Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1852-03-13

Nearly parallel to the Atlantic coast of the United
States from Maine to Alabama the range of
tans known the Allegheny Appalachian chain The
eastern bases of these mountains distant from the
seaboard more than hundred miles, and they form a
very formidable obstacle to the construction Of railroads
between the great eastern cities and the interior
nearly all the great enterprises which have been under
taken with the view to effect such connexon great add
tonal expense has been incurred
tate this mountain barrier In the plan first adopted
for the general system Of State improvements in
sylvana it proposed to effect the crossing of the
Aleghanies by of inclined planes, with powerful
stationary engines at their SUBMITS These planes
built and have been used for several years. until
rence proved that their operation too slow and
expensive to maintain successful competition with other
methods of conveyance and other improvements have
since been finished designed to supersede them The
railroad from Baltimore to the Ohio river is carried
passage in these mountains where the elevation is up
wards of three thousand feet and part of that height
by tunnels varying in length from onesxteenth
four-ffths of mile The road from New York to Al
bany along the banks Of the Hudson has three tunnels
The greatest work of this kind yet proposed in the United
States is the tunnel through the Hoosack mountain which,
if executed, win be four miles in length and fifteen hun
dred feet below the summit of the The is
estimated at 100000. On the road from New York
to Lake Erie tunnels have been avoided by very expen
sive works, which overcome ascents of 400 feet.
No authentic statement has been given Of the capt.
tai invested in the railroads Of the United States but
have the means Of forming estimate upon which much
reliance may be placed The railroads in operation the
beginning Of the present year may be assumed have
cost $348 100000. The amount invested in the lines
under construction it is impossible estimate with
an approximation to correctness Their when COM
pleted will be considerably less than that Of equal
length Of road in operation for the that the
greater number Of unfinished lines in the West
South where has been shown the Of consruc
ton far below what it is in the Northern and Eastern
States.
The management of the American railroads is entirely
distinct from the administration of Government Their
managed by corporations which consist Of
President Secretary, and Directors Each of the drcc
tors must certain amount of stock. They are
chosen by the body Of stockholders who have votes in
proportion to the number of shares they hold The di
rectors choose Of their body president and appoint
the secretary The President and Secretary have gene
rally liberal salaries but the services Of the Directors are
gratuitous.
The rate of speed railroads is not SO great as on
those Of England The ordinary velocity Of passenger
train is twenty miles hour but routes ii is MS
high twenty eight and thirty miles Express trains
such occasions the conveyance Of the Presidents
message frequently maintain for long distances high
speed as forty-fve miles an hour. And one road,
that between New York and Albany forty miles per hour
is the regular rate for all passenger trains.
The fares rates Of passage not uniform. In New
England the average price per mile for the conveyance
of passengers is under two cents from New York to
Boston 1t is two and four-tenths; from New York TO
Philadelphia, three and fourtenths from Philadelphia
to Baltimore three and one-tenh From New York Gin
cnna the distance is S57 miles by the Northern route
of which l4S miles are travelled by steamboat The
price Of passage for the whole distance is 1880 being
slightly under two cents per mile The lines between
Baltimore and Cincinnati to be opened will be $50
miles in length and the fare win be l3 that is two cents
per mile.
Believing that the history of the origin, condition and
extent Of the railroads in the United States forms one Of
the important subjects of statistical investigation
and not generally understood have devoted por-
ton Of my time to the preparation Of complete history
and detailed statement respecting each of the railroads in
the United States to accompany the other statistics 10 be
embraced within the seventh but Congress may
exercise their right Of abrdgng the work on this and
other subjects il is impossible in advance to say what
The when published win contain enclose to Won
'erewith copy Of the Of Maryland prepared in
advance, for which will appear in its preface
have the honor to be, sir with great respect your
most obedent servant JNO. C. O. KENNEDY :.
JULES CARrIS, Minister Public Works, Paris