, 1868-05-01
The RaIIroad Question.

On Thursday, April 9th, the citizens of Port
land turned out in grand array for the purpose
of witnessing the ceremony of "breaking ground"
for the East side Railroad. As matter of course,
there was any amount of speechifying and if
talk would build railroad, the Portlanders Ger,
taiuy made a fair commencement. OF the
speeches, reported in the Oregonian, we give
the following extract from Judge Upton's address,
as embodyiug facts of interest in our immediate
locality;
Although railroads have been in practical use
about half century, it is during only few
years that we have had any real understanding
of through lines or thoroughfares-of thosegreat
lines of railroad tavel and freight that roll pop
ulation and labor and life aud activity and wealth
into a new country, and make the West part of
the East, and the East common property with
the West.
1t is only ten or fifteen years that the matter
has been at all understood anywhere. How has
this thing been learned? Those fortunate res
gions where it has been tried have found com
merce and business and wealth poured in upon
them like the rain from heaven. Those unfortu,
nate localities that have neglected resisted
these great arteries of trade find themselves shut
off from the marts of the world, and the rich pro-
ducts of a bounteons soil lie almost useless in
their graneries, are struggling in an almost
hopeless effort to make produce over pay the ex,
penses of its own transportation to market.
One of the most astonishing facts developed in
modern times is the cheapness at which these
great lines of railroads can transport freight and
passengers long distances. Men not in the bust.
ness are astonished when they learn that full
employed railroad can carry freight thousand
miles, cheaper than it can be put into and taken
out of merchant vessel The lighterage, stow>
age and discharge of cargo OF merchandise costs
more on average than it costs a business road
to transport the same cargo a thousand miles.
1t is the long lines of road with immense bust
ness that Can work at these rates. What was
it, that in period of ten years changed the
value of improved farms in Illinois, Wisconsin
and other Western States from an average of ten
dollars per to average Of fifty sixty
dollars per acre?
Railroad men discovered within tha: time that
they could carry -four from Chicago to New York
city for twenty-five cents per barrel and other
products at similar rates. The ordinary and
natural completion of four great lines of railroad
fixed that price, and made grain field in Ills
nois bring as much freight per acre grain
field few miles from New York city. The grain
fields of the West come up at once in price to
near the value of Eastern farms. The farms
rched the railroads aud the railroads enriched
the farms. They developed each other and reap
ed mutual advantages.
The results of energy and competition in rails
roads on the routes from the Atlantic to the Mis-
sissippi has astonished all parties. How many
miles of railroad could be paid for with the rise
on real estate within that time in one of those
States rise of property caused principally by
the construction of railroads.
This increase in the value Of land in Illinois
alone, is sufficient to build and equip line of
railroad reaching twice around the earth. The
same addition per acre to the value of the availa-
BILE lands in the Willamette valley would reach
the sum of $3.50, ,OOO, 900. And yet there are