The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1872-06-18
(For the Spirit }
Railroads.

llnpulltllCc VI tuNiHS uoi't VI ''"Nh ''''l
enterprise as the building of road II
we look over the daily papers we shall
sec the great number of railroads that
are being projected and completed in
this and other States. This shows the
public spirit that has been worked up in
this country to develop its resources
Nothing is calculated TO develop 4 coun-
try so much RS that which affords rap
id means of transportation. New roads
are being run all over this country, crca-
ting bin outlet for produce-making
weaIth-not making it. but opening a
way bv which wealth already made can
show its latent power by finding a sure
and speedy outlet. ...
We are always pleased to see a change
in the neighborhood in which we reside; !;
and why? Simply becatlse every change
begets a new enterprise. The. farmer
who lets his farm run down sells it to
his reighbor or stranger, and in short
time yon see great changes in the farm
you notice an Improvement in the ap.
pearance Of that farm; you see an in
crease in it's productions; you were sor-
ry to see your old neighbor go, but you
now rejoice that change was made, be-
cause you see in it progress and enter
prise. Your old neiehbor has gone to
take his place in another vicinity where
he, too, has caught the spirit of enter
prise; and should you visit him, you
win be surprised that the man you FOR
merly knew,as being hardly able to make
a living, is in consequence OF his change
become an enterprising farmer, Il bles.
sing to his communityand hetter man
Just so. with the merchant, the proles.
sional man and the business mani care
not what is his calling Whatever stim-
ulates enterprise excites to action. and
whatever excites to action makes wealth,
That which makes wealth creates pros
perity and progress in any people.
The same effect must follow the build
ing of railroad. 1t arouses the dor
mant energies of the people; makes
them feel confident assurance tha,
whatever is produced can find a speedy
and certain outlet, and sure competition
in the markets.
am asked daily what I think abou,
our getting railroad What should be
my answer? If we desire to meet oul
necessities and keep pace with the enter
prise of the age.we must have railroad
If we desire to develop our latent powe!
and wealth, we must have railroad. i
we want cheap and rapid transportation
let us build railroad. If we want bolt
and enterprising men to settle in ou
midst, we must induce them to do so by
sifording the facilities of railroad. il
we want home manufactures, let us have
a railroad If we want sale for ou
fruit, give us a railroad. II we want tc
increase our vegetable production, let u
furnish means of shipping them tt
market by railroad. II we want th,
products of other places cheap, let II
afford a facility for them to reach u
by means of railroad. -. a5d.
These are some of the results to b,
gained from our building railroad
There are many other advantages TO b
reaped from this enterprise, some o
which now propose to mention
A business man in this county
who is familiar with the expeus
of transportation by rail, and who ha
for many years been engaged in the to
bacco trade, Informs me that with
railroad through our county there viii
be saving on the transportation of to
bacco alone, tie sum Of $4,000 annu
ally. That is to say,that those who bu,
tobacco in our county can afford to pa,
the producers, annually, $4,000 NOR
than they now pay,on this one article o
our production. If this be true. the in
creased price on tobacco alone would, il
fifteen. years, pay for building a railroa'
from Clariugton to Carlisle. There i
another thing right in this connection
Tobacco is often delayed for want o
transportation after it is ready to send t.
market, which will be avoided by mean
of large and rapid facilities for trans
portation, thus giving much better op
portunity of the rise of the market.
The same thing is true with regard t.
wool, and doubly so on the last propo
sition; for all know that the wool MAJ
ket is more luctuating than that Of to
bacco If we had railroad the woo
buyer could afford to pay from one t.
five cents per pound more tor wool thai
he can now pay. Why? For the sim
pie reason that he can fix upon posi-
tive time when he can have his wool il
the market The same thing will appl,
to the shipment of live stock. Every ar
ticle Of trade will partake of the strengt
and speed of the steam horse, and busi
ness will be tirmer and can range high
er
Statistics show that Monroe County i
one of the best fruit growing countie
in the State, and two years ago we pro
duced more apples than any other coun
ty in the State; but for want of chea
and rapid transportation, very little G
this fruit was Of any value except wha
could be consumed at home. True
near the river there was means of ship
ment; but what amount was shippe
compared with what was lost ? TIL
value of the fruit that was lost in ou
county that year, could it have reached
market, would pay for the constructio
Of the road bed through the county.
The money that is expended in build
ing a railroad is all expended in the vi
cinity Of the road, except the price pai
for the iron; thus affordiug remunera
ton for labor, and good home marke
as soon as the work is begun, ,and payin
large premium on the production o
vegetables for the use OF the lab borcrs a
the work. -"
The question is often asked, will nc
the building railroad increase on
taxes ? The answer to this is, it will
not do so That railroad will increas
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