, 1873-01-03
TIE COST OF IRON AND STEEL RAILS.

|
may now stand in the way OF safety to life,
TIE COST OF IRON AND STEEL RAILS.
We have previously called attention to the
| fact that, while we constructed between Janu-
ary, 1850, and January, 1872, II 600 miles Of new
railway in the States north and west Of the Ohio
River, re hare not increased tho number Of rail-
hare in that came time put several hundred
| millions OF additional acres under cultivation,
! and have not provided an additional outlet TO
market. Ordinarily, railroads will be construct
ed whenever there is business enough to pay
! them 4 profit; and yet, notwithstanding the
| vast number Of tributary roads construct
! ed since 1860, we have no more facilities
in 1878 for getting to the Atlantic than
We had in 1860. One reason for this
is, that we have been stimulating the
construction Of railways in the West by dona-
tions Of public lands, while in the East there
have been no lands to give away for this pur-
pose. Another reason (and this applies equally
to all 1ailways) is to be found in the cost Of iron
AeAAA9* AAA
iron rail is ten years. We have now in the
United States G0,0o0 miles Of rnilwsy, and Of
course 6, 900 miles have TO- be rclaid every year.
Estimating 100 tons to the mile, tho quantity Of
iron rails required annually to keep these roads
in running order is 100000 tons. In an item Of
current cost, the expenditure required to keep
these tracks alive is enormous, and each dollar
added to the cost becomes matter Of serious
tion to new rails, large amounts Of other iron.
During the last ten years the Government has
levied tax On this iron at tho following rates:
Pr 9nI Per ton:
from IRON a fosa sr .; esr @
Railroad ron..-.. 17.00 Iron railroad chars.. $500
Tho tax on ordinary failroad iron, at 517 Per
ton, is an addition to the cost Of the annual re-
newals OF 6,ooo miles Of railway track OF
900 in gold, annually, every penny of
which has to be paid for out OF the freight
transported, with all the profits and incidences
Of tho tax. That is tho annual tax which has to
be paid by increased rates for freight. Putting
the distance between the Mississippi Eiver and
an Atlantic port at /, 900 miles, the tax upon the
first purchase OF the cheapest kind OF rail is
s1,700, ,000 and for double track tHice that
pairs) has to be paid in addition annually. Even
greater taxes arc imposed upon every other
article needed in the construction OF the road.
But experience has long ainco shown that |
steel rails arc the most economical though cost
ing moro in the first instance, and no first-class
road ought to be constructed with any other |
rails. Hero, too our Government has inter
posed, and has levied tax upon eteel rails OF |
$2s Per ton in gold. We have before ua i state |
ment made in London By tho President OF tho
Of 29 600 tons Of steel rails for that road at ten
guineas, or $3.50 per ton and Of his contract,
made since the recent enormous advance in the
prices of all kinds Of iron, for $4,000 tons at
EFT, or 785 per ton. With this it is proposed to
replace the present iron tracks with steel rails.
The advance in tho price from 952.5o to Ss5 per
Ton took place in 1872, and during the five years
preceding that date our railroad companies might
have purchased steel rails delivered at
Montreal for s55 pcr ton, or at q small fraction
above the cost Of common American raila- But
.he tax Of S28 per ton was fntal To relay the
Il, 900 miles Of railway in the United States
With steel rails would require the payment Of q
AZ Of s16s,oo0, 900. To substitute steel 1ails
'or the Esorn out iron rails would require, in ai
lition to tho cost OF tho rails, the payment Of
71G 600, 600 annually for tax alone, and this tax
would have to be collected from freights. The
IL, moreover, is wholly unnecessary, for if it TO
rue, as they claim in Indiana (and We think it
8 true), that Bessemer steel can be produced
here as cheapls rs in England, no protection is
lceded, and the tax is a sheer gratuity to the
ail manufacturers.
Wo publish below the resolutions OF meeting
It farmers at Dixon, in this State, relating to
he Railroad aud Warehouse Commissioners.
This meeting, no ere told, WAS composed Of dele
ates from more than fifty agricultural o1ganiza-
ions located in different parts Of the State.
hey respectfully request that ono OF the Com
aissoners to bo appointed shaQ be farmer
the confidence OF those in tho game |
ocation, and Of the people generally, az to his
bility, honesty, tact, and general fitness for tho
flee, and who HhAu be 20 recommended by !
hem.
M1. Bnc11, the gentleman put forward by this
Convention, VIC understand, is every way quail ,
ed to fill the Office, and, il appointed, will
aithful1y represent the interests that the Law
as designed to protect.
The following are tte reso1utfnna refarred tn |