The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-11-18
The Projected National Railroad.

Our recent articles the annoyances and
injustice to which travellers between this city
and New York are exposed, have called forth
comments from many of our contemporaries,
who are unanimous in their acknowledgment
of the evil, though at variance in their opinions
in regard to the remedy. Some question the
propriety of direct Congressional interference
in the matter; others urge merely the need of
local legislative action in the several States
concerned; but all are agreed in opinion as to
the scandaous nature of the present manage
ment of the different sections of the line, and
the necessity of some immediate measure of
relief.
To exhibit in striking light the inefficiency
of the existing arrangements, and their utter
incompatibility with the ideas that prevail gen
orally in relation to these matters, we contrast
ed the time and cost required for a journey
hence to New York with the time and cost of
journey from the latter city to Boston. The
main facts, it is TO be remembered, are, that
whereas the distance between Washington and
New York, amounting to two hundred and
twenty-five miles, cannot now be accomplished
III less IMAM HIleen nOulS, dI COSt vi Illle uOl-
lars and extras, the distance between New
York and Boston, although two hundred and
thirty eight miles, is daily traversed in nine
hours, at cost not exceeding five dollars
That is the contrast which we desire the reader
to bear in mind when he hears any attempt to
justify the SLOW time monopolies. That is the
fact which displays more prominently than any
other the waste of time and money to which
travellers between the political and commercial
capitals of the country are exposed, and which
forms the unanswerable argument in favor Of
some speedy and radical change.
1t appears, however, that the ever-active
spirit of the New Englanders is not content
with the arrangements that exist in their sec
ton of the country, favorable as they are In
comparison with our own. They travel quick
and cheap even now; but that is not enough, in
their judgment, to satisfy the exigences of an
age which lives and moves with lightning
speed They have discovered that by the
adoption of certain plans they can travel yet
quicker and cheaper, and they are now busily
employed in maturing arrangements for carry
ing these plans into effect. The first formal
notice of the scheme that has reached us
is the record Of the proceedings of what
is called the "Air Line Railroad Conven-
ton" which has held its sttings during
the past week at New Haven, Connecticut
From the report Of the New Haven Jour
nal and Courier we gather that the assem-
bage was the largest and most respectable ever
convened in that city. Nearly seven hundred
delegates were present from Boston, Providence,
Mddetown, and other places in Rhode Island,
Massachusetts, and Connecticut; and their in
telligence, zeal, and unanlmity indicate the
early commencement of their undertaking. The
name given to the new project explains its cha
racter. 1t is to be an ''Air Lne'-that is, the
| most direct, and therefore the shortest possible
railroad route between the cities Of New York
and Boston. 1t will deduct twenty-eight miles
! from the distance now traversed and save two
or three hours in time; it will possess the man
! fold advantages accruing from unity under one
broad directions; it will have an advantageous
connexion with numerous tributary lines, and
will therefore command large local as well as
through traffic; and its cost of construction
being estimated at three millions Of dollars
will be only one-third Of the cost of the present
land route from New Haven to Boston. The
speakers enforced the necessity Of the road as a
great public improvement, and the support ten
dered to it by capitalists and residents along the
route, warrants the expectation that it will be
in operation in less than couple Of years.
In view of such an object, this "Ar Line