The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1853-04-19
5:26 81 5:35
Course in perfect order.
From the Railroad Record.
Reciprocal Benefits of land and Rail
road


Reciprocal Benefits of land and Rail,
road
Since experience has fully demon
strated that Railroads are destined tc
become the principal means of inland
travel and transportation from point tc
point, throughout the United States es
pecially, it may be well to consider
what bearing the construction of Rail
roads may have upon the value Of
lands (farms particularly through
witch they may pass; and what eff
feet the extension of these facilities o
transportion must have upon tho
price of produce at home.
Farmers arc often called upon to
grant the way for those roads, and
many hesitate to do SO, fearing that
they will be loosers rather than gain.
crs, thereby. To such, in addition to
the article in our columns upon "Thc
Illinois Central Railroad," where the
subject is incidentally touched upon
we would commend the following ar
ticle from the Newark, N. j. Mer,
curry, to their special attentions:
"lt has been estimated, by those
whose observations has qualified them
to judge correctly, that the increase in
the value of strip Of land three
miles wide, through which q Rail.
road is constructed, is sufficient
to build and stock it. The expert
cncc Of the whole country has
proved that this estimate is not ex
travagant. Every mile of strip Of
land three miles wide, one and a
half miles on each side ofthe road, will
contain 1920 acres. The average in.
crease in the price of such q strip Of
land, has been not far from SIS al
acre, in new and thinly settled dis
tricts of country, it has been much
more in many instances. This would
be equal to $4,000 increase to CIV,
cry mile of road; or in other words, il
the farmers or owners of this strip o
country should themselves build the
road, their land would be worth enough
more to pay the whole expense of con
struction, and they would own the
road besides. If railroads, therefore
conferred no other bcuctits upon farm
crs than this great addition to their
wealth, they will see that they arc
more deeply interested in their con,
struction than any other class of the
community. They receive direct, po
sitive, tangible advantage in the i'm.
mediate rise in the value Of their pro
perty.
3But there are other advantages tc
the farming interest beside the rise in
the value Of their farms. The pro
ducts OF farm situated at any con
siderable distance from a market, where
ordinary roads have to be depended
upon, are of value to the producer, bu,
railroads vt once give them ready ac
cess to market, ut good prices and
quick sales. The experience of farm.
ers near the great centre of popula
ton, is sufficient proof Of the great
advantages of railroads in this point OF
view. Indeed, no one has doubt of it.
The reasons for it are too obvious tc
nced proof or argument.
Now, if this be truth, and there can
be no doubt of its vcracity, does not
it present an unanswcrable argument in
favor. not only OF the farmers grant.
ing the right of way, but also of his
becoming, to the extent of his means a
shareholder in the roads of his neigh
borhood! If 4 farmer owns 100 acres
of land, worth IS or $40 per acre, and
the constructing of a railroad through
it would increase lis value from two
thirds to double its original cost, what
~onld be thought Of him should he
refuse the right Of way on such roads,
We trust there are few such farmers in
this enlightened age.