Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1855-07-26

resources of trade end travel must be its
chief support, we should take but narrow
view of the subject, and one far short OF its
magnitude, should we regard j, as only eff
feeling the lands, the travel, and The pro-
duets of the soil in its immediate vicinity.
To consider the question Of benefit in i!s
foil and proper scope, we must view II as
effecling more or less The whole peninsula
between The Potomac and The Chesapeake
Bay, embracing the counties of Anne Arun.
del, Prince Georges, CHARLES, Calvert, and
81. Mary's, which mus. soon svaiI them
selves wholly or occasionally OF the Main
Stem of the road, or OF the branches which
v i'll be hereafter constructed to the more
remote points, and for " hich the level coun.
Iy offers so grea, inducemen.
II Is true that many districts Of The coun-
ties lie contiguous or convenient TO tide ws-
ter navigation, but even these as well as
others more distant have experienced The
great Disadvantages Of sending produce to
marke, BY water, which is in most cases,
attended with vexstious delays, lose and un-
certainty, and which in winter is unavoida-
Bile.
The crops of The counlies are either har-
vested too lac. or are Of such nature, that
q large portion Of them cannot be sent 10
marke, until The following season in conse
quence Of the navigation being closed or
The roads impossible. A railroad will afford
a constant. communication The achole year,
Of which The producer can avail himself al
any momen. snd by its rapid .ranspor! take
advantage Of ,he advance prices which u.s.
ually take place during the close of naviga
ZION.
1t is only by railway iha. q quick and
certain conveyance can he had al all sea-
sons. and thus enable The producer 10 meet
the contingencies Of fuclua,ng market,
and IA obtain the best prices on tie one
hand, or save himself from loss on the other.
THE actual increase in the value Of lands
due to the cons,ruclion of a railroad is con-
,rolleI BY so many circumstances that ac-
cura,e estimates cannot always be made, and
| in most cases must fall f1r short of the fact.
"By taking only The farming lands Of the
district Of The country traversed by rail-
road where The influence OF such work
can be more directly seen there is no doubt
| in such case that The increased value Of
lands is many times greater Than the cost Of
The road :"
II is reasonably certain from the effects
already produced in many districts, that The
four ,housand miles Of railroad in the Stale
Of Ohio will add TO the value Of the landed
property in ,hH. State a, eas, FIVE times The
cos, Of all the roads, assuming ,ha. TO be
SS0,000.O00.
Whist is true in one Stale is more or less
true IN all. In The Atlantic Safes we have
positive data 10 guide US. ia The Slate of
Msssschuse,,s and NV York what is but
CONJECTURE in ,he Western Sales has become
in them a matter of reality.
The assessed valuation Of property in the
State of Massachusetts increased from $780,
100000 in 1910 to S5S0,0000O0 in 1850 :;
while IN the Slate of New York The valua-
ton Of property has qusdrufIed in twenty
vears-An increase in both States mainly
due 10 the numerous railroads constructed
in them whose indirect benefits far exceed
The value Of stock dividends annually de-
clsred.
Now, if We assume en- area of but twelve
miles in width by The length OF the Bsl'i-
more and Potomac road, we have in three
counties SIG square miles, or 522,24O acres;
then if we assume The value of lands on the
route 10 be $50 per acre, according 10 the
census Of 1850, and admit .ha. the making
( of the railroad will double their average
i, price in ten wears, which j. will certainly
do, we shall have an increase in the value
, of The area alluded TO of S $l,O44.4SO-a sun
equal To the cost Of the entire road, with II:
eouipment end all complete.
Others can make their own estimate o
coniec,ures upon this subject, and there art
abundant facts a, command 10 guide then
, TO a safe conclusion.
. II may no. be wi,hou. interest 10 th'
. landed propre,ors Of The counties, 10 s'a1
the we'll known fact, that the commercia
! limi, of transportation on common roads i
confined within q few miles, depending up
on the kind of freigh, and condition of lh
. roads.
! Upon the average Of common highways
in fair condition, the cost of transportation
is about 15scen,s per ton per mile, and N
common earth roads in usual order, the C os
" is about 25 cents. The condition of thes
: las, varies so much that twice that SUI
would not q, times cover expenses, Will
:, a, other times they are impossible for hes
!" w transport. Assuming 25 cents per to
, per mile to be the average cost, would CIV
for whea, and corn three-louT,hs OF cen
per bushel for mile, and for tobacco, pc
, hundred, one and quarter cents.-At 'hes
- rates, estimating the value OF wheat
:, $3.50 per bushel, and corn a. Is cents ]
:. market, the transportation Of the former ~
,f miles, and of the latter, 100 miles, woul
!. absorb their full value, or, in other word
- cos. the owner as much to get them 10 ma
ke,, over en- earth roads they would sell 10