Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1860-03-24
RICHMOND WHIG.
FOR THE WING.
REPORT OF COMMITTEE OF RAILROAD OFF,

GERS.
AT injecting ofthe Presidents of some ofthe Railroads
held at the office of the York River Railroad Company
the 2Sth day of February last the undersigned
appointed committee prepare business be laid be-
fore adjourned meeting be held the 18th March
In dschargng TINT duty they would respectfully call
the attention OF the meeting the fact that nearly
they ascertain there have been sent from the
State Of Virginia for the construction and equipment of
the railroads now in operation S4 900 000 aud from the
other slayeholing States not including Maryland about
$4,000 OO0-makmg a total of at least S70O00,O0O,
which has been drawn from the savehOldng States and
sent to enrich those who have, by year. been mani
testing deeper and more intense enmy to the South
and its peculiar institution They further find that uu-
less something is done avert this drain upon us there
must continue be from Virginia above 100000
per aunum and from the other savehoding State prOba-
bly, - 100000 per annum for many years to come OF
this amount nconsderable proportion will consist in
the cost OF sending the old rails beyond the limits OF the
State tO be reroled exchanged for rails and the
freight alone 10 and IRON the nearest rolling mill at the
North would be an amount well worth saving to
the stockholders IA the various roads. They believe
that under the liberal appropriation made by the egs
ature oi the State during its present session. there must
be required annually for ten years to come least 80
miles Of rails for roads; that there in the State
quantities Of iron ore, already developed bv the
James River and kanawha Canal and equally As
large beds of along the lines OF of the roads,
which can be converted into rails of a superior quality
TO any that have been laid in the Union for many years
and they why ,alS and all other iron used
in the construction of roads cannot be manufactured at
many ponts in this State cheaply any other State
in the Union They are aware that iufsrOT rail
be purchased in England and delivered at any port in
the South cheap, or probably cheaper than good
rail can be made in this any other State; but they also
believe that proper regard to economy alone TO say
nothing of that cue to TIE safety of the travelling puO
lie require that for the future should to pur
chase the cLepe, rail that be had and that interest
aud humanity alike require that a better class of rails
should be used.
They find that carefully prepared estimate of the cost
of making railroad iron IN 1859, allowing fair price for
all labor necessary from digging the to the finished
rail- together with fair prof, each branch of the bu
siness for 100 900 tons of rail only $40 50 per ton
aud that the English rail delivered during that year
at cost of S6j pr detailed statement of tie
cost OF making rails, including profit the capital in
vested is given in the 2d annual report Of the Virginia
aud Tennessee Railroad Company and assuming pig iron
TO cost S235u per ton the estimated 81 81 per
ton OF rail. They believe that Virginia pig iron may be
produced 40 "a cost no; exceeding So 3D. aud they
entirely satisfied that the cost OF making the rails not
greater than 50 per ton OF rails Allowing tons Of
pig iron to make one ton of rails the cost OF the rail
would be 5000 per ton They deem it proper to call
your attention the fact that the price OF pig iron uc
tuates much hat Of any other article OF trade that
the price from ISIS TO 1892 averaged Sa5 "a per ton,
while from 1888 to 1899 it averaged S3S p" givu. an
average OF the two periods Oi S2S3y and the cost OF
making rails at the price for pig iron, would be $j1I9
per ton During that period the price Of English rails
varied from $40 $50 per ton, giving average OF so
per They find some diversity OF opinion existing
among railroad men TO the comparative intrinsic value
OF the American end the imported rails Some contend
that the former is worth from 30 90 and 100 per
than the latter, and others that they find
but little difference But IL is very generally admitted
that if superior English rail is ordered, it will cost
extra So, or $40 per ton.
The frequent ard awful caused by the break
ipf-p rails he A tlp
cheapest.
Aa experienced Superintendent thinks the English rail
preferable to the American but also thinks that any
road, having much TO purchase, would do well to pay
competent person 90 10 England to watch the manu-
fcture of each rail. We think that it would be better
policy TO pay sucl superutend the manufacture
of the rail here rbere he co'di also be cntcbed
They believe thit Richmond possesses greater az Ivan.
ageS for making and rerOug rails than any other point
i'm the State partly that there will be in full opera
ti0n only short distance from the city large furnace
for making pig iron partly that coal which forms such
an important item u the manufacture of rails Is now
raised in quantity aud Of the very best quality with
in thirteen miles, either by rail or by water partly, that
if sufficient quantity OF Virginia pig iron be OBJ
taned the Peuny yania and foreign pig be delivered
81 cheapy ataly other pO tint partly hat
sibe the line Of roads m this State other point
aud partly that II the other Southern roads should unite
in patrouzug snch establishment, the rails be
shipped from Richmond on as good if better terms
I
ges. Assuming that as the most desirable point they
will make estimate which they believe to be sufficient
y for all practical purposes Of the amount Of
business which such an establishment would do.
There are 300 miles of rail in Virginia that could
with very great convenience, patronize such mill 1t
will require nearly no miles OF rail TO be reroled every
year allowing tina the iron will last /. wears which
full estimate Assuming the average weight OF the rail
to be 55 lbs per yard il requires So 5lo per mile
The price tor re-1iug is $50 per ton, aud the differ
ence in freight and from Richmond and any rolling
mill North OF that place might be estimated at - per
ton making the S24 per ton, 5000 per mile
and for 10 miles it all amounts 10 S23S 800, of which
the freight forms S26 O5Oand all this latter item might
be saved 10 the roads in Virginia.
A. before stated there will be required atleast %
miles of new rails per aunum, to supply the demand in
Virginia only, including the roads which may connect
with the Richmond and Danyile Railroad and extending
for short distance into North Carolina. If a 81 lbs.
rail should be used it will give nearly - per me
aud assuming the price $50 per ton, it gives - 100
per mile aud for % miles of rail, $500 800
To which add the amount for re-roling, not
including the freight l9e3oO
All ,,vas a husiness for the roads in tlis