The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1854-09-30

other Northern State with genial ard de-
lighttul climate, the lands Of the State art
become impoverished and worm GuIlics
and washes upon our hill-silcs, like wrinkles
upon the face, denote age and decay. Our
people, in halflctllargic state, view this
sad picture before their eyes, with scarcely
any efforts worthy of their generous char
actcr, to retrieve the fortunes and prosperity
of the State. We arc doing nothing, liter
ally nothing, to fcr'ilizc, bcauify and enrich
\ our native land, whilst others, by their cncr-
gies aud liberal outlay OF capital, arc grad
ually carrying off our wealth.
| These things are not uttered bv w:v 0!
rcproac', TO our g'oiious little State, to
which no one is more deyo;cc:!y attached
than myself, but to awaken if possible her
| hig'-mindcd people to 4 just sense of their
| true ntcrcst-to induce them to throw aside
the fatal lcthargy which has so imrcled
| their prosperity, and to show themselves in
the manly energy which So naturally be-
longs to them.
Let us be satisfied Of one fact. In this
| progressive country of ours, 10 State can be
great and prosperous without railroads.
These arc now inseparablc from the ii.ll de-
velopment OF the resources OF any country.
Railroads get up improvements Of nearly
every description. They cherish the me
clianical arts. They begct improvement in
the lands of a country. They Introduce
manurcs Of various kinds, and all improved
methods Of agriculture. 1t has been csti-
mated, from correct data, gathered in coun-
tries where railroads have bcc; built, that
along the Inc OF railroads lands have gen
orally doubled in value and the instances
are numerous where they have been trcblcd
and even quadrlrled.
But do not suppose that these works can
be achieved without great labor and expense.
No great good, no magnificent enterprise,
can ever be effected without extraordinary
efforts, and large outlay of means. a n.-
gardly grasp Of the purse, and Il timid spirit
Of adventure will utterly destroy she pros
poets of any undertaking requiring large
means and liberal efforts. DO not believe
that you can build 4 railroad of any magn-
tude without you arc willing 90 subscribe
freely and to use the most active crergy.-
But why may YOU not do what others have
done? Take encouragement from the noble
examples furnished by citizens of other
States and other countries. They have not
hesitated to engage i'll the most strpcndous
works, under the heaviest outlay of means.
The Hudson River Railroad, running upon
the banks of the river for IA miles, cost
upwards Of ten millions Of dollars, at an av-
eragc cost per mile of 37O,lSt. The Erie
Railroad, $50 miles in length, cost upwards
of tlirty-thrce millions Of dollars, ut cost
per mile Of a7l,2G9. In England the cost
has been still heavier. The railroad from
Liverpool to London cost s290,s63 per
mile; the Great-Western Railway cost
S2s4,0OO per mile; and it will be found
that the average cost of the leading rail-
roads in England has not been less than
s22G,3S3 per mile. Yet in all the roads
abovcnamed, in this country and in Eng
land, the stockholders have realized more
than the legal rates Of interest upon the a.
mount Of their subscription, to say nothing
Of the immense incidental advantages result
lug from these roads.
At the South our roads cost less, though
they will compare favorahly in point of du-
rability and speed with the railroads in any
other country. The South Carolina Rail
road in all 24s miles in length, cost ST.
100000, or about s2S,O3a per mile. Scv-
cral things, however, conspircd to increase
the expense. In the first place, it was an
experiment-it was the pioneer road in
South Carolina. The art of constructing
roads was then very imperfectly Known
1t was first made on short piles; but expert
cnce soon taught the necessity of laying the
timbers on earth. Again, it was first built
with flat iron this soon was abandoned, and
the fange iron adopted; but soon again
the I iron was manufactured, and its supe-
riority at once suggestedits use.
The Georgia Central Road, 101 miles in
length, cost about So, ,4G5. 900, or about 81 s.
600 per mile. The Georgia Railroad cost
about $40 900 per mile. The Macon and
Western Railroad about $4,000 per mile
The Greenyille and Columbia Railroad, 1G4
miles in length, cost $2,220,OOO, at a cost
per mile of sl8,414.
When others have done so much at so
heavy cost, and have derived benefits SO
large, how can you hesitate to engage freely
in your enterprise with heart and purse p
You must be satisfied that the best way to
improve your country is to build railroads.
If you desire your region to thrive, and your
children to settle around you when they
grow up, improve your country. Enrich
your lands beautify your houses, gardens
and fields; multiply yonr comforts and con-
veniences; ,openup to your children n field
III I'll lI Ill