Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1869-07-07
vERMoNT wATCHMAN
Our Railroads.


The extension Of milroadlues Il going IN with
a npidity in MI sections of the country that can
only he accounted for on the ground that the pub
Iii mind has been finally able to realize that II Is
To our railroad enterprises that we are in future
to look as the means of developing our great re-
sources rs nation, and that our prosperity as an
agricultural and manufacturing people is based
and depends upon rapid and cheap communica-
ton between all sections of the country. No ma
ton in tho world has advanced with such speed
in adopting railroads as their great highways,
since their Introduction, as has ours, ard none at
the present moment are multiplying their lines Of
road so inst as our own people.
From 1850 ~ 1867 the miles Of railroad in
Great Britain increased from six thousand six
hundred to fourteen Thousand two hundred and
lorty-scycn doubling in fourteen years while in
the United States, in the same time, the extension
wns from eight thousand 70 thrty-seyen thousand
me7-doubliug in little more than seven years,
and from larger basis. We are now building
annually more than four Thousand miles, and
have a. many miles under construction as the
whole number already built in Grea, Britain
Theyearly income Of our railroads has Increased
hilill Nc lluN INltltN tNt lAuUl'l7t NhAh W Ahhi
hundred million dollars, and will necessarily in
crease from year TO year. The modern arrange
mcnt for great through lines, 80 that freight can
go through from one end Of the country 10 the
other without breaking bulk which practically
secures the chief benefits of the gigantic schemes
for consolidation now 50 earnestly pressed, has
increased the freight receipts 80 largely that they
exceed ut this time the entire receipts for passen-
ger trnic Their usefulness is getting to be bet
ter kn,wn-tlcir character and relation to the
body polite are being more generally understood,
and this gives impetus to their improvement and
enlargement
A railway is not mere private speculation %
commercial enterprise like factory it is high
trust for the public-ond the province of the Di-
rectors is to provide for the public travel and
transportation in the best and most efficient man
ncr, collecting for the stockholders lnir remune-
ration for their Investment. Upon this ground
they are permitted To take private property, and
exercise the State right Of eminent domain, and
they neglect their high trust when they convert
the railway into a mere private speculation.
Many now familiar with milroad enterprises
and management, aud who are regarded as emil
nenty practical in their views and OF sound judy
ment think that as yet we have but taken our
first step, AS it We're, in railroad operations. Apt
scholars we have been, having already acquired
some little knowledge, but there is ulstly more
yet to be learned. As before stated, our people
are fast learning that to this source we to look
for the development Of our country, and the aid
which the railroads are giving oven to-day 10 our
= l.
more than anything else in helping the laboring
masses (the producers) Of this great nation in
paying of our debt.
With this general but imperfect opening of the
subject, we trust some ADLER pen will follow it up
in reference to the proposed new lines in Yer
mont, and also to the strong claim these enter
prises have to wise and liberal treatment at the
hands Of our Legislature.