pp. 445-525 of typed material
name: label: Collection Creator
content: Watkins, J. Elfreth (John Elfreth), 1852-1903
label: Collection Creator
content: Stevens, John, 1749-1838
setName: label: See more items in
content: John Stevens Collection
container: label: Container
content: Box 1, Folder 10
dataSource: label: Archival Repository
content: Archives Center, National Museum of American History
objectType: label: Type
content: Archival materials
scopecontent: label: Scope and Contents
content: "Pamphlet on Railroads" by John Stevens, originally released in 1812 and republished with a preface by Charles King in 1852.  This pamphlet proposed the construction of a railroad from Lake Erie to Albany in lieu of a canal which had been proposed by a New York State Commission.  Stevens' railroad, which would have propelled a 100 ton cargo at four miles per hour using a 20 horse power steam engine, was estimated by him to cost only one third the projected outlay for the canal.  Stevens' proposal was rejected by a New York State government committee which had doubts about the feasibility of the scheme.