The Messenger. [volume] (Georgetown, Del.) 1858-18??, 1860-01-19
THE j. & B. RAIL ROAD FL
NANCIALLY CONSIDERED.

NANCIALLY CONSIDERED.
1t is principle of business, that
before man makes an investment,
he wants to be assured that such an
investment will pay either directly
or remotely. No one likes to merge
their capital in an enterprise not
likely to return them an interest;
but many invest in Railroads, not
with any expectation of deriving a
certain per centum from such, but
with the belief and assurance that
they will be benefited by the i'm
proved condition Of affairs always
anticipated from these enterprises.
To make the application, many of
the citizens of this County subscri-
bed to the Junction & Breakwater
Railroad, doubtful at that time if
the company would ever declare
dividend of any amount upon the
capital stock, for they had not re-
fected upon the peculiar advanta-
ges of the financial management;
but they expected to see their inter-
est in an improved condition of af-
fairs in the neighborhood through
which the road was to pass. They
knew that the value of lands would
be materially enhanced thereby;
business be increased; new business
built up; as new avenues were open
ed, facilities provided for the trans
portasion of produce, and the bring
ing of fertilizers for their lands at
their very doors as it were. These
were the considerations that actua-
ted our farmers in subscribing; the
other classes were prompted by the
knowledge that they would share
the prosperity incident to this inaug-
uration of affairs; they knew that if
our agriculture was rendered more
flourishing by these means, all bran
ches of trade would be rendered
more healthy and thrifty. This was
the manner in which subscribers sup
posed they would receive returns
for the money subscribed, knowing
that what was for the general good
of the community, was the, especial
good Of individuals, they were liber-
al, and that if they failed even to
receive one cent for the shares ia
ken, they were abundantly remuner-
ated in the general prosperity which
is always looked for to be infused
into all branches of business in car
rying out such enterprises.
In the case of the j. & B. Rail-
road, which is now being projected,
aside from the advantages accruing
to every one along the line, and for
miles on either side, stockholders
may hope, and reasonably too, to
receive good per cent. on their
stock, when the entire road is COM
pleted to the Breakwater. In inan-
cial matters, the road will be pecu-
liarly and adyantageously circum-
stanced. If the enterprise were to
rely exclusively upon the local trade
with which it is 10 be encouraged
before they can rec p dividend, they
might well apprehend they would
not soon hear of such a dividend de-
clared; but such fortunately is not
the case; they will not only receive
per cent, if the road should pay at
all, on the amount of subscriptions,
but upon the entire bonus with
which it is favored, For instance,
the line projected is Al miles in ex-
tent, about 81 miles Of which have
been built TO build this line, it is
estimated that 100000 viii be re.
CURED. Now ifthe money requisite
for this purpose were to come out
ofprivate pockets, We might, with
reason, doubt its feasibility and the
fact of itS being paying concern;
but it must be remembered that
$276, 900 of this sum has been APP
proprlated by the Legislature; on
all this sum will stockholders derive
an interest; not on the sum they
have subscribed, but upon the entire
sum; not only on their own subscrip-
tions, but upon the bonus Of the
Legislature. Snpposing that $685.
600 additional to the boaus were re-
quired--which is the estiniate--it
will be apparent that this sum is all
that the road really costs subscribers,
making only little exceeding
$4,000 per mile, which is too cheap
not to pay handsomely.
If the 100000 should pay 6 per
per cent, which is not very unrea-
sonable, it would give an interest Of
10 per cent, on the 1925, 900, the
amount taken by stockholders. If
the whole amount of cost brings only
8 per cent, the interest on the