The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-05-22

:, KAILRoArs IN ALABAMA.-since the whistling Of
The nsEs s9f hs Jang Of the have
PRISE and long experience has taught the planters
OF Alabama the cost and trouble of conveying their
produce to morket, commendable spirit Of internal
Improvement seems to have arisen in nearly every
part of the State looking principally to railroads as
the most advantageous to the necessities of the
country. The consequence was, flood Of railroad
charters granted by the last Legislature which
roads, il built, would cover the State with perfect
network. But it is easier to build the roads pa
per than on the earth, and we venture to predict
that few Of those chartered will be built unless
proposed by the last Legislature. That the majority
in the Legislature. who opposed and defeated the
schemes of the State loaning its bonds for the
sstance Of the different railroads. proposed, acted
wisely, we think can be seen by the following rough
estimate we have made
Charters for fourteen new and different railroads
granted by the last Legislature, and the char
tiers OF eight others amended.
The fourteen new roads are the following
The Northeast and Southwest, from some point
on the Mobile and Ohio railroad, by Livingston and
Tuscaloosa and through the northeast part Of the
State towards Knoxville, Tennessee.
The Tennessee and Alabama Central railroad
from Monevallo north in the direction Of Nashville
The Greensboro and Uniontown road.
The South and North Alabama road, from Mont
gomery to Guntersville.
The Wetumpka and Montavallo road.
The East and West railroad from Girard to Selma.
The Northwestern road from Selma to intersect
the Memphis and Charleston road at some point in
Mississippi.
The Western Railroad from Montgomery to the
Mississippi line.
The Alabama and East Tennessee road from
Jacksonville northeast to the State line.
The Selma and Mobile road from Selma to some
point on the Girard and Mobile road.
The Boards Bluff and Elyton road.
The Opelika and Talladega road.
The West Point and Tennessee road from West
Point to the Charleston and Memphis road.
H1A liz nj FrAp ~. A.
point on the Girard railroad.
The following are the eight whose charters were
amended =
The Alabama and Florida road from Montgomery
The Gainesville and Mississippi road.
The Tennessee and Noxubee road.
The Mobile and New Orleans road.
The Girsrd and Mobile road.
The Marion and Alabama river road
The Lafayette branch road from Lafayette to
Opelka.
The Coosa and Chattcoga road. :,
We have estimated roughly the aggregate length
of the above named roads, and some others IN pro
grees not named, to be about 240O miles, Inc alo
sought for and actually proposed by phi neing IN
troduced was that the State should issue ts ponus
This would have Amounted to the nice sum Of
SO 100000 and the total cost OF tne roaus Nc
as much more. The manner by which u was pro
posed to extend the aid Of the statc 70 tne lroaas
to the amount OF 5000 per mile, taking rom the
roads certain securities which it was thought would
save the State from any loss
Now let our readers suppose that all these roads
were built, with the assistance furnished by the
state in the manner speciGed-ther cost being be-
tween s35 900 900 and $40 900 000-fuy stocked, In
complete running order, and the steam up ready to
send the cars whrling in every direction over
mountain and valley The engine might whistle
until il was hoarse before freight and passengers
enough would come to pay the current expenses OF
the roads and tie legal interest on their cost Ger
tain insolvency would be the fate OF at least hall OF
them, and an almost total loss 10 the State OF the
amount loaned to them. The credit Of the State
would be left ia about az weak condition as ii was
year ago, when we were on the eve Of repudiatins
the debt created for the banks.
We think the refusal Of the Legislature TO pass
that bill was one Of the wise things II dids-H~ssm
RtgistG,