The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1880-12-22
farm aud Gardem.
Conducted by DR.. THOMAS POLLARD, State
Commissioner of Agriculture
Railroads in the u. States-Their Eff
fects on Farming and Production in
this Country and Great Britain

this Country and Great Britain
In our last, we noticed the above
essay by Ed. Atkinson, of Boston. 1t is
a pamphlet Of 4S pages, full of useful IN
formation. Among other tables is one
showing the number of miles of railroad
in operation in the United States; the
number annually constructed; the num-
her of tons of iron and steel rails annually
manufactured in the United States, Chose
imported, etc). In the year 1873, the
number of miles in operation was 81 ,84l.
Another table gives the cost of these as
$4,589, 948, 0O0 gross earnings, $780,
7O3.OOO; nett earnings, $187, SIS, 900.
And to think that all this has been ac-
complished since 1880. In 1850, there
were only 9,021 miles in operation. An
other table gives the amount derived from
passengers Gin 1878 from passengers,
Sl246 37 ,29O, and from merchandise,
1866 466, 061); another table, the amount
of gold mined in California in 1878, the
amount of gold and silver produced in
the world in the last 81 years, that is,
gold, $4,000 1890, 200; silver, 81 40 .327.-
600; total, $4,000 300. While the
cotton crop in the last ten, years has been
from So, 100000 to So, 900, 100000 in
gold.
Besides this, Mr.. Atkinson has pre-
pared under the title of "Our National
Domain, chart containing a compare
tive statement of the areas of our States
and Territories, of many of the States of
Europe, and of the whole United States,
with estimated area of arabic land, num-
her of farms, acres occupied by the prin-
of ha foI -
product per acre, quantity in bushels,
etc. Asa matter of interest, we may say
that the area of the United States is put
down at 3,034,3 1899 square miles, besides
Alaska. Texas, 274,356 square miles,
and Virginia, SO, 343 square miles, though
by State authority it is $4,000 square
miles, which we think il nearly correct.
The cotton crop of the United States in
1878 was upwards of 100000 bales.
The world requires 100000 to H.
100000 bales, which Mr. Atkinson saws
could be grown on 10000 square miles
of the good land Of Texas, at one bale
per acre. The product per acre for
wheat in the United States in 1878, is
put down at 1900 bushels, and of corn
at 1921 bushels. A long appendix to
Mr.. Atkinson's treatise, contains the
" Product of the Principal Crops of the
United States in 1879, by States, with
the acreage OF each crop. He has an
other chart and table exhibiting the "Pro-
gress of the Nation" followed by an
article on Commercial Progress, how it
has been Advanced by the Railroads. "
This table contains a statement of the
workings, tonnage, increase, earnings,
ETC., of the principal railroads of the
United States from 1869 to 1879.
Mr.. Atkinson obtains his statistics from
the Statistical Abstract of the United
States, Joseph Nimmo Chief of the Blu
reau of Statistics Agricultural Depart
ment of the United States, j. R. Dodge,
statistican, 1878, and Charles Worthing-
ton, 1879, Martins Yearbook, Poor 6
Railroad Manual of the United States
and other sources. Poor's Manual ex-
hlblts the fact of great reduction in rail-
road charges; that while from 1878 to
1879 there has been an increase in freight
moved of AZ per cent, there has been a
decrease in charges of AZ per cent, the
average charge being in 1878, per ton,
per mile, LIT cents, and in 1879, only
the average of 1.02-cents. This has been
for thirteen of the principal railroads
How much of this reduction has been
made practicable by high local freight
charges we are not told, or whether these
charges have been increased or dimin-
lshed, we are not informed, and the rem.
edies for this evil of high local freights
so much complained of are not suggested
Mr.. Atkinson thinks there should be nc
Legislative interference with railroads
and that many attempts to do so, all re.
suited In obstruction to their progress
and efficiency. He is opposed to the Rea.
gan Act or " Interstate Commerce Bill.
Mr.. Atkinson argues that these low
freights from the West are beneficial tc
the East, by furnishing cheap living tc
farmers and their employees, and enab
ling them to raise more profitable thing,
than corn and wheat, viz: hay, dairy
products, stock, fruits, etc. We suspect
he Is right, but in any event it is mani
fest that we cannot compete with the
West in grain production, and must turn
our attention to stock, hay, ensilage
cheese, butter, milk, fruits, and any new
industries we can find that will pay
probably sugar from sorghum, and corn
lute, (for bagging) and silk worms. Oul
State is admirably adapted for grape.
and other fruits: for information on tb,