, 1859-01-21
What Railroads DO for the People.


In 1850, Ohio had not over one hundred uiles
OF railroad IN active operation; the pnrt then
completed being portion Of the Cincinnati and
CleVela1d Line. In 1852, there we're LISA miles
completed. and in 1858, there we're o,54l mie4
toe value Of land, at these several periods,
we're as follows, viz:
n5o -...-,.................s3!i3; ~ 6s
Il ls5s 5u-a,si7
The increase from 1850 to 1858. ia the value
o. real property, &2l8. ss7, lG9-or a PER cent,
The incFeaae OF population in that time is about
"a pr cent, or little over one third the actual
increase in the Tslue Of property
Thus two-thirds this iacrease in tho value of
property ID due to some other cause than the
increase Of population. which represents the
permanent tmprert rt:sfat a.dds BY }d5or. What
othef Gauges lave contributed to give this addi.
OF tie State? Undoubtedly, the increase in real
monty, BY the increase Of the cold mines Of CAL
lforma, has had something 10 do With this in
Cream Of value. But, If We say that the whole
property of the country. ,has increased ten per
cent since 1850, in consequence OF the increase
Of money only, we shall probably be quite up to
the mark This leaves 80 per cent. to be atttib.
ton That this is 10 in Ohio, ne know by actu-
al observations. We can not be mistaken in
saying that the increased ralue of land in Ohio
is mainly dua to the increased price Of produce,
and that Increased price is again due chiefly to
the Ease and readiness with which prodncs is
carried to the great markets Of New York, Phil
adel2hia, Boston, and Baltimore, all OF which
are aow reached by excellent lines Of railroad
from everT quarter Of tho State. The amount
Of vllue addEd To the property Of this Stats, by
the construction OF railroads aince 1850, Is
about one hundred and ten millions OF dollars.
This is more than the entire cost OF all the roads
il this State! Had the holders Of real estate
bn.r $ov ffv will of nj tn
make railroads, they would have thought it an
net Of most enormous oppression But they
would have made fifty millions clear profit By
the operation, and lett Ail the roads Of Ohio
without dollar OF debt AR it u, the owners
Of real estate have the benefit, md ehe roads
hays the debts. In the harah Judgment which
is scne times passed on the managers Of roads,
it should be recollected that the enterprises
they have undertsken, and the debts they haze
mnde, have conferred inestlmabe benefits On
the great public. They hare riaked their own
reputation, and often times l~st their property
ia eafryin9 forward enterprises which have re-
suited in the wealth and prosperity OF the peo-
p}e.-
2. 2.~Let US look At the effects Of railroads on
the employment Of Labor. To furnish full EN-
ployment tor labor, is the most desirable fuuc.
tion to be performed by any Of the arts Of life;
for, il both employs those who might be other
Wlse idle, and 1t furnishes a market for large
2uUuuto u plQuAtC VI ah14IQIA4i1 I'LL ObuC1
arts which would not otherT.sa exist We
have ascertained that there are in round num-
bers, ten thousand aGle bo4itd mtn employed on
the railroad operation Of Ohio, independent Of
construction. The:e ten thousand men are equiv
aent {according TO the usual ratio) to g populA-
tion Of 60, 900 people. The money actually paid
these employees {these are skiled laborers) is
fully equal to fire millions Of dollars per anaum.
Then these 10000 people must buy bread and
meat Of the farmers, mud thus is equal TO $4,000
barrels Of -four. ind 10000 cattle. Thus the
railroads have furnished O neao market for tabor
dA4 q nt,o 1aarket for agricultural produce.
In this brief review, we have skesched only
part Of the profitable results which attend the
construction of railroads in this State. When
80 many persons ceusure their management,
ne should recollect what they have done.
What is said above Of the beautiful results Of
railroads in Ohio. corresponds with our own
experience in Illinois.-[ EDS. P. 1T.