Southern standard. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1851-1856, 1851-12-06

in the history of the world, and nothing has con
trbuted more to produce this result than the in
PRODUCTION of the Railway system. Distant por-
tions of country are brought into juxtapositon by
means OF TINS magnificent invention. Social and
commercial relations have been instituted between
distant sections which, otherwise would have re-
manned forever separated Facilities have been
furnished for the speedy and economical transpor-
taton OF armies to distant points requiring protec-
ton IN times of invasion to say nothing of the
great increase to the national wealth. These le-
gitmate and practical results render them political
blessings.
We are not more astonished at the results of this
system, than at the almost incredible rapidity of
its extension.
Although a very inferior description of Railway,
constructed of wood was used at New Castle up
on the River Tyne, in England as far back as the
year 1876, forthe purpose of conveying coal from
the mines to the bank of the river yet no distinct
railway for the transportation of merchandise and
passengers was successfully adopted in Great
Britain, until the completion of the Stockton and
Darlington Rail Road, in the year 1926. From
that period a new era seems to have dawned
upon the commercial world.
Such was the success of that road, and so great
were the advantages derived from it, that about
5000 miles of Rail Road have since been construc-
ted in the Kingdom of Great Britain, at the enor-
nous outlay of twelve hundred millions of dollars
The rapid progress of Railway construction has
been no less astonishing in the United States than
in Great Britain. The first work of the kind ever
attempted in the United States was the Quincy
Railroad in Massachusetts,, only three miles in
extent, and completed in the year 1827 for the
sole purpose OF transporting granite. Since that
period 1O,O92 miles OF Rail Road have been con-
structed, and in progress of construction, in the
various States of the Union, at an expenditure of
hoy nalSp
deeply impressed with the great increase of the
value of property exhibited by the late census,
caused by the construction of Rail Roads in States
possessing, but few agricultural advantages Ell
ther as to soil or climate. We shall only mention
few out of the many facts, brought to light on this
subject. The New York aud Erie Railroad in
the State of New York, measuring in length 467
miles, and running through mountainous and
sterile country, sparsely inhabited, was built at
cost OF $23, COO, 600. 1T is computed that the
real estate of those counties contiguous to it, has
been enhanced, within twelve months of It's com
pleti0n, S25, ,OOO, coo, or two millions more than
its entire cost
The Railroad improvements of Massachusetts
(perhaps more perfect than those of any of her
sister States have cost @5f 1884, 572. The asses
sed value OF properly in that State under the cen
sus of 1910, amounted to 1898, 878 600 and in
the year $50 the assessed value of the same had
the enormous increase, in the short period of ten
years, OF $3.50, ,653 900 upwards of five times
the costs of all the Railroads in the State and pre-
4.fe
the people of the North are SO willing to invest
their means in the construction of Railroads The
facts we have already presented would seem to
be enough to convince any rejecting mind of the
and utility of Railroads. But toI
bring the matter still nearer home. The State of
Georgia, the only southern State which has, yet
made much progress in the construction of Rail
ways, commenced her system of internal improve
ments, about the year 1885. Her soil much ex
hausted by iniudcious cultivation, and her resour
ces diminishing by continued migration, she re-
sorted to this system to restore her declining pros
poets. Since then she has in progress and COM
pleted about 1000 miles of Railway at a cost of
314 900 900, which is now netting to the stock
holders from 8 to Is per cent per annum, and
has increased the value of taxable property in
that State up to 1850, to the of 1885 600 600,
nearly double the valuation before she commeEc
ed her system of internal Improvement These
facts selected from many others OF similar char
acter leave the question of Railroad construction
not one of experiment only, but of actual experi-
renee, and fully prove their beneficial effects
Your committee in their investigation of the his
tory, extension and benefits of the Railroad sys-
tenn in the United States, regret the apathy which
has hitherto existed upon that sub amongst the
people of the South, and particularly in the State
of Mississippi. The enterprising spirit of the
north and north western States, as mani
tested in their steadily progressing internal i'm
provements, has not only enhanced individual
wealth, but has advanced sectional interests, by
increasing their commercial importance and infu-
ence. Not only this it has developed national
wealth, by drawing out resources; such as coal,
marble, iron, granite, DC, DC, consequently di-
yersiyng capital into the varied business of agri
culture commerce and manufactures, making
dependent upon the other and therefore all sue
cessful. The South has neglected all these ad-
yantages and has vested so much of It's capital in
the sole business of producing cotton, that the sup
ply has exceed the demand and thereby reduced
the price below fair compensation for the labor
necessary in its production The nine north-e cas-
tern States to wit: Maine, New Hampshire, Yer
mont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut,
New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania, have
1876 Raroads-5977 miles in operation, and 24o4
miles in course of construction; the seven north
western States, (many of them in their infancy,)
to wit Ohio Michigan Indiana, Illinois, Mis-
souri,, Iowa, and Wisconsin, have IA Railroads
I549 miles in operation, and 5000 miles in course
of construction whilst the thirteen south eastern
and south western States to wit Delaware, Ma
ryand, Virginia, North and South Carolinas
Georgia. Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisi-
an, Texas Tennessee, and Kentucky, have only
65 Railroads-2761 miles in operation, and 1858
in course of construction, and these confined al
most exclusively to a few OF these last mentioned
States.
Your committee conceive that the time has ar