New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1858-05-15

What il 10 be the future of Railroads! We ask
q broad question, but one Of which the answer de-
termnes not merely the good or i'll fortune of the
large class directly Interested in Railroads as prop
erty but the rate of our prospective progress as
nation
In our judgment, cur existing Railway enter
prses have seen and are seeing their worst days.
Companies may fail that have hitherto maintained
a seeming solvency, but We do not believe the re-
ceipts of American railroads for any future year
will be so low in the aggregate per mile as were
ard are hose of the year beginning with the lst of
July last. Our reasons for this faith briefly as
follows:
/. A decided check has been given to the bust
ness of Railroad. making There will of course be
many miles of railway constructed annually for the
next century; but the spirit which gridironed
Massachusetts, with perfect network Of railways,
and opened three nearly full routes between this
city and Albany, in competition with the steam
boats on the Hudson, can never be rekndled The
specuatOns of the reIt age may be as rash as those
of the last, but precisely the same follies will not
be re enacted. We may fairly presume, therefore,
that our present Railroads, in the main, not to
be subjected to any competition more ruinous than
that they have already encountered.
II. Our Population steadily increases, even in
the Oldest States, while that of the newer gains
from five to twenty per cent annually. Now an
increase of population in the Far West is not quite
so beneficial TO Eastern Railroads as though it were
located along their several tracks, yet it helps.
Iowa and Minnesot to-day furnish both freight and
passengers to the railroads of New-YOIk and New
England, and will furnish more and more as they
increase in population and wealth. Ten years
hence, they will patronze those roads to at least
double the extent they now do.
I'LL The extension of the railway system toward
Mexico the Pacific and the North, exerts like
good effect. If We build henceferth thousand
miles of new railroad per annum, mainly in the
West we shall thereby increase the number who,
because Of these novel facilities are melted to re-
visit the East, mpelled by affection curiosity or
the hope of gain. Whenever the Pacific Railroad
.ball have been built, it will pour fresh tide Of
trade and travel over our Eastern and Mississippi
Valley Roads.
w. The days Of reckless 6nsncieriDg- of proms
ing TO pay such interest bonus to the suppers of
the latter half OF the capital requlredto build road
that those who supplied the former half can have
nohDg--mu.t be very nearly at an end. Hence
forth. if means cannot be found wherewith 10 open
new line of railroad at toerable rate of interest,
the work must wait. This stops ole of the worst
gaps In the railway fnancieIing Of the last ten
years.
On the whole, we have a strong confidence that
railway fortunes generally have touched bottom
that there must henceforth be gradual improve
ment, which Will be sgnaly accelerated from the
hour that a good Tariff is reenacted. Railway
stocks msy rise or fall as Neutrality-suspicious. with
reason. sometimes without-but We trust that rail-
way frances are destined to experience gradual
but sure and steadily increasing improvement. Aud
Of this there is ample need.