The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1877-03-24
F0r Me pemaralie Adrn.nl.
Railroads, Their Influence Upon Civilization.
ny a

through your county, propose to oive
from time TO time, some thoughts 1po
the numerous benefits resulting from m
construction of railroads, especially 10
rural community.
Men generally look at material lnterest
hrst. They build ships to engage in com
merce for the sake of gain alone. but thei,
vessels are messengers that bear ciyiIjza
ton and christianity to the remotest re-
gions Of the globe Men build railroads
also, for the sake Of incrcasing theiI
wealth, but while they thus labor to promote
their material interests, they at the same
time advance other Interests of n mpcb
higher character. Every one knows that
railroads increase the wealth of a country
giving, as they do, new impulse to man.
liactures, to mining and agriculture; the
three main sources Of nations wealth.
BY their aid, the productions Of the ali
and Of the mine are rapidly transported Al
trltiing expense from distant sections Of
the country to our large cities, TO be there
exchanged for articles of luxury aud use.
iulness from every cline, that are reauired
to satisfy the thousand wants Of ciyiliza-
ton.
propose, however, in this article. to
consider the intellectual influence of rail-
roads, particularly their influence upon a
retired agricultural community. subject
often overlooked by many.
No one can too highly estimate the value
OF country life, which gives to men a
healthy, moral, tone Of thought seldom
found amid the artificial restraints Of 50.
ciety in cities.
The American farmer, who is the owner
OF good estate that yields him literally
the leading necessaries of life, may onioy
greater share Of health, contentment and
Independence than falls to the lot of most
men. The storms Of the mercantile world
pass him by harmlessly. The intrigues
for political power disturb him not; be is
dependent upon none for votes to place
him in the enviable position he occupies.
But too often he has not enough of
mental activity; his life is too calm and
quiet, and he really suffers in an intellec-
tual point Of view for want of more spirit.
ual intercourse with his fellow men.
What he needs is more external excite
nent to give vigorous play to his mental
powers. Now, to build railroad through
an agricultural community gives new life
to every thing-the people take more news.
papers, buy more books, they travel and
mingle much more with the active world.
The country people can enjoy some of the
intellectual advantages of the cities. while
the residents of those cities, pent up ia
narrow business streets, may come out to
breathe the pure, uncontaminated mir Of
the country. Each small town along the
line of railroad can have its winter course
Of lectures delivered by literary men from
different parts of the country. The road
is a new artery to convey healthy arterial
blood to the whole district which it tray.
erses.
Then comes in connection with the rail.
road the telegraph, that great and useful
discovered soul in matter, which like some
sentinel being Mrobs with intelligence i'm.
parted to millions Of people at the same
moment of time.
The result of these combined agencies
is soon perceived in the changed character
and habits of the people. The farmer
along the line Of a new railroad begins to
cultivate his land in better manner; he.
tears down his old, tasteless looking house,
and builds up residence in accordance
with higher principles Of architecture and
taste, and surrounds it with fine garden
and newly planted trees. Every one has
noticed difference of style in the resi-.
dences. built along railroad and those
situated at some distance from it.
Trihing as it may seem, the house in
which person is born and in which he
spends many of the earlier years Of his
life, produces some effect in the develop.
ment of his character. Many country
residences seem to be constructed in such
a manner that We might think the design
was to destroy all perception of the beau.
tiful. The Greeks understood this subject
better than some modern nations. Their
public buildings, their magnificent tenn
pies, whose ruins yet remain, were SO many
silent instructors to impart to the people
loftier ideas Of harmony and beauty.
Again, our railroads are better Union
savers than whole Congress of noisy DO.
liticians. They bind the people more
closely together, they serve to break down
prejudices, they destroy provincialisms,
and by disseminating everywhere with
rapidity the countless productions Of the
press. We have in this country a nation of
more than twenty millions, from the At
lantic to the Pacific, and from the distant
North to the plains of Mexico, speakinga
language uniform in its character and al
most without any peculiarities In dialect.
ln the countries of Europe, almost every
district gives new dialect hardly to be
understood by those not conversant with
it. In the United States of America We
shall hardly need an equivalent for tho
French word patois.
The tyrants of some portions Of Europe
build railroads with different motive
from that which aetuates us. There, rail.
roads are used to throw large masses Of
soldiery on single point without DELAY.
ready to crush every attempt made for
freedom; but at the same time, these new
avenues Of travel let into the minds Of the
people, and of these soldiers themselves,
new ideas in regard to freedom and the
rights ofman. | have sometimes thought.
when | heard of them grading new rail.
roads in the despotic countries of the old
world, that the despots we're helping to dig
their own graves Already the passport
system, that great hindrance to travel In
Europe, is fast changing under the inau-
ence Of railroads. Formerly man might
as well attempt to travel without his head
as without his passport in Europe.
In this Republic, thanks be to Progi-
dence aud our fathers, we are ffeeto travel
whithersoever We desire. May il soon be
so the wide world over.
My next article will come nearer home,
On the subject Of the new contemplated
railroad, from the Bachman valley 70 the
Western Maryland Railroad.
QAMur rNfs .-Thara :. - -. - Il