Columbus Democrat. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 18??-18??, 1851-12-06
II EP II T.;

The committee who were appointed TO prepare
resolutions for the action OF the convention Deg
leave to make the lolowiag report.
Your committee N viewing the rapid progress
of Railway construction for the last twenty-five
yeats in Great Britain aud the United States,
are as.onshcd at the result effected by them,
whether viewed in social, commercial or TO-
litcal aspect, The first half OF the nln'eenth
century hasaccompjished more for the advance
mcnl OF civilization and human happiness, than
the same period Of time in the history Of ths
world and nothing has contributed more to pro-
,luce this result than the introduction OF The Rail.
way system Distant portions OF country are
brought into urtaposon by means OF hls mag
nidcenl invention. Social and commercial re-
lations have been instituted between distant
sections which, otheraise would have remained
forever separated Facilities have been iurn-
ished for the speedy economical transportation
Of armies to distant points requiring protection
IN times Of invasion; to say Lolhng oi the great
increase to the national wealth, hese leg'
innate aud practical results render them political
blessings.
We are no, more astonishcd at the result Of
this system, than at the almost incredible rap
Idly OF its extension.
Although very inferior description Of Rail
way, constructed of wood. was used at New
Castle upon the River Tyne, in England as FAC
back as the year 1876, for the purpose Of con-
veying coal from The mines TO the bank OF the
river, vet no distinct railway for the transporla-
ton OF merchant &c and passengers was ever
successfully adopted IN Great Britain, until the
completion of the stockton and Darlington Rail
Road, in the year l52j. From that period a
new ear seems to hro dawned upon the com.
mcrca world.
Such was the success Of that road and great
were the advantages derived from it, that about
5000 miles Of Rail Road have since been con-
sructed in lhr Kingdom of Great Britain, at tho
enormous outlay Of twelve hundred millions Of
dollars
Thprapid progress Of Railway CONSTRUCTION has
been ~ les, astonishing ia the United States
than in Great Brtan. The first work OF the
kind ever attempted IN the United states. was
the Quincy Rail Road IN Massachusetts, only
three miles 10 extent aud completed in he year
1927, orlhc sole purpose If transporting granite.
Since that period l0092 miles Of Rail Road
have been instructed and in progress Of con"
expenditure Of S3OG COZ 0j4. Your committee
have al o been deeply impressed With the great
increase of the value OF property, "a exhibited
by the late census, caused by the constructions ct
Rail Roads in States possessing but lew agricul.
tnrai advantages, either as 10 soil or climate
We shall only mention few out OF the many
facts, brought to light on this subject. The New
York and Erie Railroad in the State Of New
York, measuring in length 497 miles, and run
ninp through a mountainous and sterile country,
sparsely inhabited, was built at a cost Of
S23OO0,U00. at Is computed that the real es
tate of those counties contiguous to It, has been
enhanced within twelve months Of its compile
ton, S25 5000, 600 or two million more than its
| entire cost"
/ The Railroad improvements Of Massachusetts,
! (pprbaps more perfect than those OF any her sister
/ Sales) have cost S5l .5S4,572 The assessed
/ value of property in that Stale under The census
/ Of Is TO- amounted to S299 SIS 600 and IN the
/ year $50 the ASSESSED value Of the same bad
/ reached the sum Of $500 532 900; thus showing
the enormous increase. IN the short period OF ten
year., Of 1895 .653 900; upward, OF five times
the costs OF all the Railroads IN me H'ate, ana
presenting to he mind, at once. angI5e rea'
son, why the people OF inc No'lu arc 81 ",''ns
Ito invest their means in the construction OF Rail
road,. The facts we have already presented
would seem to be enough 10 convince any re-
a.ctinr mind of the practicaby and utility Of
Railroads Blu, to bring the matter still nearer
home. The State Of Georgia, the only Southern
State which has as yet made much progress in
the construction of Railways, commenced her
system Of internal improvements, about the year
| 1895. Her soil much exhausted by inludcous
cultivation and her resources diminishing by
continued migration, she resorted TO this system
10 restore her declining prospects. Since men
she has in progress and completed about ioOo
mics Of Railway at cost OF l4'oVo'ooo,
which is now netting to the stockholders from .
TO 10 per cent, per annum. and has increased the
value Of taxable property in that state up 70
1850 10 the sum Of sSS5,c0O goo nearly double