Weekly graphic. [volume] (Kirksville, Adair Co., Missouri) 1880-1949, 1883-11-30

An I'll ride right 10 glory.
Oh: come from Dc church an de sunsy schoo.
An zee me sidin' on de Mefo1is' mule
Dem Bapiises Amt rot 10 sort oh show.
n'rI make dem Pistehlss hosses blow:
An'IW ride,
Yes will
wi ride right on 10 glory.
Railway Construction.
The following is An extract from the
introduction to ''Poor's Railway Man
ual'' for 1883: The construction Of
railroads in this country seems to pro-
| ceed in great waves. In recurring per-
iods it becomes the absorbing passion
of our people. All this is very natural.
No enterprise is so seductive as q rail-
road for the influence it exerts, the
power it gives. and the hope Of gain it
offers. Every community, no matter
how well supplied. equally welcomes .
new line for the money its cost brings
it and the promise it offers of lower
rates of transportation. When there
has been 3 considerable pause in the
construction of railroads and the traffic
Of old lines when without rivals keeps
pace with the progress of the country,
their success is predicted Of every new
line wherever situated, no matter how
wanting in real merit it may be. In q
highly excited state of the public mind
the promoters Of new enterprises have,
for time, everything their own way;
for the argument on the other side can
only be presented by the result itself.
There never was period in our history
in which, in the construction and con-
solidation of railroads, the good sense
of our people was so thoroughly at
fault as in the period from 1879 up to
and including 1882. There can b. no
doubt that the country is vastly richer
and stronger than it was in 1873. and
that there is no reason to apprehend the
terrible disasters that followed that
year; but confidence in our vast strength
has probably led to excuses wholly dis
proportionate to our needs or means.
These remarks are TO be received not
IS discouraging the construction Of new
lines in new territory, nor in the older
states when called for in the develop
ment OF mining industries capable ofun-
limited expansion. but to put an end to
those purely speculative schemes the
only object Of which is the manufacture
of securities for tie purpose of imposing
them upon the public. Attention should
also be called to the enormous increase.
for the same object, Of stock and bonds
of old companies. of which culpable ex-
amples might be given. While i: is not
probable that We shall ever again wit
ness the construction, in q single year, Of
II, 800 miles of railroad. such construct
ion will continue steadily and rapidly
until our present mileage is doubled in
extent. There are now, orsoon will be.
four great lines traversing the conti-
nent from ocean to ocean. These lines
render every portion of it accessible.
and will serve as trunks from which
branch lines will radiate in every d.
rection. Included in the available ares
of the United States are 3, 600. 600 square
miles, A ratio Of ! mile Of railroad to
10 square miles Of area will give SOC. 900
miles of line. Construction will pro-
coed uninterruptedly until such an ex-
tent u mileage ~ Ieacueu.
1t is to the credit Of the railway in
tercst that, SO far. there have been but
very few defaults in the payment Of the
bonds of railroad companies. Their
floating debts. though large in the ag-
create no embarrassment. It
Is also . remarkable evidence Of the
wealth Of the country that the expendi-
lure of more than 81 900, GOO for everyday
for three consecutive years-money Al
most wholly supplied by our own peo-
ple-has created no strain in our money |
markets. This, perhaps, is not so
much to be wondered at, as nations of
The old world. having much less wealth
han our own, spend annually upon
military and naval tablishments-ex-
penditures in point of view wholly un-
oroductive-sums greater than are ex-
pended annually in this country upon
'ailroads. 1t is greatly in our favor
hat by far the greater extent Of mile
lge constructed within the last three
7ears has been in tho new territory, so
hat. should the investment in them be
wholly sunk, the loss would be more
han compensated by the advantage
from opening up vast tracts
# fertile territory to settlement. Tho
nf railroads, no matter the
Gale ON which. within the past three
ears, it has proceeded. is not likely to
rea,e ANYTHING like widespread dis
stcrs thst followed the breakdown OF
673, however much individuals may /,
infer. Many of the greater interests
the country are in a sound condition.
here has been no undue speculation in
sal estate. that sure precursor of firan- j
ial disaster. The endorsements of
whatever they may be will be
lat of single. powerful interest, and
i'll not. as they did in 1873, include
very other in the country.