The independent. [volume] (Oskaloosa, Kan.) 1860-1874, 1861-08-31
ghe Snaepeaaent.
J. ". ROBERTS, Editor.
JOHN ". DAY, Associate Editor.
0sKALoosA. KANSAS.
SATURDAY, AUG 81. 1861.
'co1sraUCr1Na RAILROADS.

'C0HsIRUCrINa RAILROADS.
Experience has demonstrated that
IN building railroads. the first object to
be attained is to hare the track as near
an air line as possible and for these
reasons:
1. They are less expensive to con-
.s,ruct. , nos =. :
z99s. They cost less to keep in repair.
: 3, They save wear and tear Of track
and mschinsry. ssH
y Z. They save time.
= As ii is proposed to make road from
Leavenworth city to Topeka. We shall
.rral ...... facts " bs.r upon II. Two
sou'ss are proposed-one an airline.
the other BY way Of Lawrence and the
Kaw river. The airline will be about
fifteen miles the shorter Of the two
!, ,routes. Thi. fifteen miles is all saved
in distance Of sixty miles, the remain
der Of the two foutes being equal in
Instance on each line.
1t will cost $1,000 per mile to con.
ttruct the road on the most economical
scale. The average cost Of road much
exceeds these figures. Sixty miles will
then cost S72o. 900. OF this amount.
tHo.thirds. or $3.50 900. will be re.
qnired TO purchase the rails, spikes.
eross-ties. pay freight. lay and ballast
the track. Now, If we admit that lh,
grading Of the two routes ~ill be equa
: --that IS miles air-line will equal sixty
BY the river-which is allowing tos
. mach Against the short route. We shall
have a clear saving Of fifteen miles o
strsck-laying At %. 900 per mile. whicl
nets eIaO.O00. This much is savet
n clear cash to begin with.
Il II the grading were equal mile 10
mile. the saving vould be still greater
q as follows: 60 miles S72O. 900; As mile
'rs $4,000 difference $4,000. W,
believe this the correct difference /; bu
to make the matter sure. We will accep
tie Sl20. 600. as the basis to calculate
from. wishing to be within the bound:
! N sli our estimates.
: II will cost one Thousand dollars De,
mile annually to keep the road in run
ming order. The average in the U uitet
e States is full 81. 500 per mile. In thi
4 particular. then. We hare . yearly saw
Z ing Of $4,000. This in thirty-si:
years amounts to e54O. 900. the Who'll
). cost of the short line road at $500
per mile. In Is years tie saving wi
be S375. 600: in ten years el5O,0OO.
IL will thus be seen that thi. i,eG
alone will save the cost of the road j
'hirty-six years. without conputing til
interest on the money. But il We tax
che half Of this sum, ee7o. 900. an
count tl,e interest At eight per cent Pc
* snnso, I'VE shall have the sum Of S777,
900 - interest, and total amount &
ei.o47. 600. At the end of 95 year.
We have the net amount Of 8562, 5O(
or e22. 500 more Than the cost Of til
50 road { 46 miles Al sla. 600 per mile.
z Ascoopound interest the saying woul
be still greater.
Thus in IS years the company sare
the cost Of the road clear, and will b
p worth that sum and the principal an
interest on $3.50. 900. the amount save
in cash at the Outset. for the same perio
more than they would BY the othe
route. The interest on $50. 900 e.
Is years At eight per cent. per annur
!. IS es3s. 900; add principal and we hav
I, e358. 900. Add 70 this the 8562, 50
y above and We have e9aO. 500. To IL,
moss b added the interest on 3358, 90
sh.H The time for compound interes
!, which ia twelve aud half years vi
~
double the sum. giving rs $3.50. .0ao
IRE osl.sr. .fss~iag . grand total of 81
81 9ss.6ao. eThe lss~posad interest q
BE 6rst i,<m win easily swell this up
%. 800. QUO clxAa eArx Il the end Of
,;ss sesas .. the traits Of making straigl
~ inetssd q . croeked road. -
fa Bat to this must be still added Il
cost Of wear and tear Of machinery etc
which viii Be N item Of no inconside
able amount. These figures look form
aabls. bat they. are within the bound
, - asy one viii End Who gives Il
81 subject csrefl ailention. By the'
= estimates the sospasy viii be 1880
QUO richer on What they will sass. cor
- petipy frpm the basis inside Let,
-rler.a moment look >! the master frol
, sha other sfaad. mint Sixfv mill