Daily Davenport Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1864-1874, 1869-01-28

DAILY DEMOCRAT.
-. Y. RICHARDSON. Editor.
THURSDAY EVENING. =. JAN. 3.
Raiiroaes Of the Waited states,
We ccndsnse the following from an in
American Railroad Journal OF January ID
The development Of the railroad sysisms Of
the United States, in the year lsGs, has
bsen more rapid than in airy former year.
Nominally we have an increase OF .45o.37
uilc.i and in the cost an immense sum OF
ti93.245,2 3o over tho figures gwen by Us
- the totals Of the previous year. Much Of
this aggregate 10 due directly to the prog
rsss made in building the Pacific railroads,
and indirectly to the impetus tho near
approach 10 their completion has gwen TO
railroad building throughout the country,
but mere especially in the States between
the Mississippi and Missouri rivers, and
iss in California. There is little doubt,
also, but that our figures for s6s did net
include many miles Of railroad that were
brought into use in the last part Of the year
1867, the facts not having come to our
notice in time fer their entrance. Deduct
in-th.ss, or, in other words, adding them
10 shs figures for 1868, No may safely
~ mil. hill
iheyear Just passed. The apparent increase
n cost g excessive, but ii must be rsmem>
bsred that very large amounts havs been
sai.d 10 the construction accounts Of pre-
existing railroads, and in many instances
the nominal cost OF roads has been largely
increased by the operation Of consultations
do not include issues OF stock without cost,
- in the Erie case, but are ~ near correct
- reference to the lstes. official report or
close estimate can make them. or the
total given above. probably $1,000 900
has been added for 5000 miles Of road,
which, considcring tho expensive character
Of the Pacific lines. is not too largo an
estimate. being but an average Of $50. 900
per mile, while the Pacific roads are not
built for less than an average Of So, 900
p.r mile. Large amounts are also lying
dormant on reads in progress and not ye,
anishsd. The following shows the dis,r.
button Of mileage and the cost TO the several
uectiens Of the country
Nlles OF road road and
Total Open. souli mont.
aNoriheastsrn
r,nss :. 4.sl2 - I.oeo.ll sls2. 52s.oa
Alddl. East
esn Statea Ia, COS S. 9 I6il 81 4932iS
3Southeastern
st.,ss -. 1864 5,silN l5s, o2s.l27
Gulf and Southern
icr sta,es s.oas a. 6.o1o.5s ls7. sls.4:l
IL North Inter
ststes.Ae as,t3Sss lss59o. 200. 6ss, 9oi
Western Statss
Ae...... $1,000 $500 e5. lss, 900
Aggregate. Jan.
LIST, 80 s2.sl71o 4a27Lls 1855 700. OIL
City passenger railroads are not included
in the above summary. These arc now in
general use in all considerable cities, and
in numerous instances in places whore
population is less dense. Thor economical
bearings are fully recognized, and their
popularity is increasing. Boston New York,
Brooklyn ami Philadelphia count their
Probably tho total is not less than . 600 q
5000 mi %.
Nor have We included in our staten, mt
any account Of the second track with which
mos, Of tbs leading lines are supplied, nor
the 81 lings aud turneuts on ali the lines.
These may be estimated at % Or 30 per
cent. Of tho length Of tho road, and arc
being added 70 yearly. Adding these
supplementary tracks TO the sabulatsd
mileage. ~ find the total length Of squiva-
lent s,ng's track in use 10 from ~, 800 70
5000 miles, and five add to this the
sluivalsn, for the city passenger tracks, t.
nearly 60, 900 miles. 1t is now forty years
aimee We began to build railroads. and in
that tine we have built 4 greater length
thsn il 20 be found in the whole OF Europe
psegrsss leads but 10 new demands aud
mes enterprises.
How the l'HbliC burdens may
be 1.essened.
ihstthc people mean the producing
classes have lust cause OF complaint, and
ars complaining, is evidenced by nearly
every one Of our exchanges. The financial
AZ 4 Iol -
mind will certainly lead to commercial dis
asier and wide spread rum il some measure
Of relief is not soon proposed and speedily
acted upon.
We have lately read some very ab' fiuap.
sial articles in icmc Of the leading journals
Of the country, and IN binary times the
suggestions set forth might operate bcn,f.
cialy il carried into effect But the coun.
Try is burdensd with M immense debt. both
Stale aud National, and il the interest and
tslss were required to be paid on given
DAY, or within the limit Of ten days. the
whole currency circulation Of the country
would fall several millions short Of accom-
plishing the OBJECT. Hsw, or where, or in
what manner the commercial and productive
interests Of the country arc to b benefited
we mean permanently bsnsitsd-by
moss Of theories advanced wc confess our>
selves unable 10 discover.
Tho fact is, W, - . people, are spending
too much money. We are spending much
moro than our income. We are running
two or three per cent. ahead Of eur actual
production, which must end Ssry soon in
National, State, and individual bankruptcy.
The uongrsss nov assembled in Washing.
ton should take into. csnsidsratsn the fact
that the war 10 over, and has been fer moro
than three ysars, and that the men who
served thsir:csuntry 10 the capacity Of pri-
vate patriots during and aimee its close have
been amply rewarded for their dsvo ion,
aud tha. il is now time to retire these pa
uiots and relieve the people from the bur.
cen Of their longer support We are in
'-yor Of Abandoning the whole internal
revenue system, with its fraud and corrup.