The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-01-01
THE RAILROAD ENTERPRISE OF AMERICA.
The Number and Length OF the Railroads In
the United Statss-Thsir Cost, etc., etc.

the United Statss-Thsir Cost, etc., etc.
We present to-day, to the readers of the Herald,
a complete list of the railroads in the United
States, now in operation, as far known to U.S.,
after the most careful inquiry and investigation
We also give the length in miles, of the respective
railroads, and the cost of each, either from the Of.
fetal reports, or from comparative estimates. The
grand total, it will be seen, is S797 miles, costing
over 2S6 millions of dollars
The railroad system was commenced in the
United States only about twenty.three years
since, viz, in 1927, when a short road in Massa-
chusetts, called the Quincy Railroad, three miles
in length, was constructed. In 1923, the
Baltimore and Ohio Railroad was commenced, and
thirteen miles of it pat in operation at the close Of
the year, 1929. About the same time, or shortly
afterwards, the Mauch Chunk Railway, of nine
miles, and the Lackawaxen Railway, sixteen miles,
In Pennsylvania, were completed, and used for the
benefit of the coal trade. Locomotives, moved by
steam power, were not, however, used in this
country on railroads until after the trial made in
England, on the Liverpool and Manchester Rail-
road, in 1880, when wonder was excited by speed
of % miles per hour having been obtained by a
locomotive engine, with 30 passengers. On the
Baltimore and Ohio Railroad cars were drawn by
horses at the rate of 10 miles per hour.
In 1880, William c. Redield, Esq. of this city,
well known for his scientific researches and writ
ings, came before the public with most interest
ng pamphlet, copy of which is now before US, in
which he proposes "Great Western Railway" from
the Hudson river at Tappan, (now PiermonD to
he Mississippi river at the junction of Rock river,
Illinois, distance of about one thousand miles
uderfu nj aaity 4 ha
route, very nearly, of the present New York and
Erie Rail Road and is thus, we believe, entitled to
the credit of the first suggestion of the route of that
great work, finally attempted by an incorporated
company, and now nearly completed.
''From the western branch of the Allegheny
river" says Mr.. Redfield's pamphlet, +" wesproceed
in direction nearly parallel to the shore of Lake
Erie, and entering the northern counties of Ohio,
ntersect the great canal of that State on the port
age summit. From the Ohio canal the route pro-
ceeds IN western direction along the fertile table
lands which separate the tributary streams of the
Ohio from those of the great Northern lakes.
Having entered the State Of Indiana, we pass the
head waters of the Wabash, enter the STATE of IL
lirois, and passing near the source of the Kanka-
kee, arrive at the head of steamboat navigation on
the Illinois river. Having accomplished this grand
object, our railway continues from near the bend
Of the Illinois, and at distance of little more than
sixty miles reaches the banks Of the Mississippi.
The proposed point OF junction with that river rs
Immediately above the Rock Island rapids, from
whence the navigation is az all seasons unite
Uped 10 the river ST. Peters and the Falls of st.
Anthony"
The above extracts show how nearly the writer
was correct IN his views of railroad route to the
West, compared with the various lines completed
or in progress between the Hudson river and the Mis-
sissippi, now that twenty years have transpired
since the suggestion was made.
The railroad first undertaken in the State of New
York, was the Mohawk and Hudson, now called
the Albany and Schenectady, sixteen miles in
engtht which was commenced in 1880 and COM
pleted in 1888. On this railroad, steampower was
introduced.
The failouiao tohlo @pr-ovi-snsioo nnrvent-
ness, shows the progress of railroads in the United
States, from their commencement, in 1927, to the
close Of the year lSiS:-