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

with other roads under similar circum
stances, and from which, by careful inves
tigation, positive facts may be drawn
The general effect Of railroads have gone
fsr beyond any thing that was anticipated
In Europe aud the eastern states, it ha!
been universally found that whore the cos
Of transportation has been diminished one
half, the amount Of business has increased
four times and frequently ton fold. But I
the results abroad are astounding, still
mightier revolution will be brought about il
this western world. Here the economy o.
labor is rendered doubly effective from the
general fertility Of the soil, and from the
facility with which it is brought into state
Of cultivation.
i II is no extravaganza to assert that the
problem has already been solved which
proves that there is hardly district ol
country SO new in these prairie states--at
leas, where the principal market 10 fifty
miles distant--that does not present sufii.
cient inducements for the construction o'
a railroad The length Of a railrond is al
wavs consideration area Of country
from it's terminus within which farmer
can go to market and return the same day,
nffnrds il but little bnsiness--beyond this
distance rapid increase takes place-and
at fifiv miles it will command all the traffic
from the country beyond il, as well as that
Immediately abnnt It. Such railroad is
capable Of extending its influence over an
area of country 5000 square miles, and of
saving on an average to each farmer within
this space, at least seven cents on each
bushel Of whea. or its equivalent he sends
to market. Allowing that one-.htrd ofthis
land was under cultivation. there would be
1000 farms Of one hundred and sixty acres,
Of which, taking tho present state Of agri-
culture as guide, at least fifty acres on
each farm would be cultivated in wheat,
oats, corn aud other products, large por-
ton Of which would become marketable.
This land, suppose il produced an average
crop Of fifteen bushels per acre, would sup
ply the market with 5000, GOO bushels, or
IS, ,235 tons. md whilst it would bring in
mn income Of SSS,235 for the railroad, the
farming community would gain 50.
54 or an extra profit to each farmer OF
so on his wheat crop alone. In addi-
ton to this, the market would always be n
certain one, and tho whole produce of his
crop wanld be realized in cash, which Is lar
from being the cnse in Iowa at present.
There is similar district Of country which
would be accommodated by the Davenport
and Iowa city railroad, containing however
double the number of square miles above
stated. Its population is at present much
scattered, and numbers about 6O,OOO 1t
however the means were in hand, and the
contemplated railroad should be commen-
ced Immediately, by the timo It could be
put in operation, the number Of inhabitants
| in this district would considerably exceed
100000. Il is we'll known that the annu.
al influx Of emigrants into Iowa is very
preat--,he location Of railroad would not
only increase this number, but would give
new direction nnd great impetus TO i'm
provement. The wants ofthis population,
locating in country Of great fertility, well
provided With fine water power, and under
the stimulus Of n railroad, would soon at
tract the presence af men Of enterprise and
capital.
A practical example, however, can be
cited, to corroboratc these conclusions.
refer to the Chicago and Gaiena railroad,
which is similar in the circumstances affect
! ING its business. II has been in operation
TO E1gin, AZ miles for one year. II IS sup
ported bv nine counties, containing pop
ula,ion Of &C. 900, two Of which lie cont'g-
uous to the Mississippi river, and 40 not
furnish much business for the railroad.-
1 The number Of passengers during the past
season hns been 200 daily-befors the rail.
road was constructed two stages afforded
sufficient accommodation to the public, and
similar increase Of travel has been invar'a.
bly experienced over every great line OF
railroad that has been even ia part con-
,truc,ed. The fare oi the whole has ave.
ragged one dollar each, and the receipts o.
the company have amounted from tn's
source, to $6y, 200 per annum, one.'aIt OF
which has been clear profit to the company
! They have had FIVE Locomotives constant.
J " at work during the summer and ye'
there is, at the present time, an accumu'a
tion Of freight at the depot in Chicago
which will require several weeks to trans
mort 10 its place Of destination. The tre'en'
, traffic will yield at least an equal smoun,
{ with that derived from passengers; ano
hence practical example, is presented o.
: the operation Of tho first railroad CONSTRUCT
, ed in Northern Illinois, which yields an an
nual profit of S62, 100, and which has a.
, ready made to its stockholders a dIv'oone
? Of 10 per cent per annnm upon tho cost Q
} constructing and using il. II may 90 90
; iected that Chicago being one Of the term
ri, this does not apply to the Davenport
and Iowa city railroad; but it should be re
, membered that by the time il could Dc con
structed, if the means wore in hand, tne.'
will be a railroad communication, not on'>
2 to Chicago, where connection VII INK
; place with coptinuous line from the gsea