, 1860-03-13
CONDITION, TRAFFIC, ETC;
Railways Centcring ia Chicago,
GENERAL SYNOPSIS OF BUSINESS
FOR THE YEAR 15:a,


This article is presented to our readers at tie
earliest day possible after We obtained the stat
issics from the railway officers. It is believed
TINT Chicago, Of all the cities Of the Union,
alone possesses, through the articles which haso
appeared in our columns, complete history Of
its railray traffic from the time it assumed any
real importance. It's significant fact that the
figures show steady decline in the receipts Of
these roads for the last four years, but they are
not the less valuable on that account. Tho
public know exactly what the decline is, and
croakers cannot magnify it beyond its real
amount. In most, perhaps in nil cases, the
falling of has been met By greater economy in
the management Of the roads. To its stock
holders what it costs to keep in repair and to run
railroad, are matters Of quite as much i'm.
portance as The gross amount Of its recciptk.
One individual may be
"rassing rich With forty pounds syear."-
while another man would be poor with ~ many
thousands; and son railroad under one n:anacc-
ment, may make fair dividends with half mill
lion Of receipts, while under anothe it would
fall in debt with double that sum- Retrench-
mcnt and economy have been largely practiced
in railway management, within the las; two
years, AZ well as in social and ind yidual e1pen-
diture.
The West being as Jet au agricultural coun-
try; the business Of our railroad ., rs well as our
general prosperity, depend u,ainly upon the
crops. Should these he goo'l for the next two
or threeyears, with fair price $, there can scarce
y be \ doubt TINT the lowest point of depression
has been reached. The Kansas gold fields
must soon make themselves felt upon the pros
perity Of the West. 4 large and most valuable
market will thus be opened for Western produce,
for which bullion OK gold dust will be received
In return. As resalt of the reyalsion, it is to
be observed that lots and lands in city, town,
ard country. huye depreciated ut least one half,
and in many instances vast1y. more than
that. Farms can In too many cases be
bought for little more than the cost Of the in-
proyements. Many Of the holders Of unim-
proved lands N:o very anxious to sell at greatly
reduced prices. These facts are becoming
known in the Eastern States, and must soon in
duce large emigration Of substantial farmers.
articles for consumption here are also beginning
to be understood; and large industrial de-
velopment in that direction within the next few
years will doubtless be realized. The lessons
Of prudence and economy taught By the expert
ence Of the last few years will not be lost upon
our people. and hence from all these considcra.
tions aud many moro that might be mentioned
We look for bright and prosperous future for
ths West.
The very full account Of our railway system
heretofore published enables US to condeuse
this article int comparatively small compass.
Where the residence Of the officers is not giren
it may be understood that they reside in Chi
cago. The trunk roads are in larger type. AS
heretofore ne commence with the Milwaukee,
md taking them in their order, end with the
Michig an Central Road. Hence ne notice first
the
CHICAGO & MILWAUKEE Il. u.
MAHLoS D. 06pEs, President.
A. S. DowSs, Secretary.
3. A. TUCKER, Treasurer.
n. L. SYKES, JR-, Superintendent.
This road Connects Chicago with Milwaukee.
Length. IS u,iles