The southern press. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1852-04-06


Nearly parallel to the Atlantic coast of the
United States, from Maine to Alabama, runs the
range of mountains known as the Allegheny OF
or Appalachian chain. The eastern bases Of these
mountains are not distant from the seaboard
more than a hundred miles, and they form a
very formidable obstacle TO the construction Of
railroads between the great eastern cities, and
the interior. In nearly all the great enterprises
which have been undertaken with the view to
effect such connection, great additional expense
has been incurred TO overcome or TO penetrate
this mountain barrier. In the plan first adopted
for the general system Of Stale improvements in
Pennsylvania, IL was proposed 10 effect the
crossing Of the Alleghanies by means Of in
clined planes, with powerful stationary engines
at their SUBMITS. The planes were built and
have been used for several years, until expert
ence proved that their operation was too slow
and too expensive 10 maintain n successful
competition with other methods Of conveyance,
and other improy ements have since been finished
designed 10 supcrsede them. The railroad from
Baltimore 10 the Ohio river, is carried over
passage In these mountains where the elevation
is upwards Of three thousand feet, and part OF
that height is overcome by tunnels, varying in
length from one-sixteenth 10 four-fifths of a
mile. The road from New York 10 Albany,
along the banks Of the Hudson, has three tun.
nels. The greatest work OF this kind yet pro-
posed in the United States. Is the tunnel through
the Hoosack mountain, which, II executed, will
be four miles in length, and fifteen hundred feet
below the summit Of the ascent The cost j.
estimated at S2.O00,00o On the road from
New York 10 Lake Erie, tunnels have been
avoided by very expensive works, which over
come accents Of 400 feet.
No authentic statement has ever been given
Of the capital invested in The railroads Of the
United States, but we have the means If form
ing an estimate upon which much reliance may
be placed. The railroads In operation at the
beginning Of the present year may be assumed
10 have cost S34S,000 coo. The amount in.
vested in the lines under construction IL is i'm.
possible 10 estimate with even an spproxima-
ton TO correctness. Their cost, when com.
pleied, will be considerably less than that Of an
equal length Of road now in operation; for the
reason that the greater number Of new or un-
finished lines in the West or South, where, NJ
has been shown, the cost Of construction is far
below what Il is in The Northern and Eastern
States.
The management OF The American railroads i
. entirely distinct from the administration oi
government. Their concerns are managed by
CORPORATIONS, " hich consist Of president
secretary and directors. Each Of the directors
must own certain amount Of stock. They
are chosen by the body Of stockholders, who
have votes in proportion 10 the number oi
shares they hold The directors choose one OF
their body president, and appoint the secre
tary. The president and secretary have gen.
orally liberal salaries, but the services Of ths
directors are erauiious.
The rate Of speed on our Railroads.&c. not 90
great as on those Of England. The ordinary
velocity Of passenger train is twenty miles an
hour, but on some rUuies II Is as high as twenty
eight and thirty miles. Express trains on such
occasions as the conveyance Of the President'
message, frequently maintain, for long distances
as high a speed az forty FIVE miles an hour
And on one road, that between New York and
Albany, forty miles per hour Is the regular rat,
for all passenger trains.
The fares or rates Of passage are not uniform
In New England, the average price per mill
for the conveyance Of passengers, " under tw,
CENTS; from New York TO Boston IL is two an,
fourtenths; from New York 10 Philadelphia
three and four.tenths; from Philadelphia 10 Bal
t;more. three and one.tenth. From New Yorl
to Cincinnati the distance is 557 miles by th'
Northern route, Of which 143 miles are travelled
hv stearnboat. The price % passage for thu
whole distance is 1850, being slightly unde
two cents per mile The lines between Bait
more and Cincinnati, soon TO be opened, vii