The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1851-06-05

She expended twelve millions in constructing road to
Albany, which was 10 enter into composition with Inc
noble Hudson river and with the great city Of New York
which went into operation in 1912 To her astonsbent
tbs road ITSELF undertaken not Tor profit, bat merely TO
the city from dss .. S 5s y profitable nvss
TO Ssa 63l $780, in is49 had advanced $751;,
72s 900 Stimulated by this she pushed out her
railroads all around and now .hsy are aoou. making maxi
$2 900 0O0 TO create second channel for the increasing
| trade
river and canals. But Boston competition has aroused
her, and she has constructed railroad Buffalo, and
another parallel route 10 another point Lake Erie,
al an estimated cost of $40 100000.
Philadelphia has long since, assisted by the State OF
yana expended some 10000 900 in establishing
her communications the Allegheny mountains with
the waters Baltimore has been long pressing IN
the direction up the Virginia vaey Richmond has
railroads aiming the same result and at Dan
vile may probably form new connexon with through
North Carolina by Charlotte.
To the south OF us, sister city, Savannah, has
evinced energy and enterprise worthy Of her high
character. The Central railroad TO Macon, about Two
hundred miles, has been constructed by the enterprise oil
these Cities and the result upon Savannah obvious
to every observer We rejoice at this success of our
neigbbor, and commend her enterprise and intelligence in
the which she has just furnished TO two other
railroads which with her. We trust that she will
also her interest assisting the Memphis railroad,
and do doubt her readiness to join hands with us in
the work. We feel certain that this western trade will
| flow in rtream abundant enough to supply both our
cities, and that true interest lies in uniting coun-
sells and efforts to establish trade at southern
II seems clear therefore, that Charleston has the deep
est interest in making this road.
H. This leads to the next inquiry Is the road prac
ticable with the means at our command \!
The length OF the road already stated, is 2s1 miles.
II averses route which has already been partly graded
and was used for small railroads. which the Memphis
company has since purchased at very great advantage
One OF these runs from Memphis in this direction fifty
miles, and the other goes around the Muscle shoals from
Tuscumbia to Decatur-a distance OF forty-two miles.
\ cOA
have been purchased for 100000 most OF which has
been taken sp stock to the new road There remain,
yeys have reduced to 1874 The engineer who has sur
veyed the and made the estimates well known TO
of He has served IN this State on the Char
loite and Columbia railroad. and Is one OF those few
whose estimates have not fallen short OF their contracts
He estimates the cost OF the entire road ct ,291
and that the whole route there is no grade over SO
feet to the mile, and that for only short distance The
great importance Of this low grade may be attributed to
the fact that OF the leading reasons which are now
inducing the New England people to make their new
they can reduce the grade from SO to 6S feet
The stock already subscribed to the Memphis and
Charleston railroad is $aaoo 600 The stock list we
subscribed and the sound discretion OF the stockholders
is exhibited in the Limitation which they have put upon
until S25Oo.Ooo shall have been subscribed, in
sure the accomplishment of the work. II is for this
reason that the remaining 100000 is so essentia to
them II is the turning point OF the enterprise, and il is
Justly feared that il delays raising the amount,
their may be turned away the other chan
nes of communication. And that this is unreal fear
is obvious from the fact that both Mobile and New Or
leans have been aroused b lie eho now making, and
seeking to establish ad municaon with this
region of country. II city should consent to sub
scribe $3.50 00O there doubt but that the stockhod
themselves would increase their subscriptions to the
extent required With 81 100000 of actual stock sub
scribed there be doubt of the companys ability TO
make road which would cost only $500 900, nor OF
their ability TO stock it and put it into operation.
/ Ill The only inquiry which remains is, whether the
resources OF our city warrant in making subscrp-
lion, and if So then for what amount and upon what
terms
The funded debt Of our city, per the
report of the city council OF September
last, was sl,oe2,sl4 90
Of 1850 $4,000