The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1851-06-04

from she Boston Daily Advertiser, June 4 |
Assrso~n Railroads.
Thsre are some facts in the history and progress OF rail
roads in the United States Thlcn nave ssc ,s e A.
ton is we believe, an undoubed tact that The prog
ress Of this Improvement has been more rapid and more
in this country than IN any other In speak
inw o the rapdy oil It's extension we refer not only 10
the space OF country which the Improvement has
been extended but 70 the proportion Of is population and
ing its success, include not merely the triumph which
has achieved in facilitating communication throughout
the country for commercial and social purposes and pro
noting the wealth. civilization and happiness OF the peo
pie. but the emolument which has been derived from
great portion Of the various enterprises BY which this vast
Improvement has been effected.
The invention OF railroads is distinctly Of English orr
GIN The Improvement first introduced and rapidly
developed in England, and il was initiated and followed
in this country at first with slow and cautious steps
has there been carried to extent IN point OF COST and
to degree OF PERFECTION in the completeness, strength
sssy d dom" ss . But
adaptation of the various works 70 the wants ana re
OF the country, in limiting the cost OF each enter
prise 10 the means by which to be accomplished
and 10 a careful estimate OF the benefits which IT
could rely for remuneration of the cost the promoters
OF these works this country have been more success
full than in England and the works have in
advanced with far less decisive check than they have
there encountered. We are lar from saying, however,
that no mistakes have been committed in this
country Enterprises have been undertaken here which
do not pay The cost, and never will pay Others have
been undertaken in spirit Of rivalry which prey upon
one another and thus dsappont expectations in some In
stances which were founded on The anticipation OF legs
lative protection. against competing enterprises Other
mistakes and abuses will doubtless continue to be COM
mittsd, until che public, and legislatures in particular
learn better to respect property whose value depends on
the sacredness OF q legal franchise
For the purpose OF showing the truth Of our statement
relative the comparative extent and success OF these
enterprises in England and in this country. we will state
few facts which rest on the authority OF ofhcal docu
nents.
II appears, from made TO Parliament no, long
since by the Whitehall commissions that the amount OF
capital raised for railways in the United Kingdom up 10
the close Of ls49 subscription TO shares was fl7s
41264, and loans, chageable the revenues OF The
companies, E51 ,335,54 making total OF E229,
The length OF railway then open Tor use WIS 6O3S miles
OF this length of railway something over 5000 miles
consisted OF double track, and less than miles OF
single track The Of line opened, to ths end OF
$780, 662l miles, and the aggregate OF cost, in
Guiding the amount expended on unfinished works,
something over 100000 The cost OF the finished
works, averaged the number OF miles opened amounted
to c34,750, or $l66, 500 per mile.
The length OF railroads in successful operation a,
the present in the United States exceeds the extent
above stated probably by SO per cent The aggregate
cost however, fails far short OF that OF the English
roads As we not possessed Of the data which will
enable US TO speak OF the railroads OF the whole Union
with any precision, we will apply the remarks which we
about 10 make upon the comparative success OF the
works Of the two countries, chiefly 10 the railroads OF
Massachusetts,, in comparison with those OF Great Brit
ain.
The extent of the several lines of railroad opened and
in regular operation in Massachusetts the close OF the
year 1850, including parts of oil these roads
tending beyond the limits of the State ,27O miles,
Of which Inc aggregate cost was s57 100 eo7 The ex
tent OF track within the limits OF The State was lll2
miles, the cost OF which amounted to 52 100000, or
$4676O per mile OF these roads 269 miles consisted OF
double track, and the residue OF single track.
appears from The statements published weekly in the
London Railway Times, that oil all the companies to
which these 6,62l miles of railway belong there is
which has paid within the last year larger dividend
on its stock than at the rate OF per cent per annum
with the exception OF the four following, viz: the Taft
Vale, AZ miles in length, which paid ct l4s per cent ;
the Dublin and Kingston in Ireland, miles, per cent
Inn1n nd Nprth aSfSrn rntlDs IN lapyt
f3 los. per cent and the London and Brighton, l7l4
miles, E5 As per cent Six other companies only paid
and number paid nothing The London and North
western Company, formed by the union OF several pow
erful individual companies, with capital OF over
Gl9yOOo.ooo. and earning weekly income of about
EAo.Ooo. paid. above stated, 81 per cent and The
Great Western. 264 miles in length, with capital OF
Sis.slsooo per cent the London and Southwestern,
242 miles. with capital OF fs 800 900, per the
Southeastern aud Greenwich capital f9.460 900, 81 per
cent the Midland and BRISTOL 496 miles in length with
capital Of E554oooo ~ per cent and the Lancashire
and Yorkshire, 300 miles, with capital oil ,ooo
2per cent.
The aggregate length OF these pine railways, including
the principal central works OF the Kingdom is 225si
miles, and they built at cost OF Ge6 SOL $50 sler
ling, or E43,o46 per mile These works produced gross
income during the last twelve months Tor which the
counts are rendered OF 6,762979. The expenses OF
working with the rates and taxes, amounted IN the
period TO G375o,l3a In this amour, Of expenses is not
included The interest capital raised by loan The bal
Of income applicable TO the paymen, OF dividend and
interest loans e. 02 S45, 81 per From this
amount OF income the interest which according
the OF the different loans to be paid in full and
the balance only paid in dividends the capital stock
The rate OF interest being greater than the average OF
dividends, the latter average fraction less than per
cent The railways embraced in this average embrace
less than hall those OF the United Kingdom, the average
OF the other half being much lower, and of them
paying nothing
With these great central English railroads, although it
10 10 compare small things with great, propose 10
compare IN point OF producivenes OF the central
railroads o. Massachusetts,. Ten years ago exhibited
statement OF the lene tn, the COST the receipts and
penses oil the ten railroads then in operation this State
The entire length Of railroads then in operation in the
State 430i miles all single. The cost was
S1s,o00,ooo; the neon. OF the preceding year 34 o0o
and the penses s726oOo.
We now present statement exhibiting the condition
OF these lines OF railroad since improved with add
lions, forming the CHIEF parts of six lines of rail
road which dveWe from the capital of the State and lead
into the neghboring States The table shows the cos
TO the 31st Of December last, and the income and ex.
pense. for the year The parts OF these lines which
extend beyond the borders OF The State owned by
snder the exclusive management of within the
State
s su'or and rovdsnesf sas0sa ss7o7n ssl 900
Taunton branch. ,..........u 17,l6 57606
New bedford. .,.............@l 1oa ota.,
sranch..,.,.-,.....".,...,. Is WIS.,
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