The New York herald., 1851-11-16

interesting report, extending to two columns, Of
the proceedings of convention Of the friends ofthe
Air Line Railroad to Boston, held in the city Of
New Haven on the preceding afternoon. The meet
ing attended by the elite and the noneyed sris-
tocracy of New England, and there seems to be no
doubt Of the success of the project The very faci-
! lity with which report was accomplished, is
! itself proof # the wonderful increase of rapid
| communication in this country. New Haven is
| some seventy three miles from New York. Oar
special eporter left at nine o'clock in the morning,
and, after dining and taking a walk around the
"City of Elms," attended the meeting, took notes
fer nearly two hours and half, and was home here
at the Office at quarter after eight o'clock in the
evening, to write out his report A few years ago
this would have been impossible. To accomplish
il, expresses should be employed at o heavy ex-
pense, and they would only arrive at late and
inconvenient hour, that would render full report
impract!cable. The advantage of railroad commu-
Lcation to the newspaper press, to the public and
to all classes, is. therefore, sufficiently obvious and
whatever increases the repidity and directness Of
that comm unication, il benefit to the community
at large.
The proposed line of ralroad-cutting off the
large angle on which Springfield AID Hartford are
situated and running east of those tovns-shortens
the distance between New York and Boston by
about thirty miles, thus reducing the entire length
to about tive hundred miles, which it is proposed
traverse in six hours. We shall then, probably,
occasions of importance, have reports, by our own
reporters, Of proceedings Of meetings held in Bos
ton, published next morning in the HERALD. But
when the speed Of railroads is increased, well as
the points Of communication brought closer toge-
tter by the straightest possible lines, the road
will be passed over in four hours, which
will facilitate our efforts still further. As a
sample Of what can be done, We may refer to
the occasion Of the opening Of the Hudson River
Railroad through to Albssy, on the Sth Of las.
month, when the entire distance one hundred aad
forty three miles--was performed in three hours
ard half, and special reporter, who LETT here
in the morning dining at Albany and taking
rotes Of the speeches after dnner-was back at this
Office at o'clock in the evening, and had ample
time to produce fall report, extending to nearly
four columns, next morning in the HERALD. Tnis
is feat that never accomplished before in the
history Of the newspaper press Of this country But
it is only the prelude to greater achievements.
In fact, the railroad and the telegraph are des-
tined TO work wonders in the United States eclips-
ing all that is past. These great agents for the
civilization Of man, and the interchange Of human
thought, are yet in their infancy. The
temptation Of what revolutions they will hereafter
accomplish, if these changes could only be brought
before the mental vision as in anorama, would
staitle the boldesy and most speculative mind
They are too vast for the most far. sighted human
ken. But We can all see some of the results that
necessarily fow, even from present data. Let US
point them out.
As Professor Silman observed at the New
Haven convention, speed of seventy-two miles
hour is no uncommon thing in England, and fifty
miles is the average on some roads. What is done
in England can be done here. It was not long
since believed that the speed Of the steamers
OF Grea. Britain was unapproachable Collins line
Of American steamers has disposed Of that fallacy.
Already the locomotives Of the Hudson River Rail-
road and the Erie Railroad have actually run
ffiy miles per hour. What has been done for
one hour, or three hours, may be done for
thousand hours. steam engine does not weary
like horse. What has been done on part Of a
line may be done on the whole Of 1t, and what
has been done on ore line may be done on
any number Of lines. That a speed Of seventy
Eve miles an hour will be attained, at no distant
day, there is every reason to believe. But, taking
the moderate estimate OF fifty miles per hour, which
has been already adhered, what is the grand 70.
suit Why, that IN very short time We shall be
enabled to reach New Oileans in Two days; san
Francisco will be gained n about three days, or at
most, fSu--a point whieh, only few years ago, 1t
took as many months - reach aud even now, a
period Of twenty. eisht days is regarded a. q won-
derfully rapid transit.
In Eng land, higher speed Is attained or rail
roads than in this county, because they are more
Substantially built, and tie population is gres.erin
prcpoTiisH t. the distance over which they extend
We are now nation Of twenty Eve millions; bat
wien the population OF The United states s dsu 5sd
not only will railroads TIE country like net
work, bat they will be bull; ir such way that,
with the Improvements la. will spring frOR the
overteenins active brkas Of scientific aad rrsc-
teal men, dity miles hour viii be regarded as
mere ordinary speed. The giant strides OF yorng
America, With its free Institutions, its placers Of
silver aud gold. its inexhaustible resources s ga
ioim language, and iis hemos neaas race, are rot
90 be estimated by tie slow, crippled movements
" the poverty stricken, monarchy y-rllen, decrepis
sEd ensaved nations Of Europe.
he FIRST raIls9ad ever made ia this country va
only commenced twenty-thres years agc. IL wass
sbor road in hisssachuse.ts, tkree mules in length,
called the Quincy road. The frst railrGad in the
state 81 New Ioft was the Mohawk aai Hudson,
sixteen miles IN length, TOW called the Scheaectafy
lt was coHea oed ia l.J, and dasL Lsd in lsIl-only
eighteen years 20 Ca the frs Of enuary last there
were N operation in he S,a;s of lew Yors, one
thoussnd .our huDoreS nlss Of railrosa cosins
S6,-J0 COZ. There va nearly the sane nunbsr |
Of niles IL IassaohuSetts 1Ale ia ths entire ofths
New Epgl4Ed States ale nlss Am5usts5 .o26lG. /
iosting go 9lG $50. 1be total in opera.iea Ia tns
hited states ~ January, lsG, was -,5gi costing I
2s6, i5j,65s. Since then, s.sisieat nupbsr Of 4
allies has been com ,ls;ed to increase the g,snj to-
al to TO- Co0 miles and the amour Of iaysstm eats
Q $500 co 0C0 Four years ago, Aore -as sny
bout half that amount ia 0pcva:icr. as may be
eer fem he Toll wing table. shTng As progress
{ Iaix.als in The United S.stes, ffoz the CON.
lcncef.frt in I-27 10 the close of tbs year loJl.-