Year: 1865

thoroughly ventilated without ecltlng any decision OF
Importance. The improv Of our railway system
is one which should command most serious notice
The competition in railway facilities and excellences
sure TO nure to the public benefit and it matters little
to Ms whether the percentum Of profit 90 abroad in
shane of dividends or paid support exravagant and
indifferent roads Of our own. The investment OF
foreign capital among docs more in the way OF de-
veonine the country and removing our surplus pro-
duce by ten fold than the of the profits returned
to them for their loans.


RAILWAY REFORMS SUGGESTED.
Within 90 wears we have built 10000 miles OF ral'
road which have assisted US people the great fertile
nains Of the Western States These roads have been
built with the minimum Of capital and have been mucn
better than no roads at a At present they are mostly
worked at n great disadvantage, by reason OF their
original imperfecton Happily the time Is now come
when their Improvement has become necessary po'n
for the accommodation Of their traffic and as matter
of economy. general railway reform is necessary
We have long been behind European roads IN the
rapidty. economy and safety of our transportation
though not in engineering skill In general terms the
reform should extend to
7 The road, beds which should be brought TO tue
maximum of straightness and level Every elevation
or divergence in freight Is loss Of time strength anu
money! Every additional dollar spent in this object is
a continual gain.
H. Double tracks are Indispensable to time safety
and heavy traffic This is the lesson OF all expe'
rience.


III. BY solid and even bed with heavy iron the
relative weight OF engines can be decreased and the
presept enormous wear and tear greatly reduced.


w. Legislative reform is needed there is scarcely


prominent road In the country which does not have to
pay largely for legislative influence even 1t does not
in some cases amount to political interference.


V. Suicidal competition including all the costly ma
cbnery of ry routes in advertising agencies ticket
Offices runners, &c.


VI The dead. head" system, whereby a large pre-
portion of the passengers ride from various pretexts on
free tickets. There is no why body should
ride free over any railroad unless the business of
that road.


VII Legislative control and supervision, whereby
the railroad companies may be held responsible for the
safety of their passengers aud the performance OF their
contracts.


IHE TRIUMPH BEFORE Us.


1t is admitted by travellers that system Of travel
is more comfortable aud rational than the Euro
pean though not yet rapid. The above
suggestions touch the weaknesses Of day. In many
respects our European visitors discover we are far IN
advance of them. particularly in the matter OF cars
The hotel eating houses begun by the Atlantic and
Great Western but now more elaboraely followed by
the Erie Road are points which will be admired and
praised abroad and, like sleeping cars be copied
England long stood out against our sewing machines,
Ieapng machines, street railways With every
fresh visitation she will be enabled TO pick up some
useful device in our railway trains. steamboats, and
mechanical contriyances, including guns and ships Of
war; First in the arts Of war, conquest now is to
be in the arts of peace.


SOCIAL PECULIARIrIEs.
There aIe some social peeuarties among the island.
ers which we should do well 10 notice, and which we
NAY venture to speak Of because their travellers have
not hesiiated paint hideous portraits Of ourselves
Since the arrival Of the railway shareholders they
have been treated to course Of breakfasts luncheons
and dinners which eloquenty bespeak the plenty Of
this country. One of the best recommendations
shall get hereafter will be the fact that there is
plenty Of roast beef plum pudding, game Of all sorts to
be had, although not always cooked to the English
taste


Dinner is a fixed Institution among them Business
mirth. mourning, hospitality and diplomacy at
tended with dinner. II is maxim OF English policy
mot engrafted in the written Constitution that the
cheapest and best way of managing international





Mr.. Seward and Minister Adams. The consumption
OF these sturdy Brtons s simply enormous and reveals
their wonderful capacity for bearing great burdens
The amount Of thought concerning their dinners their
service. their adjuncts their ingredients harmonies
traditions is indeed wonderful. Dinner discourse is
replete with succulence, disquisitous upon cooking
reishes. the tissue and fiber Of this that bird the
haunts Of such n fish, the peculiarties of port and
sherry involving an immense and minute range Of
studies 10 which Americans are happily strangers.
They go in for the substantial yiands which they like
to placed before them that may cut and
come again, and utterly abhor the fashionable shower
of little dishes in which we are caily served.


DINNER THE GREAT SOLVENT.


Tn ey naturally wonder why we can be so Indifferent
to important a matter dining much as the French.
man execra,ed country where they had ninety dif.
ferent religions and only one gravy" This crownng
event of the day which generally takes place between
o'clock and O. is an affair of state Full dress and
prayer of blessing invoked. the company sits down in
solemn to the work before it. Course follows
in due succession till flesh fish and game have
been devoured, and the American las finished his hasty
meal and lighted his cigar. when the rest are just in
mid career in their repast That Engshmen are some.
times able TO utter something coherent after such stom
achic plethora is the best tribute TO their native const
tutons and the power OF education and habit II is not
uncommon. however. to find them seated nodding as
sent in all the gravity of sleep Out of compliment to
the national taste banquet of magnificent proportions
has been provided fortbc capitalists at every stopping
pace-Moadyille Cincinnati sl. Louis, Chicago, To.
ledo, Detroit, Niagara, Cleveland and again at Mead.
vile and Susquehana their return. II would be but
poor compliment TO the sagaoty and skill Of our hosts
say that they had not succeeded In anticipating the