Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1849-1856, 1852-02-05
hRKAlD OF THE TIMES.
THURSDAY Feb. 5'h 1852.

this place 10 Fail Riycr. FOR me las'
three years we have frequently written
on this subject. and urged It's vitality
upon our people with all our power
We have had very many OF our opin-
ions, as then stated, most fully illustra-
ted, by actual experience during the
last three or tour weeks. All the har-
bors from the extreme of Maine to
southern Virginia have been terribly
blocadcd by ice, with the exception OF
that OF Newport; during all the late
severe weather, our harbor has been en-
,lrely free from ice, SO that all classes of
vessels could arrive and depart at any
time. Now il there had been railroad
TO Fall River, large number of ships
that could not enter at their destined
ports. would undoubtedly lave come in
here and discharged their cargocs, which
could have been Immediately transmit
ted by railroad to their proper des'lna-
tions. The accessibility OF Newport
harbor can 10 longer be questioned; il
10 a settled thing, and is beyond all dis
pute. thus much as 10 the advantages
of a railroad from Newport to Fall Riv-
er, during the inclemency of severe
winter.
The other and greater benefits TO be
derived by Newport from this enterprise,
are TOO numerous to mention, and have
too often been commented upon by us,
at great length to require any repetition
of them at this time. All experience
shows, and all past history, for the last
twenty-five years fully demonstrates that
Rail Roads are of material importance
in building up places through which
they pass, and especially where they
terminate. They give lie, impetu
and being to deadened humanity; they
arouse the prostrated and dormant ener
gies of man, and quicken every faculty
into action they create spirit of en-
terprIse which builds up place, and
gress with astonishing rapidi'y. Rail
Roads make new business, open new
avenues Of trade, ard cause an influx OF
population; all these things combined
necessarily make people prosperous.
and cause n town to flourish. Every
one who looks at this project in lis
true light, il they do not possess mar
row minded and selfish spirit mus; he
satisfied of the feasibility Of this rail
road.
Nine -tenths of our citizens are un-
doub,edly in favor Of building this road;
the only question is TO hoc it shall be
done. We have long ago gwen our
view OF the matter, and We have had no
cause 10 change our opinion. The
route was thoroughly and ably survey
ed, some eight or nine years ago, 10y
Major Brown, an experienced ~ d rcIia-
bic engineer and he estimated that the
whole cost Of construction and compile
ton, at tha, time, would not exceed
three hundred and fifty thousand do!
lars. The work can undoubtedly he
done for less money at this time. The
project would not have fallen through
then, had our own citizens subscribed
for n portion of the stock before they
apphed for assistance from capitalists IN
other places; these gentlemen although
perfectly willing 10 ali in the work,
naturally declined doing so until our
own citizens commenced subscribing for
the stock. The argument which they
used was that there must be something
wrong about the matter as the people
of Newport had not subscribed for a
dollars worth OF the stock 1t is well
known that we have not many entcrpri
sing business men in Newport who are
able or disposed to embark in this enter
prise very extensively. Therefore, our
plan has been and still is, for the town,
in its corporate capacity, to subscribe
for one hundred thousand dollars Of the
stock, and .hen let such ot our citizens
take whatever they feel able to, large or
small,-and We will guarantee that tine
balance will be taken by capitalists
abroad, within a very short period. In
doing this the town runs no risk, for the
stock will surely ray legal interest, if
nothing more and the town can hire
the money from individuals who prefer
loaning money, in large and small sums,
Mt per cent, to such kinds Of corpora
tions, rather than to individuals at even
much higher rates OF interest. As soon
as the road was built and IN full opera
ton, the town could easily dispose of its
stock to those who would be glad to
purchase when the thing was certain,
but who would not embark in an uncer-
tainty and tn, dividend ofprof,s would
more than pay the interest on the money
which the town might hire. The oper-
alton therefore is simply this,-the town
loans its credit, and only its credit, fol
the benefit uf all its citizens.
We are glad 10 find that there is SC
much talk upon this subject now and
we trust that the people OF Newport
have finally aroused from their lelhergy
fully determined TO perscvere TO prompt
action. Let a town meeting be called
IN the course OF a month, and this mat
ter brought before the freemen for ac-