Hannibal journal. (Hannibal, Mo.) 1853-1853, 1853-09-21
HAsrrnAL AEp 81. JOsrrH RAILsOAs. !
Engineers OG6ce, June l, 1859.
Col. RIM. Stewart, President Of the Hanniba

Ane Ol. Joseph haiAfOa0
Sra; Since the receipt Of your last letter,
have ben engaged in making careful exarnin-
alton, with a view to ascertain the present val.
NC OF tue improved and unimpFOvsd lands on the
route Of Jour road. From this il appears that no
improved lands on the route can be purchased at
a less average price than BIZ per acre, and that
unmprCyed entered lands are valued at % per
acre.
| In foruinS an estimate Of the prospective val
ue OF these unimproved lands belonging 70 the
Company have employed a criterion which I
think is hest calculated 10 lead to . correct re.
suit. Tbs has been obtained by aseerSaininS
the present value Of lands Of similar quality sit.
uated within similar distances Of such facilities
of transportation ~ arc afforded by tho Missous
ri and Mississippi rivers, facilities which, con-
Sidering thecOmparative difficulty Of approach
| ing these riwrs through the bottom lands, and
the uncertainty Of the navigation, are evidently
far inferior o thOse furnished by . Rail.
road, and certainly less calculated TO enhance
the value Of lnds. AgreeAbly to this criterion,
not so high ne as for many reasons you would
be justified inRssuming, thS average value Of the
lands belonging 10 the Company will amount u
$40 per acre, classified a. follows:
| /. FIRsr CLSs-LAnd of special
value, Us cua fields, quarries, min.
erals, &C., q from proximity to
towns or villgeS, 100000 acres
| minimum valuation at $40 Ga OOeO0e
2. SECOND CL,ss.-SuperiOC SEri-
! cultural quAl1es and location loo.
i 600 acres, minimum valuation a.
SIS. $3.50, oo0
3. rHIRD CLAss-Good agricultural
qualities, 25OSO0 acres, minimum
valuation at so 100000
!, &. FouRTH CLAs-Low agricultu-
4 raj qualities, 10000 ae res, mini
mum valualiount So 100000
is. Firm CLAs--lnferiOr lAn6s.
/, 100000 acres, minimum valuation
al 81 So $4,000
Forming an aggregate valuation for
the 100000 acss, Of $4,000 600
! Ii should be bone in mind, with reference 70
|. this estimate of d comparative value Of the
: lands within ffteeimiles Of the above mentioned
Q rivers, and withinthe sane distance Of youv
q road. that the laItenre much more desirable en-
4 the score OF healthand on account Of the great
er facility of COMMUNICATION With the road which
: they all possess.
4 This arises frOa tie fact that the neno.
: raj location Of thtdepots on the road will
be- on the ridge between the stroams
which the road ctsses. These ridges, al.
lhiouSH hoA haShf = SuiuCtouliy etoN4teu 10
:, afford natural rods of the most perfect
sIcharacter, passablswith heavy loads at all
(. reasons, for graf disIancs north and
20 south. Besides reaering the road access.
at able at all times, ID direction Of the road
east and west has IL further advantage Of
y dividing the lands ito the proper pr0pos-
e lion OF timber and rairie.
. II must be seen atA glancs the important
"a bearing Of these factsslone upon the value ~
nd your lands; but when GU take into view the
great intrinsic value othe coal lands, and their
:. effect in enhancing thlvSlue Of all the lands
" throughout the route, ser the road is in opera
&c ton, the criterion that have adopted must be
~, acknowledged 10 be belOs what might have been
al justly assumed. The hds along the Central
Railroad in Illinois, althksh valued much higher
than have ventured tuplaoe yours, are infcTi-
or in the advantages of isitiOn and IN suseeP-
o tibility Of improvement. In ny report, on As
G. location of your road, i've alluded in general
ID terms to the unsuTpaSsl fertility Of the col,
which, although Of unVaed richness, 10 diver.
sifed in its adaptation tdhe different pVoaustU
IA Of the climate. 3.
- For example: the eastFn divisisn q fharsal
passes through hemp dkriCt Of country; and
oy upon approaching Macon Sunly, the road enters
90 tobacco region unequ3sd probably in the
ts world, certainly not IN the nhed States. Even
TN She Elk Kncbss where expected ~ fisa a