Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1867-10-15

Q
The original estimated cost Of buildinj
the road across the SierFas was slight,
above that Of the most expensiVeT rail
roads in the country where the right 0
way bad to be purchased at cOnsideTAbl
cost, and compared as follows:
Boston and Providence rsilrosd cost -
per mile. sS
Boston and Lowell raiirosd cost per = =
New 5oTi and Erie Ksiiycay sl,ouf II = M M
Hudson River railroad about .............. $500
Central Pacific lMpunt Ain diyision) es i
mated ---..-.... IS 40
Up to the lst Of January last the Cen
trsl Pacific company hsd expended il
building the 80 miles in Operation TO
gether with about third Of the prspara
| tion upon % miles additional, and for 4
liberal equipment Of rolling stock, nearly
Sl5,000, 600 lSl4 558Tl4) Fifty miles ai
ditional, or about $50 iu all, viii, it i
confidently expected, be running in July
naEt. which brings the road to the com
psrstively smooth ground The total con
struction cost OF this mountain section
will be about SIS, 5,000, 0j6, o. 1t the rate o
SlO0, 900 per mile. The rest OF the die
tsnce 10 Salt Lake city, SIS miles can b,
constructed Tor about 100000 per ulile
The difference ia the prices Of labor aut
iron sufficiently accounts for the increase
upon the original innate About S..
000tO09 more viii have been expended IL
midsummer for iron rails and eQuipments
most Of which is either Oh tbe other side
or en- route. The bulk Of the eugineerinc
difficulties, it will be observed, ba.
already been overcome; and BY far the
most costly Rnd rugged resistance left
behind. Rails ase already being laid east
ofthe summit, ready foF the advance
wheH the tunnel is opened.
As might be anticipated, the Central
Pacific is TO be classed among the most
expensive roads in, the country. Such
were the imperative demsnds Of the local
transportation between California and
the mining. regions east Of The Sierras.
that a steam road even at this cost was
sn economy. 1t has been estimated that
the wagon freights across The mountains
in a single year, before the commence
ment Of railroad, amounted 10 fully
Sl3, ,OO0, 900; which of itself would, with
out any increase, be q sufficient motive
for building q railroad. If We consider
the enormous through travel which is 70
pass 70 and fro between China and
Europe-the natural expansion OF the
western states and territories the slim
4l6llOu WHICH, Auusb lOllOW 10 ulllHK
enterprises; and the equally important
national, military, social and civilizing
advantages to be reached-the railroad
becomes a pressing necessity; and the
liberal subsidies OF the government to
such a work Of internal improvement
seem eminently wise and proper, Thus
far the California projectors have pushed
on their half OF the work with commen-
dable vigOr and steadiness /; and in few
weeks viii have easy work before them.
The law requires that the road shall be
Substantially built, Of the best American
materials, and IN such way as BELTS its
semi-national character.
The following table viii show the
actual net earnings Of the road as it tlrol
gressed up the mOuntsin side, after the
payment OF operating expenses, for the
past two years, with an estimate for the
present year, based upon the same rate
of increase; and the relation of the
earnings TO the interest charges assumed
by the road, Upon the supposition that
the whole amount of bonds authorized