National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1869-07-16
| From tho Montpelier Journal ]
Our Railroads.

~ ~
going on with a rapidity in all sec
tions OF the country that can only
be accounted for on the ground
that the public mind has been final |
Is able to realize that it is to our
railroad enterprises that we are III
future to look as the means of de
veloping our great resources as a
nation, and that our prosperity as
an agricultural and manufacturing
people is based and depends upon
rapid and cheap communication be.
tween all sections of the country.
No nation in the world has adranc-
ed with such speed in adopting rail
roads as their great highways, since
their introduction. as has ours and
none atthe present moment are null
tiplying their lines OF road so fast as
our own people.
From 1850 to 1867, the miles of
railroad IN Great Britain increased
from six thousand six hundred to
fourteen thousand two hundred and
forty seven, doubling in fourteen
years: while in the United States,
in the same time. the extension was
from eight thousand to thirty seven
thousand miles-doubing in little
more than seven years, and from a
larger basis. We are now building
annually more than four thousand
miles, and have as many miles I'M
der construction as the whole mum,
Der already built in Great Britain.
The yearly income of our railroads
has increased until it has reached
the immense sum of four hundred
million dollars, and will necessarily
increase from year to year. The
modern arrangement for grea t
through lines, so that freight can go
through from one end of the country
to the other without breaking bulk
which practically secures the
chief benefits ofthe gigantic schemes
for consolidation now so earnestly
pressed, has increased the freight
receipts so largely that they exceed
at this time the entire receipt for
passenger traffic. Their usefulness
is getting to he better khown-their
character and relation to the body
polite are being more generally un.
derstood and this gives impetus to
their improvement and enlarge.
ment.
A railway is not mere private
speculation on commercial enter
prise like a factory; it is high trust
for the public-and the province of
the directors is to provide for the
public travel and transportation in
the best and most efficient manner,
collecting for the stockholders Il
fair remuneration for their invest,
meut. Upon this ground they are
permitted to take private property,
and exercise the State right of EN-
ineut domain, and they neglect
their high trust when they convert
the railway into mere private
speculation.
Many now familiar with railroad
enterprises and management, and
who are regardedas cminently prac
tical IN their views and of sount
Judgment, think that as yet W,
have but taken our first step, as i
were, in railroad operations. APP
scholars we have been, having al
ready acquired a little knowledge
but there is vastly more yet tC
be learned. A $ be fore stated
our people are fast learning
that to this source are we to loo
for the development of our country
and the aid which the railroads ar
giving even to-day tooIr agricultu
raj aud mechanical industry is doin;
more than anything else in hclpin:
the laboring masses (the producers
of this great nation in paying of
our debt.
With this general but Imperfect
opening CT the subject, we trus
some ADLER pen will follow it up il
reference to the proposed new line
III Vermont, and also to the stron
claim these enterprises have to
wise and liberal treatment at tn
hands of our Legislature.
NEW YORK, July s. a lat
Kingston(J amaica)paper has TIL
following Special adviccs irot
Porto Rico announce that grca
revolution against Spain has broke
out in that Island. The city c
Ponce has been set on fire 10y tn
insurgents and nearly burned to tn
ground. Circulars have been iii
tributcd ordering the negroes an
the natives to burn all houses mari
ed with blood. All the houses
wealthy Spaniards were thus deSi
mated, bnt those who owned the
were not discovered, howcve
Some Of the most prominent wei
killed after the fires. During q
confusion several soldiers were all
killed, and the authorities did II,
attempt to maintain order
Most of the richest families la,
left for st. Thomas, en- route (,
Europe and the United State
among them Mr.. Cabricro and fan
lily, DR.. Pciol, Mrs. Mandri and fan
ily, Mr., Melinda and Don Manu
Ferris j. Senos and family. Man
poor people fled to the mountain
The overSeers Of the ncighborii
plantations and tho white Lahore
have been conscripted by the at
thorities.
a general uprising was momen
arily expected. The soldiers we
mostly raw recruits from Spai
and were rapidly dying Of ycllo