The Placer herald., 1860-05-19
Effects of Railroad Enterprise.

of cultivated fields, the sudden growth OF
cities, the immense annual increase to the
productive resources of the country, nay,
the extraordinary creation even, of thriving
States in the very centre of Territories that
lately were an unbruken wilderness, are facts
in our history as marvellous as they are com
mon.
This is not due alone to the sudden in
gress of population from abroad. 1t is not
the result cf the sudden impulsaion of an
overcrowded population from the older States
upon the virgin lands of the great West.
The marks of Improvement are as visible in
the old as in the Eew States in the centre of
commerce as in the Territories just occupied
by the hardy pioneers of our civilization.
Much of the prosperity that is such pro-
minent characteristic Of our country spring
from the railroad enterprises in which the
people have embarked. What the gold
bearing strata have done for California and
are now accomplishing for Jefferson Terri
tory, the local railroads Of the various States
have accomplished and are still doing for
each State of the Union. They have added
to the wealth of every country through which
they pass more than the unexpected discove-
rv of auriferous veins would have DONE
They have stimulated industry, which by its
aggregate results, has surprised the most
sanguine and disappointed the cautious stati-
clan.
Let one who twenty years ago had travers
ed the interior of Georgia and noted the in
dolent habits and careless mein of its inhabi-
tants, devoted more to the sports OF the
| Il a. . lnI of ha
farm, loungng sluggshly around the cross
roads tavern, or isllessly enjoying repose be-
meath the rude porch of their rustic home
steals or the thick branched trees that over
shadow them-now pass through the same
districts, and he will find no traces of their
former life. The same men and women oc-
cupy the lands; the same grand outlines OF
natural scenery remain; but how changed
the scene! Life, energy, enterprise and IN
dustry have girded up the snews and given
elasticity to the movements of the people.
The fields are filled with a wealth OF produc-
ton that betokens intelligent enterprise
Comfort, even luxury, marks the former RIDE
country cottages, and the whole State is
alive with busy, thriftful toll. The iron
horse, traversing the country formerly so tar
removed from MAJ l,nts as TO ienuer laoor
beyond what was necessary TO produce the
rude necessities of life, useless, has afforded
them an incentive to effort. Their lands
have quadrupled in value, and every article
of production finds ready purchaser. The
great State railroad has made corn worth a
dollar and half per bushel, has done the
work. Nineteen millions of dollars expen-
ded bv Georgia on railroads have added
1925, 100000 to her real estate, creating as
bv arts of magic, capital that has revolu-
tionzed the industry of the commonwealth.
Massachusetts, has expended 7O,O00,OOO
in works of internal improvements, and Bos
ton alone has received from it more than
duplication of the value of real estate, while
the entire area of the State has been more
than tripled in value.
When New York entered upon her career
of domestic improvement, her taxable pro
pery was only $l23,0O0,000 She has now
spent on her railroads and canals $4,000,
600 and the valuation of her property has
risen to 81 l4,000,O0O0
In VIRGINIA and East Tennessee the value
of lands in the neighborhood of the Virglnl'
and East Tennessee Railroad in six years has
been raised from $2s,000,000 to $4,000,
900.
The lands in the vicinity Of the Orleans
Jackson and Great Northern Railroad, II
Louisiana and Southern Mississippi, were en-
tirely unattractive at the small price o
twenty five cents per acre. They canno
now be bought for ten dollars an acre. i
that region Of wilderness, the sounds OF II
dustrv, the culture Of taste, the works
r thrift. are everywhere visible. Populatio
, springs up along the line of the great arter
Of travel, and even sterility grows productive
Such facts show what is to be expected b
! the present endeavors to extend our works c
) home improvement, or to aid those whic
propose to connect this city with the plain
of Texas and the grea: South Sea. Wha
, New York has done for her commerca
CAPITAL is now in progress for New Orlean
and the entire Southwest. The proposition
to aid railroad enterprises should be vlewe'
with this statement OF facts before us. w
should survey what has ben written IN tn
history of the progress of the whole countr
} as the result of railroad enterprise, when W
, are called upon to contribute to State or IN
, dividual aid to new enterprises, and we sha
bring to aid our decision enlarged views AM
5 a iberality Of feeling. There seems at IN
, present moment, to be need OF these AID
| to public debera.ion as well as public ac
| tion. ~. w. 1"oy~'0'
"HALF THAT, IF YOU PLEASE. w ne
Young Hodge first came to town, his fathe
3 told him that it would be polite, to say
f the host, "IIaf that, if you P ease" 1t
. hannnnad hai at the first dinner 70 Whlc