Wisconsin tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1847-1854, 1853-02-03
Benefit Of Rail Roads 70 the Farmer.

The value OF RaIl Roads 10 the AgTtcu,tuT-
alists, we fear is not properly understood by
all our Farmers. The present high prices for
Pork, Beef, Flour. &c, mary attribute to 9th
er causes than Railroads v hich have not as
yet approached nearer than within seventy
FIVE or hundred miles Of our town. They
appear not to be aware that Tue large amount
Of these articles formerly sent here from
abroad, now find better marke: east, and a
cheaper conveyance TO that market, than they
could find here, and consequently the small
amount produced in this vicinity, find good
market at home. We had intended to speak
more fully upon this subject, at this time, and
urged upon the Farmers Of Iowa County and
the mining district, the pTopriety of lending
a liberal hand in the construction Of the Min
eral Point Railroad, by pointing out some Of.
the benefits they would defiye from such a
channel Of communication; but the follow
ing article from the jefferson IN. W Farm
er does better justice to the subject than we
should likely do. We therefore transfer it to
our columns, hoping that all interested will
give it careful and attentive perusal, and
trust that il may stimulate some to put their
shoulders TO the wheel, and push forward this
work, which will benefit tie farmers of The
mining district more than any other class.
Farmers have for several years been look
ing upon railroads with an eye of jealousy.
and i; is but quite recent they began to feel
that no class Of men had so direct and so
great an interest in them as themselves. Il
would be stolid ignorance not to see thing
50 obvious, and farmers are now compelled
70 admit that the greatest advantages arising
tom these works Of improvement, accrue TO
een- Three years past
ms done more to open the eyes Of the farmer
- their real interest in the construction Of
these roads, than the ten previous ones, for in
every agricultural district, this direct interest
is no longer question fer discussion, but
fixed fact. In our own county this fact is
clearly demonstrated by the advance Of most
kinds Of produce, though il is little over one
year since railroad was completed through
the county, and the ample facilities, and com
parative nearness in reaching market. Dali
rymen have been receiving this fall . cents
per pound for their butter, and from to 9
cents for the cheese, as we'll as correspond
ing rise on pork, most kinds Of grain, poul-
Try, eggs, and hundred ether articles that
would hardly have vaius beyond a home
consumption, except for these railroads. Does
any one pretend to believe that such prices
would be obtained were il not for railroad IA
cilities of reaching a market. In proportion
a.. -, q,
is the value in land enhanced in the vicinity
of every railroad in our country and every
distric, through which such road passes, is
so much richer, as is indicated by the advance
in the prices Of agricultural products.
An idea of the advantages Of railroads ov-
er common roads, may be found from the fact
Of cheapness, say nothing of the Tapidity.
which is Of incalcGlabe advantage in the
transportation of some articles 10 a market.
On the common road there is a limit be-
yond which produce cannot be carried with
out costing the value Of the product itself,
and this limit is comparatively but few miles,
depending something on The nature of the
road, and the kind Of freight 10 be carried
Probably a fair average for the common road,
would be Is cents for every ton, per mile
Now estimating the value Of corn at IS cents.
and of wheat at 81 so per bnshel, and that
80 bushels or about that, would make ton,
the value Of wheat would b. equal to its cost
of transportation at $50 miles, and of corn at
los miles. According to these estimates,
neither of these grains would have any value
at such distances from maFNel, the cost Of
transporting it equaIing the value Of the com
modify.
On an average Of railroads II is estimated
that freight can DE carried at one cent and
fifth for each ton PEI mile, at about one tenth
the cost on the common roaI Then BY rail-
road. wheat 81 50 per bushei, may be carried
$500 miles before consuming its value, and
corn $50 miles. Thirty-three bushels Of
wheat being one ton in weight, would be
worth $40 50 at market, bot transported BY
railroad SO miles i would sand at SIS 80
BY common road, same distance s42. One
hundred miles by railroad the value would Be
SIS. By common road al S3i so. Trans
port il 600 miles by railroad, it wonId BE-
worth $40 50, and By common read SO So
Garry il $50 miles TO market by railroad. and
your wheat would be worth Sl4 so. and by
common road nothing. Corn at - cents per
bushel-at market, sen; by railroad I70 miles
would be worth O. cents, and if sent b. com
NOR road that distance it would be worth no
thing. the cost Of transportation having equal