Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1854-01-03
RICHMOND ENQUIRER.
MONDAY MORNING, JANUARY 2, 1854.
lMPOST ON IRON

lMPOST ON IRON
Among The many sound and udclous suggestions pre-
scented by the Secretary OF the Treasury In hs able report
there Is one which conceive be- If sound 10 principle
certainly not Judlcous In policy. We alude the
mendaon of specific duty rou the Of the mpost
to DC determined by the average roorem duty for The
three or four years
For The las, four years The price iron has been oxob
tant and consequently specific duty adjusted by the
rage ad uaorsm tariff for this PERIOD would inlic bur-
densome tax the consumption Of iron. II Ia opinion,
that the iron interest of country does need and
not demand any special protection With the advantage Ct
proximity 10 the Market 1t Is fully able 10 compete with iron
OF foreign production. But II there be In fact necessity
for discriminating duty favor Of the iron interest,"
1t Ia urgent the necessity felt BY every interest in
the community for abundant and cheap supply OF ron
Tho able commercial correspondent Of The Washington
Union deveopes this Idea in mastery manner.
"The enormous imposed upon iron here is This
moment weighing upon the railroad interests through
upon every industry OF the country If there is any ono
interest which, moro than sEolher Is common ~ every
class Of industry and prosperity in the United States it Is
that Of railroads They create values by making land avail
able 10 labor and accessible market by esscning The
line well as the expense consumed in transportation
by reducing the stocks Of goods required kept by small
dealers, enabling them TO embrace greater aud fresher
variety with the amount of capital The aggregate
plies prompt and cheaper. They raise the price
of land by diminishing the Of going 10 market and the
expense Of paying back the proceeds They enhance The
demand for small manufactures and generally by bring.
log consumers and remote producers Immediately In
contact enhance the share that every retain OF
the proceeds of his Industry The greater the nua.
bcr perfect the of railroads.
lhs better for the general ntercs,she property
will be equal.zei, and Industry feGundated-the more
prompt the communication between cities, coun,ics and
States aud communities and the rapid the develop
menl OF the general welfare, industrial POLITICAL social and
financial These facts well known the beneficial re.
suits OF rail- road operation generally appreciated that
immense and expensive works have been undertaken with
out regard 10 the special of The enterprise but solely
for the ben, ts which, len fold ratio, known
suit from their operation This The with he New
York and Ee the Hudson River. and others; while the
illinois Central still 10 course OF construction Is an extra
ordinary example OF The vast benefits which contiguous pro-
pery derives from raj! road So convinced has Congress
been Of this matter that has not hesitaed 10 make large
grants OF lands In aid Of those works and the federal gov
ernmen has up this lime been the greater gamer by the
operation Thus ands In illinois, for which not donr
had been offered In OF hty years. IL sold 10 The
last year 1872 600 ac,es Of which 234 900 for
double pcclhal s II realized SSo00O0 bsf3c tho road
was completed. Now land is element Of rail
kind OF boon is that which by grant Of land In
duccs capitalists undertake road, aad then raises
the tax upon The lion amount equal 20 The vaGe
ct the road To illustrate by the illinois road The gov
gave the State which conveyed TO the company
500 900 acres which the government had In vain offered
sale for than fifteen years. at 81 2S The cash va
ue the gran, was hc-cfoc So 100 00a hrt land war
rants could 90 housh I'll that means the and
coui Enyc been bought 5y The company al s-ooo""".
strength of the gran, lhey eessGr ee
This As 900 tons have boen received according TO tie aie re-
po. OF tho company and al tho average oil The past year.
mus, have paid 5000 O0D duties The government have ac
uoy received $500 600 cash for lands besides making
81 OOp which I, has actually received from The operation
of the Illinois road The company have Is 0 tons 10
receive which was bought si0 per on bnt which has
since sen 10 $50 consequently, they ore now required 10
pay s24 per duty $6000OO more-nakine 81 oooo
cash which the has received by gift oe
acres land that II could not sell!
1.-THE census report tells that In January, !So3 theTe
were 6a miles Of road in progcss In The United States
Now the Erie railroad 7iA mes, has G9?S3 tons, Oh in
round numbers loo the mile Consequently all ire
roads In progress will require 2G5 CO tone Of rails These
roads were all projected when iron worth siO and the
duty Sl2 The Iron s $780, and the duty SA IL these
roads are 10 be finished 1t will be under tax o
10 be pad to the government