The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1853-04-12
Railroads.&c. a recent nu,

l
tages Of railroads, which We extract:
'sIt is we'll known that upon the
ordinary highways the economical
limit to transportation is confined
within a comparatively few miles, de-
pending of course upon the kind Of
freight and character of the roads.
Upon the average of such ways the
cost of transportation is not far from
fifteen cents per ton mile, which may
be considered as a sufficiently cor
rect estimate for an average of
the country. Estimating at the
same time the value of wheat at
$3.50 per bushcl, and corn rs cents.
and that 33 bushels of each are equal
to a ton, the value of the former
would be equal TO its cost of transpor.
tation for $50 miles, and the lat.
ter l65 miles. At these respect-
i've distances from market neither of
the above articles would have any
commercial value, with only com.
mon road as an avenue to mark
ct. But we find that we can move
property upon railroads at the rate
OF one-hith per ton per mile, or for
one'tenth the cost upon the ordina-
ry road These works, therefore, cx
tend the economic limit of the cost of
transportion of the above articles to
$500 and $50 miles respectively.
AT the limit Of the economical move
ment of these articles upon the com
mon highway, by the use Of rail.
roads, wheat would be worth $44,-
SO and corn $22,27, which sums re-
spectivcly would represent the actual
increase of value created by the III:
terposition Of such work.
"It will be seen that the value of
lands is affected by railroads in TIE
same ratio 'as their prSSf or
--h@s.-, = l.. - ls&2-, =. =,
water course, otHin the Immediate Il
cln'ty OF a market, may be yorth, fo
the culture Of wheat, $1O0. lie
the average crop be % bushels tc
the acre, valued at $33, and tn,
cost OF cultivation at SIS, this woult
leave SIS per acre as the net
profit. This quantity of wheat (two
thirds of ton) could be transport
ed 2oO miles at cost of one cen
per mile, $3.50, which would lcav,
$l4,7O as the net profit Of land a
that distance from market, whc,
connected with it by railroad. Th,
value of the land, thercforc-admit
ting the quality to be the same il
both cascs--would bear the same
ratio to the assumed value Of 500 a:
the value Of its products, $14,7O
does to SIS, or $50 per aero which
is an actual creation of value tc
that amount, assuming the correct
ness of the premises. The same
calculation may, of course, be ap
piled with equal force to any kline
and species Of property.
We clip the following from til,
Chicago Journal, as to the arrange.
ments of railways in England, some
of which might be initiated with profit,
"Thc railways are well built, ana
the hrst class cars are gooa, though
the second class are poor. Each
apartment holds eight persons, and
three apartments to each car. Thc
engines are much lower than ours
and apparently more simple. TIC
engineers have no covering, being cx
posed to the weather, and sometime.
have to wear wire masks to protect
thcis faces; baggage many times i:
put on the top Of the passenger cars
and covered with canvass. When
they connect cars they screw them
together till the bumpers touch, which
makes the train solid body, and
prevents that jolting which is often
so unpleasant on our roads. The
Great Western road has Il seven
loot track and double track, which
Is usual on all roads. The carriage
| Wy 10 S"iiiSN SIlllCl tl!Itltr or over
the track-this is required by law,
and has to be tax INTO considcra.
ton in establishing the grade, aud
adds vastly to the expense; there arc
lew curves or few grades usual
ly running very direct and very lev.
el. | have learned fact that may
prove interesting to our railroad men;
that is, that they take the clay and
make layer about five inches thick.
on the top Of it is placed layer OF
line or waste coal about ono inch
thick, then another Of clay, then an
other of coal, repeating TO the height
OF about five feet. That is set on
hIc and burned about one week, when
the clay becomes Uniformed brick,
and IS used for ballast or the road,
and answers about as good pur.
! pose as gravel saving the expense
otremoVing the CLAW and carhntt tie