The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1851-01-09

fore to put the road into complete operation
will cost $4,000 per mile. From this da
ta, the probable success and effect Of lhi.
Railroad, may be calculated. IN order
however fully to illustrate this subject, ant
10 show why this route which has been sur
veyed, will have the preference over any
other, as forming part Of the great line
which, within short time will be extended
to the Council Bluffs, at the mouth Of the
great Platte valley, Twill direct your alten
tion to some ofshe primary principles up
on which the efficiency Of Railroads de-
ponds, and, what 10 more essential, to the
circumstances under which tho utmost per
fection attainable by their location and
structure is secured. The direct benefits
Of Railroads nrise, first, from the chespnest
with which they transport the products o.
the farmer, miller and artisan to market
and bring back the goods and merchandise
which are required in exchange. And
second, from the great saving Of time, and
from the ease aud comfort they afford tc
passengers. And collectively, from the in.
huence they exercise by these means, upon
the prosperity ofthe country through which
they pass. The charges for the trauspor,a
ton Of freight and passengers on most Rail
roads are low in comparison with the prices
on common roads; bu, low as they usually
are, ifthe business Of large agricultural
district is dependent upon them, still
greater reduction, il attainablc, is Of vast
Importance If not indispensable 10 the pros.
peri,y Of such districts. Cases sometimes
occur in which whole crop is KEEP, out Of
the market, because Railroad upon which
i, is depe endant Cor transportation, has been
located where heavy grades compel tho
company 10 keep up their prices to the pro-
hibitory point. The same effect will occur
from unnecessary increase Of distance or
from imperfect rails or machinery. On a
grade Of 10 feet in mile, double the power
is required VII ich is needed on level; on
80 feet in a mile, three times the power must
be used; four times at 81 feet, and five
times at 76 feet in a mile. To this must
be added the force requisite to overcome a
similar increase Of resistance occasioned by
the augmented weight Of the locomotive,
and by the extra friction Of all the working
parts. Circumstances may exist in the
practical operation Of some particular rail-
roads, which compensate to some extent, lor
the adoption ofheavy grades. Where pas
sengers constitute the principal part Of the
business the evil is least felt because full
train does not absorb one fourth of'le pow
or which locomotive can exercise by
slackening speed, and the loss Of 'imc is
partially made up by increasing the vcloci-
~ Of the train upon descending grades. II
is by this means that the New York and
Erie railroad is operating with 80 much
success In the transportation OF freight,
however, that company, with oil the aid
which their broad gage aud powerful en-
gines enables them to command, will for
ever feel the effects Of their sixty feet
grades. Where the traffic Of road de-
mands I maximum load to reduce the
charges on produce TO the lowest rate
every grade becomes a serious obstacle,
md the extra expense in consequence Of
bad location becomes an unnecessary tax
upan the prosperity ofthe community.
Il is for these, among other reasons,
ge ntlemen, that I congratulate you npon
the ascersained eristence ofa route mhere
Railroad can be cheaply constructed, a.
dapied to the nants ofthis community, and
upon rhich, in connection ,citA the ROCK
Island aud Chicago road, the agricultural
products Of Iowa, ,ciN find their uny TO me
best market, at the least cosf-where high
speed may be adopted with more safety and
economy than on most railroads--and on a
line susceptible Of receiving every advan'
,nge from mechanical improvements which
can never be applied to railroads wnh high
grades. =.
There is another reason which initiates
greatly 10 favor Of this route. II is exactly
adapted for the extension westward OF the
Rock Island and Chicago railroad to be con
uected at first by ferry, but within . te"
years, by high bridge across the M'ss's
sippi, opening an uninterrupted communl
cation At all seasons Of the year. with the
great system Of railroads in Illinois and .ht
other states, and in consequences, establish
mr the Davenport and IoUa City RAILROAD
as part of the great National trunk rail
road from the Atlantic By ,ray Of Connc'
Bluffs, the Platte ualley and the South Pas
to the Pacific.
Without occupying too much OF you
time with these promises Of the future, how
ever, It may be we'll to inquire into the i'm
mediate resources Of the country, and tn
present inducemcnt for the construction O
your railroad. have endeavored in refer
ence to ,hi. subject, TO collect statistical 10
forn,s.ion in relation to the trnffic whic'
might be assumed as seeking the Daven
port and Iowa City railroad. Il is yer.
we'll understood that the amount Of produc
accumulated annually at Iowa City, offer
no approximate basis upon which the busi
ness might be estimated that would co''ec
at the rairoad terminus as soon as It shou''
be put in operation. Nine tenths OF tn
products Of the country which would DO at
iiracted to this road, the moment it con-