New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-05-16
AGRICULTURE AND TRANSPORTATION

"Wcll, anyhow, ne was iIne "hislici'
AGRICULTURE AND TRANSFORMATIONS
In 1850, we had but little over Eight Thou
sand miles of railroad in the United States
By the end Of this year, We shall have flIty
thousand miles-one-third of all the railroads
in the world. And, by the end OF tho dccaue'
we shall touch the figure OF Seventy-hve
Thousand miles, In tho early history OF ri.l-
reading, passengers and freight were conveyed
by the same trains; but the two interests soon
demanded separate systems of carriage; ana
il is now becoming evident that entirely sep
arate tracks are required. Narrow guage roads,
running freight-trains only, at low rates OF
speed, will-probably within few years-De
the practical answer to present questions as 10
adequate accommodation for passengers ana
freight. The introduction Of such, or any
equivalent system, may accelerate the growth
Of onr roads in new ratios and to an incalcu-
liable extent. Lower cost OF construction anu
lighter running expenses are new elements
involving possibility of new uses, the limits
whereof are not to be foreseen. But TO base
figures on what has been, rather than on what
NAV be. and taking the established ratio OF
increase as likely to be continued during the
next ten years, we shall have at the end OF
that period, as stated, Seventy-fve Thousand
miles of road. The average tunnage per mile
is now, in tho older States, about Slxty-three
Hundred tuns Putting the estimate at FIVE
Thousand tuns, we shall have carrying capacity
of Three Hundred and Seventy-iye MILLIONS
Of tuns per annurl.
The industrial movements affording material
for this vast freightage are Agriculture, Man
ufactures, Mining, and Importation. The con-
tribution of the Import trade is not likely 10
be rapidly increased from its present amount
say Fifteen Millions of tuns-the increased
traffic in fine and costly wares being Offset by
our growing independence of foreign markets
for most staple commodities. The growth OF
our mining interests will undoubtedly give
employment to immense additional tunnage.
The Coal trade alone promises to offer freight
that would tax tho whole of our present facili-
ties. 1t would be difficult to compute the
probable product of our other mining pursuits ;
but we may state the total amount of Metals
and Minerals to be moved as not far from
One Hundred and Ten Millions of tuns-a
great figure by itself, but only small item in
the way-bill we are making up.
We do not submit these calculations as in
d!sputable, though based on authorized figures.
1t is sufficient for present purposes IL we
approximate the truth nearly enough to reason
upon tho probabilities established Accepting
the premises, as at least safely within these
bounds, brings US to the conclusion that we
are to transport, during the seasons of 1880
and 1881, Two Hundred and Fifty Millions of
tuns of agricultural products.
These stupendous figures seem at first in
credible, demanding a development of our
Agriculture too rapid and extensive to be &C
complshed even by American enterprise. But,
when we consider the marvellous impetus given
to this industry by cheap and rapid transport
tation, we find it difficult to Oyer-estimate
future possibilities. Only within the last twenty
years have railroads afforded any considerable
aid to the tillers of the soil; our roads, pre-
vious to that time, having been short lines,
devoted mostly to passenger traffic. To show
what has been done since, one illustration must
suffice: The cost CT moving q tun of Grain
one mile averaged, in 1850, twenty cents. In
1870, the average freight tariff was one and
quarter cents.
This fact will indicate one Of many ways in
which railroads contribute to the development
of Agriculture. In like manner, we would set
forth the extension of railroads as one among
many agencies tending to promote the same
interest. The time is upon us when we are
rapidly to realize the effects of these slowly
accommodating causes-when this first industry
of mankind is to lead our nation in progress
toward the golden age. The imperial areas to
be made productive; the populations to be es-
tablished in happy homes of successful indus
try; the era of new human experiences to be
proven, give to this advance the character of
great forward movement of our race-a
peaceful conquest, momentous as the grandest
triumphs ever achieved by war. The stars in
their courses arc with US, and we bear the
best hopes of Humanity.