The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1851-02-15
The Central Haiiynal,
Letter fiop, Jir, Ra"toa to Mr.. Linder.
SPRINGFIELD lLr. Feb / 1881


note Of yesterday, concerning the probable cost
oi the Illinois Central Railroad, have the honor
10 submit the following data, from which perhaps
correct opinion may be formed upon that ques.
ton
IN all other parts Of the world railroads have
been much more thoroughly and more perina
nentlv constructed than in the United States
and 1t Is the universal opinion of engineers, and
Of all others acquainted with the history Of raiI.
road enterprises, that it is decidedly for the in
terest of those who own railroads AS il most as
suredlv s for those who use them, that those
railroads should be perfect in their construction.
If this is important anywhere it is especially so
in Illinois, where perfect road will increase its
own business, and the settlement and wealth Of
our country through which it passes 80 much
more rapidly and certainly than an inferior road
would do. The cost Of roads in several countries
may be seen in table az
It appears from this table that the railroad.
Of the world cost, on an average about 500, 900
per mile; but Of these, the United States have
nearly onehalf at about sixth part Of the cost
Of the whole Investment.
Including together the more perfect roads Of
Great Britain, with the cheapest and inferior
roads Of the continent Of Europe the railroads
Of the Old World average about Sl36 600 per
mile.
In the old world, iron is cheaper than in Hi
nois; labor is cheaper than in Illinois For the
last three years. rails have cost in England less
than half what they cost here, In several Of the
counties included in the table, labor costs less
than half what it does here. In those countries.
the use of cdptul costs less than half the rate Of
interest that is ordinarily paid in Illinois Iron,
labor aud capital are the ingredients out Of which
railroads are made, and the railroads Of the old
world cost $4,000 per mile
Doubtless n great deal Of money has been
wasted in these roads, but great deal has also
been wasted on our chep roads, and the per cent
age Of waste on the poor road is likely to be the
greatest, because the cxpedients re-orted to, to
save expense, are ruinou> to the permanent value
of the work, and because the poor company pays
double rates Of interest, and exorbitant prices
for labor. iron and other materials bought on
doubtful credit
The best roads in the United States cost as
much as the average Of roads on the continent Of
Earope though not so much as those of England
which require seven hundred tons of iron to the
mile.-Iable lB) shows the cost of some of the
principal railroads in the eastern states, calcua-
ted from their official reports.
The items OF grading, bridging, and masonry
differ widely III Illinois from the east, that II is
unless for the present purpose, to make the com
parison. The remaining items of the cost of
railroad here may be fairly judged 0! by data
taken from eastern roais.
will, therefore. adopt the estimate Of grading
and masonry contained in the statement Of j. l..
Shipman, Esq, herewith submitted, marked ia
BILE co. and think 1t quite safe 10 express an
opinion even although the Central Railroad Is
not yet definitely surveyed, that it will not be
found tooAigh
Graduation and masonry, as upon the Alton
ard SangGmUn railroad ut contract prices So.
O21 -. The sUperstructure Of the road would
he likely to cost quite as much as in New York +,
the iron, which is the lcrgest item costing more
the ballasing costing more, the ties costing about
the same originally, and considerably more for
hau'age on to the track
The Alton and Sanglmon estimates s for a
rail f'y.six pounds to the yard. estimate for
sixty Ioar pounds. and omit fractions tsurpo-e
the tie, 20 be placed two feet three inches anart.
and takes them at the price given 10y Mr.. ship
man - bis adds ten per cent. To- the runt sr
AMI "'so'o The pixies. Iron hs been sold occa
s.onaily HS low as iuur pounds fifteen shI!hug-
Tho last Glasgow circular by VIM Colyin quotes
rails at fipc pounds scr"p hjH;pqs and SIR psac-
nett, on the hr-t OF lauuary, 1851 Iron must
rise, as enterprise, paralyzcd in 1915 reylyes.
It's not likely that I'uu can be- laid down un the
line for les than $50 per ton next summer
Should n specific duty Of fifteen dollars be i'm.
posed as some persons desire tins would ado s.
more, making 1t S95. ! copy Mr.. Shpmans es
innate for ballast at $1,000 The whole esti-
mate IT the super,truoturc from these data will
be, as per table (D) SlS,2l2 o. The average
cost Of sGperstrucurc of aiur roads in New York
I.4 f.l IL.