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

american railroads.

| lho supefintenuent OF tpe census, j. e. Ken
nedy, esq, having, aSthe request of the French
department OF public works, and at very con-
siderable labor, prepared the subjoined able and
comprehensive statistical view Of the extent Of
American railroads, AS we'll those in course Of
construction as those completed and in opera
ton, he has kindly permitted US to take a copy
oft for publication. ~
CENSUS CrFIcE, WAsmEeToN, MARCH /, 1862.
The numbers of miles Of railroad in opera
ton in the United States January lst 1852,
was, as nearly as can be ascerained, 108l44.
Al the same time there was in course of con-
struction an extent of railroad amounting, ac-
cording to the most reliable estimates to TO-
1891 miles. BY far the greater portion Of the
lines commenced, but now Incomplete will be
tinlshed within the ensuing five years The
length of railroad brought into operation since
January /, l848, is 224\ miles. Within the
last year 81 90 miles have been6nished Near
ly all the lines in progress havebs en- commenced
since l848. 1t is supposed that from one thou
sand to fifteen hundred miles addit. onal to tie
l0,S96 now known to be in progress will be
put under contract during 1852.
There never existed greater activity in the
making OF railroads in the United States than at
the present time. Many Of the lines projected
have taken the place Of plans for the construc-
/ ton OF canals and turnpike roads, Accordingly,
these works of public Improvement are not
prosecuted with the same arGor and energy as
i formerly, although much activity exists in the
construction of plank road-. The labor and
capital which they would require, are absorbed
in the numerous and almost colossal schemes
Of railroad building. Since l84S, the extent of
railroad opened for travel and transportation has
nearly doubled, and there is reason to believe
4 tina. the Increase in the length OF road brought
1 into use will not be less rapid during the next
period of four years. BY the year 1860, we
may expect that the territory of the United
States will be traversed by at least 80 600 miles
1 of railroad.
II 10 very difficult to form an estimate Of the
average expense per mile of building railroads
In the United States. In fact, no average can be
assumed as applicable to the whole country.
The cost Of the roads in New England is about
$4,000 per mile; in New York, Pennsylvania,
and Maryland, about $4,000. But in the interior
OF these States, the surface of the country is
broken, rendering the cost of grading very
heavy; and nearer the sea, wide and deep
streams interrupt the lines of travel, and make
the expense Of bridging serious item.
In New England, and the more densely inha.
Dited paris OF all the old States upon the At
iantc, as In all European countries, the extin-
4 a
CURED fer railroads, frequently forms large
part of the expenses included in the item Of
construction. 10 the Southern States, and the
valley OF the Mississil pi, $4,000 per mile Is
considered safe estimate. There, in most ca.
SEES, all the lands necessary for the purposes of
the companies are given to them in consdera-
ton OF the advantages which private proprietors
expect FROM tue location of the roads in the Vi.
Tcinity of their estates.
| In many of the Western States the eost of
grading long line of road does not ercaed
81 900 per mie-the cost of timber amount;nr
to nothing more than the expense of elear;ng =
from the track. For these reasons, the exnensa
oil building railroads In the Southern and West
ern States Is now much less than il will he
when the country becomes as densely settled
as The older States of the Union.
The Central Railroad of Illinois ia an ante.
prise which furnishes remarkable example of
the energy and spirit of improvement n The
new States. Illinois was admitted into ,ba
Confederation as State in 1918, with 40 OOo
inhabitants. II has 55,405 square miles of Ter.
ritory, and population. according TO the cepsus
OF 1850, Of 65l,4 70 The central railroad i, 10
extend from ITS southwestern extremity at the
confluence OF the Mississippi and Ohio rivers.
TO the north line Of the State, with two diverg'
ing branches. The total length of this road ;n-
cludlng The main stem and branches. il 10 ba
ITO niles The cost is estimated at 800 mn
per mile, or $l4,oo,0O0 for the entire WORT
without equipments for operating IL This -
the longest continuous line of road now IN com
temptation In the United States Of which there
IS any probability Of speedy completion. Il has
been commenced with such facilities Tor execut.
ing The plans OF its projectors that there is no
reasonable doubt thai il will be finished within
a few years.
Mr. Asa Whitney proposes TO construct
railroad from S. Louis, or some other place On
the Mississippi river 10 tie Pacific ocean. Tor.
minatlng either at San Francisco, In California
or at theemouth Of The Columbia river. in Ore
gon. lie soliciis the patronage Of the national
government Tor this prodigions work, and peti-
tons foi the grant OF tract of land eoual In
extent TO sixty miles in width by two thousand
miles in length. His plans were first laid befo,o
Congress In lS42, and he has since been CON.
tinually occupied in recommending them IN The
favorable attention Of the government and the
people with great ability aud zeal bot with
what success remains yet 10 be seen. Without
expressing any view with reference thereto. II
may be said that his project Is generally con.
sdered imprncticabIe, from the fact that Of the
two thousand miles Of territory which his route
across The country must traverse, large Dor.
h'h NVNoioeo W ttrtFh of OF sterile and very
elevated mountain districts, in which can he
found no materials Of construction, and which
would afford no business for the support Of the
road, were the difficulties Of building Il over.
come. Many intelligent men, however. ale
convinced Of its practicabiliiy and expediency.
The railroad system Of the United States
may be considered 10 have commenced In 1890.
The hrst one put 10 operation was q short road
built Tor the transportation Of zee from small
lake TO The sea, in the State Of Massachnsetts.
The length ~ This work was four miles. II was
finished in 1880. Ia the same year the Stale
Of South Carolina caused to be commenced a
railroad from Charleston, its principal port, 10
Augusta, in Georgia. The distance il 1875
miles. The work was finished in 1899. at the
very remarkably small cost of 81 .s36 6l5,
which sum included also th, expense Of furni,h.
ing the road with engines and passenger add
freight cars, and al other necessary equipments.
This was The first railroad OF any considerable
lon a T.. Al