, 1869-04-05
RAILROAD AND WATER TRANsPOR'
TATIQN,

we pIlOL LIN 1lOI1llub ltkLS4 1k0lu W.
seph Il. Moore, Esq, for long timo tho
Geneul Freight Agent in this city Of tho
Pittsburgh, Fort Wayne l. Chicago nailway,
upon the subject Of the ability Of railways
to transport freight in profitable compcti-
ton with water lines. These views are the
result of tho observation md study Of
practical man, who has reduced tho propo-
sihon to what he regards demonstration It
will naturally excite q good deal Of
interest. The question Of freights is one
which concerns the pockets Of every pro-
duoer and consumer IN the country. A
leading causo Of the high prices Of living in
the United S,ates is the extraordinary cost
Of transportation. Thus, coal can be and
is produced and sold At the mouth Of tho
mines in Pennsylvania ut less cost than
the same coal car be had ct the mouth of
tho mines in England; but the cost OF
moving that coal one hundred or one thou
sand miles in the United States Is perfectly
anormous compared with tho like ser
vice IN England. It is only naces-
sary 10 look at the tables of the
fre lights sent from Chicago to New York
annually, and to remember that an equal
volume is returned, to understand hoT
deeply interested the whole country must
be in measure to establish chonp freights.
Mr.. Moore asse1ts that q railroad with o
| double track exclusively for freights can
| transport the three clasaes Of freights nov
sent By Like and canal to New York, at On
avcrngc rate Of si1 miles an hour, mt cost
Of s., $s md 50 per ton during the
season Of navigation, and during the winter
months at the rates Of 50, $40 and 5ll pc,
t ton. Tie ayernee freights on wheat, oo1p
md oats from. Chicago to New York, cid
Buffalo, by lake and oaral, during tho pas
season has been Ss per ton. Upon thea'
figures Nj. Moore proceeds TO m elaborate
statement Of the business ench road nigh
do, the amount Of its receipts, and the grea
increase Of profit, He assumes that If th
ra:lsoads will take the freighea nt the sam
cost in dollars and cents, with the addition
Of speed, they viii obtain the huznes
which now goes by way OF Tho lako an
i canal. 1t has been. frequently stated b
statistici.sns TINT to transport the graf
shipped from Chicago by water, on rai1roads
would requiru so large number Of cal
, that they would e1tend in straight Lin
, half way across tho continent. Mr.. Moor
, meets The assumed inpossibility Of all III
: transportation by rail by the dire
: Insertion that with double tracl
t. exclusively for freights, with loo
a motives especially adapted to the bus
!. ncss, and worked mt speed not c1oesdin
a eight miles an hour, either one of Il
i four railway lines between Chicago a1
q New York could transport five times L
r railroad and Lake tonnage Of the ye
It | 1868. Divided up between these save'
j. rontes, tho capacity to perform the LAB
Il cannot be questioned: On tho other ha'
t arc The Advantage and profit, both to t
;. railroads and the public, Of the increas
NJ facilities for return freights Of coal Il
70 iron to Chicago and the West. >.
in The great fact which the public will b
- with satisfaction is, that if the great railw
- line. between Chicago and New York Vt
be rescued from the hands and control Of The
no stock gamblers snd swindlers, and VI
mt governed legitimately, aud for legltim
II ends, they could be employed ut m imme1
- profit to transport the entire products
raj the West, ana the return fFeishts fa
"a the East, at the same cost per ton per M
= that The work is now done BY Lake and ca
40 transportation. II thia can be done,
lila Mr.. Moore Is sang.lne Of it, it prese
an question Of such deep cconoui
|a;l interest rs to demand an early praot
tha adoption Of such measures aa will b1
=, about such result II railroad freie
N. can be reduced to such q point as to {
of cesdully and prodtatAy compete with c.
Ibo and lake navigation, then there viii b
n universal demand for as early rele
tba from the present cxtortionate freight
ion tom, as rs possible The public have g
,;s. cause TO thank Mr.. Moore for the Eniui
taa suggestions and facts stated IN his lester