Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1850-1854, 1854-10-19
nall Roads.

During q short Journey recently we
had an opportunity of personally witness
ing the extent of business done and do
ing on the Rail Road thoroughfares thro'
Michigan. When the Central and
Southern Michigan Roads were construct
ed and putin operation it was supposed
it would be q contest between them for
life, as it was taken for granted that both
could not find business to sustain them.
Experience proves that both cannot do
The business which crowds upon them and
requires to be done. All their capacities
for the transportation both of freight and
passengers are taxed to the utmost, but
still they cannot keep up with the puoiic
requirements. Four or five passenger
trains per day run over each road and as
many freight trans. The passenger trains
are almost always full and frequently all
the cars which can be spared are put in
rcouisition, and still are insufficient to
accommodate the travel. On the Central
Road we amused ourselves occasionally
counting the cars in the numerous freight
trains passing; we seldom found less than
thirty carsto train and frequently more;
and soon concluded that the more con-
venient way was to estimate them by
the half mile or mile, and the same we
are assured is the case on the Southern
Road. a14ss L -sGg91
As consequence we noticed further.
that the company at all points was rap
idly extending its facilities. New engines
were coming forward, new freight and
passenger cars being built, and passen-
ger and freight depots were being recon-
structed, and enlarged in many places,
and a determination was apparent to do
the business if it vas in the power Of the
routes already constructed to do it. We
do not believe it is. Judging from pre-
sent experience we do not believe the
two roads through Michigan are able UNI
der amy circumstances to do the busine SIS
which will eventually crowd ON them.
They must double their lines or new
roads must be built Such seems to us
. manifest destiny" Already there is
universal grumbling at the delay both in
the transportation of passengers and
freight We ourself lost something like
two days, and were subjected to an extra
expense of some ten or fifteen dollars, in
consequence of delays occasioned by oy-
er-ladcn trains and that too. in a very
short journey. The public cannot and
will not stand this great while, and we
are confident the time is not distant
when even new routes of rail road will
be constructed to accommodate this bu-
sineSs.
The moral Of all this is, that the usual
mode Of calculating the value of Rail
Roads is not very reliable. They them
selves. tend in such an extraordinary de-
gree to stimulate travel development and
enterprise Of all kinds, that the nearest
possible estimate that can be made of
their value is to calculate the possible
resources of the country through which
they pass when stimulated to its highest
Iegree of production and the possible
amount of population which will eventu-
ally depend upon them for its means and
mode Of business. a.~a.r IS
We think from the experience already
had and looking from this point of view,
that there has been scarcely road pro-
jectcd in this section ofcountry bat which
if completed will prove to be valuable
Investment for its builders