National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-06-22
THE C0MNBRCIAL railway
COMPANY

Bills have been introduced by General
Logan in the Senate. and by General But
Ter in the House. to incorporate the Com
mercial Railway Company. 1t is designed,
as stated in the bills, to construct q four
track railway from point on the Atlantic
coast near New York, to Chicago and St.
Louis of such line, solidity and msgni-
tude as will permit the transfer of freight
at an average speed of forty miles per hour.
To accomplish this it is intended to run the
line nearly straight, lay very heavy steel
rails upon a solid granite foundation, use
wheels of at least six feet in diameter for
the trucks, and to suspend the car-bodies
(Which are to be of sufficient capacity to
carry a thousand bushels of grain each)
between the trucks by means of wire
cables, which will take up and waste the
vibrations that now wear out the rolling
stock so rapidly.
The whole system of road and equip
ment was explained at length in these
columns not many days since by the author,
Mr.. S. B. briggs, whose reputation as a
civil engineer is widely extended, and who.
we understand, has assurances from emf
nent capitalists that justify him in engaging
that the enterprise will be commenced at
once when the charter is granted, and
pressed forward to an early completion.
The proposed charter asks from Congress
no appropriation of money or land. tasks
only for power to mortgage its own prop
erty and franchises, if necessary, to raise
money; that it shall be declareda post road,
subject to Government use and direction
for military, postal, telegraphic and naval
service, under such regulations and subject
to such charges as Congress may impose;
that the rates for transportation of freight
and passengers shall be fixed by commits
sion of three persons to be appointed by
the President of the United States, one by
the Governor of each State through which
the road shall pass, and three persons by
the railway company, provided that in any
event the rate per bushel upon grain be-
tween New York and 81. Louis shall not
exceed ten cents and per barrel on -four
thirty-siX cents.
1t is clear that railway transportation at
these rates by the present roads is impossi-
BILE. If this scheme is practicable it is of
incalculable value. As the corporstors ask
nothing from the Government but permits
sion and protection, why not accord this
cheap encouragement to these new inven-
tons of transportation facilities, at time
when lower rates of freight are SO strenu-
ously demandedf
It is well that the project has been taken
hold of by such bold and sagacious men as
Generals Logan and Butler. They are
both men who have no such word as fail in
their vocabulary. They do not believe
that perfection in machinery has been
reached. After all that they have wit.
messed of progress in the transportation of
heavy weights during the past forty years,
they are ready to believe that as much more
may be accomplished during the sue
ceeding ten. But advances are never
accomplished by timid men. These lat
ter believe that "what man has done man
''may do They know nothing about
plunging into the dark recesses of the fu-
ture by the paths Of genius never before
sought out, and by them making q short
cut to wealth and honor and fame. For
this work men of pluck, energy, moral and
physical courage to Withstand the jeers Of
the faithless, and of the highest type Of
genius are required.
Without protesting to be qualified to
Judge of the merits of the Improvements
proposed to be introduced into transporta-
ton by this enterprise, we believe that it
would at present be very bad policy to re-
fuse the trial of any experiment or expe-
dent which promises 50 much cad costs
nothing.