable coal beds arr
close TO every station, 60 cents per mile Is muct
above the actual cost of running freight tram
from these facts, therefore tariff OF prices ma,
be safely estabi ished as basis tor estimating u
some degree the amount otfreightto to be transport,
ed on the proposed Railroad.
In the transportation Of passengers, there are
other circumstances 10 be considered, by whicl
T the fair must be regulated. The extra cost
chiefly dne TO increase speed than the large pro
norton Of dead weight which must be carrledt L
accommodate the ira. eller, and avoid subJecain,
him to DELAY. A train might be run at / mile
per hour, for so cents per mile, which at ~ mtte
per hour, would cost 3 90 per mile. One nun
ired passengers with their baggage, weigh on al
average, only eight tons; yet the cars to conVe
them. allowing them to be 2-3 filled, weigh y
tons. At 40 miles per hour, the cost per passage
from Rock Island 10 La Sale, wonid consequent
'y amount cent p r mile-l7-lO0 OF cent oe'n'
allowed for the extra attention required tor pas
sengers and their baggage.
One and a third cents is the average COST 10
conre, ing passengers on all the Railroads in New
England, where the average speed IS not NOR
than o5 miles per hour. Many OF their railroad
are comparati, ely short, and constructed viii
heavy grades.
On the Hudson river Railroad, one cent and
third pei mile, includes the companies prohts--
Where however, 3 800 passengers pass daily owe
the road, the cars must almost always be hlied.
The time will come when the Rock isiant
Railroad will have similar advantages. At tn
commencement, the company VIII prohaoi!
charge 20 cents per mile, as the rate OF fare,
80. 90 l,om Rock Island TO Peru. Assuming thi
as The regular price, and the transportation Of
Ion Of goods or produce will cost from 80 to 8
cents, twill be easy to understand to "ha' degree