West-Jersey pioneer., 1867-12-27
The Railroads of South Jersey.

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The Railroads Of South Jersey.
The West Jersey Press is commencing
the publication of history of our Rail
roads in this section, which promises tt
be of more than ordinary interest, From
the appearance Of the first article pub
lished, they appear to be in possession o.
the minutes Of meetings held by the par
ties first interest, and from those minutes
the facts, at the time esteemed as of but
little Importance, are brought out in 8
manner which cannot otherwise than be
highly interesting. Our paper has
always been known as one which takes
the warmest interest in these public i'm.
provements, and it is with pleasure that
we transfer the substance of the articles
to our columns There is general in
PRODUCTION upon the value of Railroads as
the pioneers of civilization, and also a
description of their immense value during
the late civil war. 1t is also shown that
they are the most powerful agent in the
generation and development of the wealth
of a country. and then introduces the
idea with which this article is headed.
"In this connection we feel pride in
painting to the important link which
New Jersey furnished in the chain of
Railroads, which gave the government
such immense advantages. But for their
almost unlimited capacity we should have
felt many panics and suffered not few
disasters, as by no other means could we
have met the emergencies incident to a
condition of war. Who, in our vicinity,
can forget the devotion and the alacrity
with which the Camden and Amboy
Railroad Company responded to the neces-
sites of the country? We mention this
here. because the service it rendered is
more familiar to our readers. Trains of
twenty and thirty cars, loaded with troops
horse and foot-and their equipments,
were passing at all hours of the day and
night, Independent of the regular passen-
ger lines; and the company stopped at nc
expense, spared no exertions, to forward
the men IN time. The true lover of his
country cannot suffer prejudice whether
based upon politics or prompted by rival
interests in other roads-to blind him to
the valuable aid this company rendered
the country in its utmost peril. They
were of such character as to command
the respect and admiration of the people;
and the liberal donation of the same cor
poration to the State volunteer fund,
proves that the heart of each director was
enlisted in thecause. Gratitude, if moth
ing else, should soften the acerbity of its
bitterest opponent, and throw the mantle
of charity around the most fastidious tan
ti-monopolist." The magnanimity of the
company, at that critical juncture, should
silence forever the groundless clamor
raised against it. Its history stamps it
as the pioneer-the parent stem, from
which offshoots were planted all over the
Union, making the Railroad system Of
this country superior to all others for
efficiency in the arts of peace, as well as
those of war
Having said this much in relation to
the utility Of Railroads for general pur-
poses, it needs no argument to prove
their local Importance We are not old,
but we will remember the unpromising
aspect which this district presented be-
fore Railroads were established Thous-
ands Of acres were only valuable for the
meagre supply of timber furnished once
in quarter Of century, and thousands
more were abandoned to waste, for the
want Of those recuperative manures now
SO abundantly transported to all points.
The numbering stage, the sandy roads,
the thriftless fields exist no longer. The
'siron horse" is dashing along, and the
shrill whistle sends forth the notes of a
progress that is fast brushing away the
cobwebs Of the past. Gravel turnpikes
intercept many stations, and the once
poverty-stricken land now yields golden
harvest to the toiling husbandman. =
Marl, which is to be found in many parts
of South Jersey in great quantities, is
unearthed and profusely distributed
along the route of four different Rail
roads. Lime, compost, and other ma
nures, are rendered accessible to the re-
motest localities in our State; and the
prosperity achieved by these agencies,
made available only by Railroads, has
made asgarden spot of bleak wilds and
barren fields, yielding an increased reve-
nue. to State and Government, based
upon the vast amount of wealth they
have developed
But look at our villages and highways,
and estimate if the reader can, the valu-
able real estate accumulated since the ad-
vent Of railroads. While the older towns
have expanded and greatly improved,
new cities, towns and villages have sprung
into existence; manufactures aud rnechan.
iiacal arts have taken rapid strides capital
and population are locating ID untold
amounts and large numbers in our midst,
Business enterprise has received d new
impetus, and we present a scene Of pro-
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