West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1882-01-13
RAILRoADs FIrrr rKARS LOO

RAILROADS FIFTT YEARS 400.
The Railroad Journal ended the
year 1881 with an abstract OF an ar -
ticls in its issue of fifty years before.
describing the condition and extent
OF railroad building at that time. On
January /, 1882, out 60 of the pro
posed $50 miles Of the Ba.timoreand
Ohio Railroad were completed and
IN operation, whereas now it has OK.
tended it's length to ,555.35 miles.
The Albany and Schenectady had
but II miles in operation in 1882
The Cnai lesion and Hamburg, in
South Carolina, next in Importance
after Baltimore and Ohio at that time
had 20 miles Of it's proposed 1856 in
operation, and had acquired the dis
tLnction of being the first railroad
IN this country to have a contract
with the Government for carrying
the United States mail, The Quin-
oy, a stone-quarry road near Boston.
often claimed as the first railroad in
the country, had nine miles in use.
and the Mauch Chunk also had nipe
miles Of road in use. The Ithacs
and OSwego, the Lexington and Ohio,
the Camden and Amboy and the
Lackawaxen had been begun. The
Boston and Albany, Boston and
Providence aud the Philadelphia
aud Norristown were projected.
Notice had been given in the New
York Legislature Of charters to be
applied for for twenty five railroads
IN That State, with an aggregate Gao
iial Of SAP 100000. among .h.m the
Erie. There was considerable oppo.
sihon to railroads in New York, and
especially to The Eric, on The ground
that IT would destroy the canal. The
Journal may claim 10 have been
possessed Of prophstic spirit when
1t defended the embryo road with
arguments like the e;
With snch a railroad, intersocted at con
venient distances by other railroads. run
Ding from the Erie Canal, and one from
ogdensburg to Syracuse or Utica, almost
every county IN the State would be Lrouptt
within twenty-four hours ride OF New
YORK. 1t would prevent a recurrence of
the state of things which now exis,s in
this city There would not then be ss
there now are, thousands Of bsrr.Is ~
Hour and other kinds OF produce in pro-
portion frozen up in canal boats and IN
slooPs on the Hudson; sal; would not mo
now wselling in Albany for 50 80 per bush
el, and pork at 81 per hundred for want
OF salt to save it, whilst il Is worth from
% 10 ~ IN this city. Coal would NO,
then sell here for $40 or SIG per ton. nor
oak wool at 80 and hickory at sl3 per
cord, as has been the case for two or
three weeks past, II railroads Were in gen
era use; but all kinds Of business would
move on regularly and be more equally
divided throughout the year. Produce
could come 20 market as well in Januarv
as in July; and tho farmer would not he
obliged, in order to get his crop to mar
ket in The fall, 10 neglect preparing for
the next.
Unlike most prophets, The JournnZ
has lived TO be surprised At he truth
OF iis prediction. 1t is due to the
railroads that prices to-day in all
parts Of The United Ststea are pretty
nearly The same Steam has gone
far TO anuihiIste distsucs as an ele-
ment Of cost. A glance at the mar
kst quotations for articles Of neces-
ssry use in different quarters Of the
country fifty years ago will convince
tho inteDsest railroad batsr that
something has been dene for the en-
hancemsnt Of personal comfort for
commerce aud for material develop
ment.