Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1855-02-05
ron THE AMERICAN ORGAN.
Aid 10 Railroads.

Aid 10 Railroads.
Mr.. EDIroR: Allow me, through the medium OF
your generally read paper, TO explain las under
stand it) the extent, operation, and "pyecodeats
sohich sanction" the movement to aid the greatly
embarrassed railroad interest Of the United States.
Without claiming for my understanding Of the
question "inallibIity," yet hope to be found
substantially correct.
The railroad companies desire to be treated as
they were in the days of the administrations of
Harrison. As the roads were great avenues Of the
people, upon which to carry their produce to mar
ket, and bring back goods, &c., their representa-
tives, headed by cold Hickory" passed law re-
funding to companies building railroads, any duties
which they had been required by custom-house
officers to pay into the treasury upon railroad iron
provided the iron was actually laid down aoithi's
three years from the date of importation.
That law was passed during Gen. Jacksons first
term of service, and remained in full force some
elepen gears
Not only so. Numerous special acts were pass
ed by Congress allowing particular companies
longer time to lay down their iron. These acts
were passed when Clay, Webster, Calhoun, Wright,
Buchanan, Tazewell, Walker, Polk, Abbott Law
renee, and other great men we're in Congress, and
passed BY unanimous eote. Among the compa-
mics thus favored were the company between Balti-
more and Philadelphia, and company between New
York and Boston--the latter was allowed Though
connecting two cities SO rich and powerfully foe
years
Now this course was wise. For the building of
these railroads has made real estate valuable,
and rendered it impossible that wheat, corn hemp,
tobacco, beef and pork, five hundred miles distant
from the sea-board, shall sink to the low prices
they used to be worth before the roads were built
Prices of produce at New York, Chicago, St. Louis,
Louisville, Nashville, and Wheeling, will shortly
have a fired proportionate rate from which, ow-
ing to speedy and safe communication, but very
little variation can be effected by spectators.
This the people understand and appreciate.
The roads--even the great trunk roads this
country, are by no means built many, it is true,
have been completed; some nearly SO; others, in
part whilst others still have not been com
menced
The railroad interest is, at this time, so deeply
depressed, as to be burden upon the money
market of the country--its embarrassment is 30
great as to derange in its effects, the financial ope-
rations of all other great interests and these
crying out in their agony to let the railroad inter-
est perish, that one hungry borrower may be
thrown out of the money market, which his pres
ence so terribly darkens. For the price bid for
the use Of money is proportioned rather to the
necessities than to the abilities fthe borrower. One
necesstious borrower raises the price Of money,
and is, therefore, hated by other borrowers.
But this will not do. Many millions have been
expended upon roads which are unfinished, and,
therefore, unproductive a small additional sum
renders productive the millions which are now
worthless, because they earn nothing That sum,
therefore, must and will be had 1t is the interest
thousands of people who live along and within
twenty miles of their lines to finish them, cost what
it may to get the small additional funds.
If Congress will now so half as far as Congress
and old Andrew jackson went in 1882, and as Clay,
Webster, Calhoun, and Buchanan sanctioned,
great relief will be afforded to the great lines of
roads which have developed the material interests
of this country. Instead Of refunding upon iron
actually laid down within the past three years, as
in General Jackson's days, let Congress refund
upon that laid down within the past eighteen
months and what relief would be afforded to
every part of the South and West; yea, even to
the North and to Pennsylvania And by directing
duties to be refunded upon iron actually laid dozen
during the next eighteen months, the unfinished
roads could be completed, and unproductive Sc
curfties, now worthless and laid away in iron
safes, win be brought out and made valuable But,
in eighteen months, with the money market as it
now is, new roads could not be graded and bridged
in time to lay down iron rails; prudent men, there
fore, can see that, If the encouragement given by
jackson to railroads is again given, cvea in part,
il viii not (if limited to brief period) cause new
roads to be built and securities to be created
TO still further embarass an embarrassed money
market, and thus endanger the existence of those
nearly finished lines of road which, without new
endorsements, viii be completed and made pro-
ductve and valuable. To complete, to finish, to
pay, to make productive, is the object.
word as TO Pennsylvania herself do not
believe the three or four railroad iron makers in
that State ciH oppose such plan. The amount
of iron rails that would be brought in during the
next few months, to finish uncompleted roads, and
Which, tncg otntrWist Nouiu luhnuldctufc, 10 not
worth fighting about; whereas, the refunding for
the past eighteen months you'd strengthen their
only customers, the railroad companies Will they
deliberately war upon their only customers in
matter 50 vital to the customers and 80 unimport-
ant to themselvesS do not believe It. II is not
business like.
can easily understand why they will labor 10
prevent any movement at all but, when made in
despite thereof shall be disappointed II any Penn
sylvanian arrays himself against SO reasonable and
important matter to the railroad interest Of his
State He win be content to follow the path of
jackson, Clay, and Buchanan, especially as such
conduct would strengthen emery customer the three
or four railroad iron makers have in the United
States 1t is also to Ne recollected that every
and locomotive builder in Pennsylvania Is deeply
concerned I; relief granted to their customers Is