, 1868-04-24

purpose Of showing the utility Of railroads"
from which We compile the following, as serv.
ing to show the advantages that will result
from the construction Of the Walla Walla
and Columbia River Railroad:
RArLROADs EEHANcE THE VALUE OF RIAL ESTATE.
Under her railroad systems, in period Of tea
years, from 1850 to 1850, the taxable property
Of the State of New York increased u per cent.
IL the same period the taxable property in the
States Of Ohio, Illinois, Indiana, and Iowa 81.
ooe, 900, poo. Al the latter date they had 6,57l
miles Of railroad, aud at the former only 9l3.
For the same period, 10 Missouri the Increase 10
the value Of property was $363, ,966, ,69l. An ex>
animation Of the statistics Of other States, where
railroads have been operating, would perhaps
show proportionable annual Increase Of wealth
An experienced Civil Engineer, 10 advocating
the increased construction Of railroads in Calls
forna, come time ago suggested that the State
create debt of ten millions of dollars for that
purpose-and loan her credit at the rate of one
million per year for ten years. I1 arguing the
case, be says; ave will assume that the appro-
pr:ation is made in State bonds at the rate of
ten thousand dollars per mile. This aid would
insure the construction Of one thousaud miles in
ten years, and taking the aggregate result Of 10,
crease Of taxable property this expenditure, aid,
ed by the operation Of our liberal railroad laws,
and that Of the railroad organizations, would in.
crease our taxable property not less than twenty
six millions per year. for that time. Taking the
result as shown IN Illinois, the increase would be
twenty six millions per year for ten years TAXI
ing the results as shown in the State of Louisi-
| ana, the increase would be thirty-seven millions
per year for ten years taking the State of Geor-
gia, the increase would be thrty-one millions
per year for ten years. while the increase in the
State Of New York would be seventy.siI millions
per year.
The PROFITS OF RAILROADS.
Occasionally we meet with "slow coach"
"a man who belongs to the autediluvian
period d-who objects to the railroad on the
ground that it will not pay. For the benefit
of this class Of objectors, we give place TO the
following:
"The first railroad constructed iu California
was the Sacramento Valley Road, extending from
| Sacramento TO Folsom, a distance of 224 miles
| 1t has been operating for about eleven years,
and from the most reliable data to be procured,
has earned over and above expenses about
STAG, 900 per annum, or over 81 1886 900, since
the date of its inauguration. This road it is
said, was constructed at actual cost Of no
more than S640, 900. The country through which
it extends is partially cleared, slightly limbered,
and considerable portion of it is devoted TO
mining. Very little of its trade is of local
character-that is to say, derived from the culti-
Fated region intervening between its termini.
As .tbe country fills up, its profts from that
source will be much greater. The railroad from
Marysville to orovile, 264 miles, paid Is per
cent. the first year of its operation"
As still further showing the prosperity
that invariably follows in the train of rail.
roads, we copy the following, clipped from
Missouri paper:
''Buad railroad into country without rail-
road Communication and the valne of real estate
will be doubled in five years. The statement
may seem incredible to some people, but the
experiment has been tried all over the Northern
States, aud the result is certain as the law of
| gravimtion. Now, il any country has real estate
worth FIVE millions, and no railroad outlet it can
afford to give two millions to build -pue. Not
the pidful sum of one or two hundred thousand
dollArt, as is usual, but two millions-and the
people of the country will make three millions
iu five years by the operation. By giving large
ly, the country can control, or partly control,
the road that il builds"