Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1860-05-26

~. they could declare nine per cent dividends on
their part instead Of six.
Repairing the track and machinery and the
cost Of fuel and oil constitute than half the
cost Of operating railway. Mr. Clarke says:-
"The cost Of maintenance Of way uron English
railways was 10i cents per mile run, against 25
cents on those of Massachusetts,. The cost Of re-
pairs Of cars and engines was nearly the same on
both. The cost Of fuel per mile run was ca cents
against Is cents. While English trains are from
90 to 30 per cent lighter than odrs, they average
25 per cent. faster, that practically these con
dtions must nearly balance each other. In align.
ment the English roads are superior to ours, and
to gradients they have some advantage al
though grades OF 40 to 52.s feet per mile are quite
common In climate they have less severe diff
cu!ties TO contend with although their moist
weather, the nature of their soil, and their heavy
earthworks involve much extra expense. la
prices. the advantage is at least 90 per cent. in
their favor"
This accounts for an economy Of 30 per cent.
How does the economy Of GO per cent. arise! Mr.
Clarke says "Thc English railways nreshorousy
built, arc not opened to the public until finished
and no expense is spared to keep them in order
American railways are too often put in operation
when half finished. The consequence is they
never are finished, and are continually wearing
out-not lasting, on an average, moro than half as
long as they should, If once thoroughly cons,rue
I'd Wooden bridges are allowed to rot down for
want Of protection. Rails are left to be battered
l. piece. for want Of draining and ballast One
and SOS, 900 more Tor removing slides that should
never have taken place. Everything is done for
the moment and nothing done thoroughly y
rough track consumes more fuel because it pre-.
sents greater measure Of resistance to be over
come than a good track, and the calculation here
is that tho American roads burn nearly twice as
much as the British. But the American engine.
nnd cars ARE stronger aud better made than Tho
E.Ott,h ~ hich would be battered to pieces in
.,#..#4. ns on our rough roads ON aceount e
.,clr rigidity aud concentration # weight; while
those OF America, by yielding to shocks both YER
ticay and horizontally, escape injury. Amer
can cars and engines are us much superior in
design to the English as their roads excel ours ia
solidity and finish
What then is to be d,neY Arc we to d. as the
British do. and spend Sl73 900 per milo on con
rawaysi No. But we should
initiate their thorough and permanent conss cuo-
ton, avoiding their 5A.ravngance, which, ind "c,,
has latterly been csrhewed even by themse Ives.
The average cost II constructing british raj .w.y
Of late years, being only $4,000 n mile.
Mr.. Clarke concludes with some excellent sug-
g"-tions for the construction uul Improvements
Of AMERICAN railways. To be perpetnally rebuild
ing and repairing, shows imperfect and incomnletr
construction at first, and involles pcrpotuul out
lay. Have good roads, and the profits w,ll bo
considerable. We shall rccur tathis subject at Az
early day.