Grand River times. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1851-18??, 1853-01-19
Effects or Railroads upon the price OF Lands
and Farming Produce.


miles wide, through which Railroad is con-
structed, is sufficient to build and stock it. The
experience of the whole country has proved that
this estimate is not extravagant. Every mile OF
n strip of land three miles wide--one and half
miles each side of the road-wi contain 1920
acres The average increase in the price of such
strip of land has been no. far from $500 an
acre, in new and thinly settled districts of coun
try, it has been much more in many instances
This would be equal to $2s,Soo increase TO ev-
cry mile of the road; or in other words, if the
farmers or owners of this strip of county should
themselves build the Road, their land would be
worth enough more to pay the whole expense
of its construction, and they would own the
Road besides. IfRaroads, therefore, conferred
no other benefits upon farmers than this great
addition to their wealth, they will see that they
are more deeply interested in their construction
than any other class of the community. They
receive direct, positive, tangible advantage, in
the immediate rise in the value of their proper
ty. The farmer, owning n farm Of $50 acres,
worth, perhaps, twenty dollars per acre. can sell
it for $4,000 per acre the very day Railroad
shall have been completed through or near it.
He is, therefore, made nearly $4,000 richer by
this enterprise.
Such, we have not doubt, would be the i'm
mediate effect upon the price of every mans
farm living within mile and half of the pro-
posed Oakland and Ottawa Railroad to which
we referred few days since. If the Road,
therefore, should cost three million dollars, more
or less, the country through which it would run
would be just that amount richer than it was be-
fore its construction. This is a consideration
which should awaken the serious attention of
the farming interests, of Michigan to this mpor-
tant subject of Railroads. If they will but in
vestgate the subject for themselves, we believe
they will awake to the necessity of taking hold
of the matter to the full extent Of their ability.
If those thus directly interested in the Grand
River Railroad will only do what it is for their
interest TO do, the Road can, and will be made,
almost without the aid Of Detroit, although our
citizens, we doubt not, will contribute their
whole share towards the great enterprise.
But there are other advantages to the farm
ing interest besides the rise in the value of their
lands. The products of farm situated at any
considerable distance from market, where Or
binary roads have to be depended upon. But
Railroads at once give them a ready access to-
market, at good prices and quick sales. The
experience of farmers near the great centres Of
population, is a sufficient proof of the great adj
vantages of Railroads in this point of view. In
deed, no one has any doubt Of it. The rea-
sons for it are too obvious to need proof or ar
gument.
Upou this subject we find in one Of our ex-
changes an illustration of the value of Railroads
to farmers, which will be found ofmuch interest,
and we commend it to their attention. 1t is
well known fact, that upon ordinary highways,
the economical limit to transportation, is conf
ned within a comparatively few miles, depend
ing, of course, upon the kind of freight and the
character of the roads Upon the average, cost
of transportation upon such highways upon the
average, is not far from fifteen cents per mile
per ton. Estimating at the same time the value
of wheat at $3.50 per bushel, and corn at 70
cents, nearly fifty per cent too high for Michi-
gan, and that thirty-three bushels of each are
equal to ton, the value of the former would
be equal to its cost of transportation for $50
miles, and the latter l65 miles, and at the same
proportions when the value Of the two articles
is less or more,at these respective distances from
market, neither of the above articles would have
any commercial value, with only a common earth
road, because it would cost as much to trans
port them to market as they would bring when
there. But we find that we can move articles
on Rail Roads at the rate of one cent and five
mills per ton per mile, or one tenth the cost up
on ordinary roads. These roads, therefore, ex-
tend the limit at which produce can be trans
ported at the same price, to $500 and 1850 miles
respectively. At the limit Of the economical
movement of the articles enumerated upon the
common highway by the use of Rail Roads, the
wheat would be worth $44,50 and corn $22,27
which sum would respectively represent the act
ual increase of value created by the interposi-
ton of such work. These facts Of themselves
will show to farmers how much more important
it is for them than to any other industrial inter-
of nf fha foto nd