Monongalia mirror. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1855, 1854-11-04
EFFECTS OF RAILROADS on FARM PRODUCTS

The annexed paragraphs are from an Ad'
dress by George F. Magoun, Esq, delivered
before the Des Mones Agricultural Society,
in Iowa, as we find it published in the Iowa
Farmer:
81 naturally mention here, as a great aid
to agriculture, improved roads. Plank and
railroads are simply science applied to loco
motion. Why is fprm on railroad worth
ten times as much as one fifty miles distant!
Because its products can be carried swiftly
and cheapIs to dozen Of the best markets,
while the latter is confined 10 one, and that
poor one. Railroads have increased The
amount Of milk bought in Boston fve.(oll
aud advanced pasture land 100 miles from
New York cooper cent. Property in seventy
counties Of Michigan has increased in value
in term Of years $50, 100000, but three
fourths or the increase has been in those l2
coau.ies which arc ,raversed by railroads
The Illinois Central will add S40,0000C0,
the Burlington and Missouri Railroad will
add SIS Or $40, ,0Oo,O 600 to the worth Of the
lands over which it passes. You can raise
better and snrcr fruit crop than the orch.
aMis,s Of western New York, but theirs is
hurried By steam TO the best markets ina few
hours, uua sold there three or four times
while you are getting yours 10 a poorer mar.
ket. Chicago has been supplied with peuch-
es, &c., this season from Alton; another
season and our own county will pour into
that market, and the noble orchards and nur.
series that flank our beautiful Orchard City
will rise TO the value Of near rneigh ghborhood
10 the garden city Of the Lakes. Some OF
You Will ye, send off your apples, wheat
pork, potatoes, boef, mutton, &C., TO the
Like, and then pass from your doors by rail,
and get your advanced price, and Oh your
return pass an old fogy neishbor trundling
his into town in his slow and ancient wagon.
Michigan farmers changed the balance of
trade in favor Of the state 81, 900 900 year
by putting in more wheat; but without a
quick run 10 market their excess Of wheat
would lave ro,,ed on their hands. With
out railroads il would take two months, at
$50 or $50 head to get bceves from the
/.
West 10 New York, and they would arrive
-unsaleable. Nowthey 90 in 2 days, ihptime
order, at cost Of $40 or Sl2, and at the
rate Of 22,00O week. they go even from
the Cherokee nation, west Of the Arkansas,
marked with the hieroslyphics Of the Indi.
aus who raised them. A'Dts Aloines coun-
uy iarmer has proved lhati it will pay here
to raise stack iur the slanbics Of tho Allan.
tic cities. Que advantage Of railroads is the
dressed meats that can be conveyed 1000
miles fresh leaving hides, horns, onal, &C.,
behind for iertalizing anil other purposes
Ohio dressed meats are now on the table Of
New York city. Another advantage will be
that artificial fertilizers can be brought TO us
as cheaply when we know how scientifically
and pEoiitably to use them. Railroads de.
crease the fluctuations Of markets; it will
not long be true that "wetdays III England
derange the exchanges Of the world.m
Railroads improve the outward aspect OF
the ccuutry-farms which are under the eye
Of passing thousands daily, are neaier, clean
er, and more ,asteful-perhaps the occupants
are also! ! would not say ko,r much our
railroads, eas, and west, willnake US pros
per, but will sag that men are now here in
middle age before their white hairs
are harvesledSby death, will see the fruit and
grain and cattle Of Southern Iowa and the
Platte Valley become an important offset in
New York 10 our purchases OF English,
French. and German Goods, uud in the Pa.
cilic ports to our importation Of silks from
India, aud teas and porcelain from China and
japan. .p