The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1910-03-07
RAILWAY TRANSPORTATION IN
EUMOPHs
VI,
rue ss..au.- IN Engisnd.


similar to those Of the United states but
are unlike those Of any country of the
Continent Of Europe. The early ast-
tlemsnts. however. a. on the Continent,
arose At fortified camps. in the shadow
Of n great abbey or monastery. or around
the seat Of some king or earl. Settle
monts OF greater economic Importance
grew 40 the heads Of navigation on the
various rivers and sstuaries.
In the Saxon era each Of the separate
counties was very much out OF from its
neighbors. obtaining food and clothing
from the products OF its own fields. The
beginnings OF that industry which min
listers TO the wants Of those beyond the
immediate neighborhOod are rooted in
the fact that the soil and tho climate
VI England are especially adapted to the
growing Of sheep. Al least a. early
~ the thirteenth century WOOL was ex-
ported TO Flanders and later to Holland
and Italy. During the reign Of Ed
ward III. Flemish weavers came to Eng
land and established the mills from which
the first woollen goods OF this country
we're made. Toward the end Of the
fifteenth century a body Of Italians skilled
in handiwork came 20 England. and many
Professionals driven out Of tho Neither
lands by the attack Of Alva found refuge
here during the reign 81 Elizabeth. The
expulsion Of the Huguenots from France
likewise caused great wave Of emiGra-
ton Of silk workers and linen workers
10 this country. Merchants and artisans
OF Antwerp. which had suffered severely
under the Spanish invasion. fed to Eng
land. where they were welcomed ard
encouraged to continue in the pursuit
% their vacations. Thus were laid the
foundations OF the great industries Of
England. whose growth was facilitated by
the fact that il was incomparably more
peaceful than the countries of western
Europe. which between the thirteenth and
the seventeenth centuries were continually
devastated by war.
Throughout all this period. which eX-
tended well into the eighteenth century
the commerce Of England with other
countries was conducted mainly by the
communities adjoining the coast or bor-
dering the e-tuaTies. Domestic COM
merce was also carried by coastwise
vessels between one port and another.
IN the communication between places
OF the interior pedlers and packhorsss
were the principal factors. for although
England has 2i5 rivers flowing into tho
sea on one side or another not a great
many Of them are navigable and hut few
Of these except for comparatively short
distances.
The landwaya were improved. Int they
did not keep pace with the needs Of tho
growing traffic. Great expenditure was
made on the rivers. and during the eigh-
tenth and early nineteenth centuries
netWANrk Of canals was constructed which
30 thoroughly covered the country that
IL was the boast that no place in England
was more than fifteen or twenty miles
from water communication iiut the
canals and other waterways likeu $50
rapidly fell behind the demands of the in
dustry and commerce that in their day
received a powerful impulse from the in
ventions Of Arkwright and Hargreaves
/ when th. feasibility Of steam railways
was assured there VAS abundant private
capital for investment There were no
vast unsettled AREAS TO be opened to
civilization; military considerations cut
small figure in this island fortified 10y it,
isolation. There was therefore no need
for the Government even to take the ini-
tiative in railway construction or to Olfer
guarantees or subveniions TO attract cor
porais Investment England at this time
was the one firmly established manufac-
turing country Of the world. and it's in-
dustry and commerce were suffering from
the lack 81 additional transportation fariI-
ities. When u was demonstrated hy sN.
pertinent that az the speed Of TWO miles
an hour sinder the same moving force
on a turnpike road. on a canal and on a
railway the canal has the advantage of
the turnpike "a fifteen To- one at ih. rad
road a. two 10 one, ~ the speed Of , ~
miles the railroad and the canal will bs
found To be equal. bat az the rate of three
miles an hour the railway has attained
the advantage over the canal .n the ratio
81 - t-iO 70 ~ 80 and az nine mile, AN
hour the canal can take only on.--lg hth
81 the weight conveyed on the railway
with the same power private capital
eaped and bounded into the new chan
nels Of Investment. England enjoys not
only the distinction of beinR the one
country where the railroads have been
built absolutely without Government AID.
but OF being the one country where the
projectorS Of the early railroads were
fought with an almost unbelievable
mAiignity. The coach OwueTs and the
canal propristors were panic stricken and
brought every influence To bear to thwart
their plans. the canal companies in many
instance. forcing the railroads TO take
over their canals at eNorhitant terms
before they could obtain Parliamentary 7
authorization for construction. The rail-
roads were compelled 10 nay Outrag-ously
for the real estate needed a. right Of way
and their Parliamentary EXPENSES were Z
enormous. In one Case EOo.0O was
spent without result; IN another SIX counsel .
and twenty solicitors we're employed at 4
an expense Of S335 90. The promoters
81 one railway spent s560 go and Of an /
other tttOOOO IN forcing their schemes 4
through Parliament. Notwithstanding
These difficuIVies there was abroad I
mania. there being scarcely a practicable /
line between any two considerable tow ~
that was not embraced in rhe prospectus
Of one or another company and there I
were promoters who resorted to all kinds I
Of tricks 20 get capital