The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1862-07-24
THE RAILROADS OF TIE UNITED STATES
Additional Chapter from tho Census Re


Additional Chapter from tho Census Re
port.
me following 10 the chapter the progress Of rail
roads the United States for the decade OF lS606o pre-
pared BY G. Kennedy Esq, Superintendent Of th'
Census
The decade which terminated In 1860 was particularly
distinguished by the progress Of railroads In the United
States At its commencement the total extent in opera
ton was 70 miles, ssting $2sS 2s At its close
80 5s277 miles, costing 49, 9O9 the increase In
mileage having been % 004 Os miles, and In cost Of
struc.on 1898 49, 1911
While the increase in mileage was nearly 300 per cent
and the amount Invested still greater the consequences
that have resulted those works have been augment
ca vastly greater ratio Up 10 the commencement OF
tho decade railroads sustained only unmportlns
relation the internal OF the country Nearly
ali Ito lines then IN operation were loca or isolated
works. and neither in extent design had begun 70 be
formed into that vast and connected system which, ike
aweb, now covers every portion OF our wids domain,
enabling each work TO contribute to tho traffic and value
Of all and supply wing means Of locom9ton and market
almost at his own door, for nearly every citizen OF the
United States
Previous to shs commencement tho last decade only
one line OF railroad mad been completed between tide
water and the great interior basins Of the country the
pro ucts OF which per important part in our
Maternal and foreign commerce Even this line formed
by the several links that now compose tho New YORK
Central road restricted In the carriage Of freight
except the payment Of canal tolls in addition to other
charges for transportation which restriction amounted
y
our railroads equently has beam with
slight exceptions, = creation Of the last decade.
The line next upc ed ana connecting the western sys
TEN Of lakes and rivers with dewater was that extend
ing from Boston TO Ogdensburg composed OF distinct
Inks the last Of which completed during 1850 The
third the New ok and Erie, which was opened
the I'D APRIL 1851 The fourth in geographical order
the Pennsy lyana, which was completed in 1852,
although its mountain division not opened till 1854
Previous TO this time its summit by
res Of inclined planes, with stationary engines,
strucsd by the State The nth great ne the Baltimore
and Ohio, was opened. in 1883, still further south. The
Tennessee river tributary Of the Mississippi.
reached in 1885, by tbs Western aud Atlantic Railroad
Of Georgia, and the Mississippi itself by the Menu his and
Charleston Railroad In 1859 In ths extreme North the
Atlantic and ST. Lawrence, now known the Grand
Trunk completed early in 1858. In 1858 the Vrgi-
ria system was extended 10 connection with the Mem
phis and Char eSton and with the Nashville aud Chatta
nocga railroads.
Tho eight great works named, connecting the interior
with the seaboard, are the trunks base lines upon
which erected the vast system that ovsrspreads
tho whole country. Thoy as outlets to the nte
ror for its products, which would have little
mcrcia value without improved highways, the cost Of
transportation which does equal tenth that
ordinary roads The works named assisted by the
Erie Canal afford ample for the expeditions
and cheap transportation VI seeking Eastern
kets and could without being ovsxed transport the
entire surplus pro incts Of the interior.
Previous 70 1850 by far the greater portion of railroads
constructed were in the States bordering the Atlantic,
and, before Remarked for the part isolated
ines whose limited trailcs altogether local Up to
the date named, the internal commerce Of the country
was conducted almost entirely through water lines nat
raj aud artificial, and lary highways. The
period Of the settlement OF California MARKS really the
commencement Of the Low in the physical progress
ofthe United states The vast quantities Of gold pro
duced impaired life and activity to every portion Of
the Union particularly tho Western States tho people Of
which, al tie commencement OF 1850 thoroughly
aroused TO the value and Importance OF railroads.
Each presented great facilities for the construction OF
such works which promised be almost equally pro-
ductye. Enterprises were undertaken and speedily
cutsd whieh have literally converted them INTO net
work Of lines, and secursd their advantages 10 almost
every farmer ana producer.
The progress Of these works in the aggregate year by
year sill be seen by the tabular statements at the close
VI the report. The only important Inc opened in the
VEST, previous to 1850, the. ene from ankusky to
Cincinnati, formed b the Mad River and Little Miami
roads But these pioneer works rule, unsubstar-
tai structures compared with lie finished works OF the
present day, AMI employed almost wholly in the
transportation OF passengers. Within the decade, in
place OF this one line railroads have beer constructed
radatng from Lakes Erie and Michigan. striking the Mis-
sissipp and the Ohio at eight Inherent points, and
serve trunk between the great geographic
81 stems 0. the West Those trunk INES cut every
miles by lines, which, III the states east OF the
Mississippi. are sufficiently numerous to meet every pub
private want and to afford every needtul
agcent 10 The deveopmsnt u the resources Of this
country.
lne Southern states have been behind the Northern in
their public enterprises, though, at the date Of the cen
they prosecuting them with great energy and
ysor The progress inland Of The great trunk lines Of the
sputi has been already noted Tho opening Il the Mobile
and ono, ard Vi the mississippi Central which will soon
take place, viii give completeness ~ the system OF the
southwestern States aud leave little to bc done to make
il all THAI aated tor thai section OF the country.
West OF tbs mississippi less has been done, for the
that The settlements there ars OF more recent
date The peon.e ss- able 70 provide the FOR
thcis iron tha those OF the Older States. But
upcu Western frontier extensive systems have
cricrtaxen and very considerable progress made
ia their execution.
more interesting subject than tho progress OF our
pubic works would be- thor results shown in tho in
commences and wealth OF tho country But such
inaulris d. within the scope Of tins report IL
IL well asecraiGed however thai railroads transport
la tie aggregate least so tons Of merchandise per
antIYl IL the ine OF road IN operation. such
would ve - coo yOO ons as te toai annual tonnage OF
oas hole country. II we estimate the alue
ii tn!s tonnage $3.50 pee Ton the gate value of
lie Whole would be - 900 900 600. Vast this
slics lsse.
H. Illustrate he crreciness OF the estimate made, the
following statement aeGed # tho tonnage transported
bv te ri roass OF lie Saa 81 New York 1850, with
tie estimated the stne Ihs calssicatioDs are
maize vy iAc companes:--
pclus