The International Monthly, Volume 4, No. 4, November 1, 1851Various
History
The International Monthly, Volume 4, No. 4, November 1, 1851
Various
Art, Modern -- 19th century -- Periodicals; Literature, Modern -- 19th century -- Periodicals; Science -- History -- Periodicals
By a comparison of the returns published by Dr.
Lardner, in his work already quoted, with the more
recent results which we have already given, it will
appear that within the last two years not less than
3,700 miles of railway have been opened for traffic in
the United States. Among these are included several of
the most important lines, among which are more
especially to be noticed the great artery of railway
communication extending across the State of New York to
the shores of Lake Erie, the longest line which any
single company has yet constructed in the United
States, its length being 467 miles. The total cost of
this line, including the working stock, has been
4,500,000_l._ sterling, being at the average rate of
9,642_l._ per mile--a rate of expense about 50 per
cent. above the average cost of American railways taken
collectively. This is explained by the fact that the
line itself is one constructed for a large traffic
between New York and the interior, and therefore built
to meet a heavy traffic. Although it is but just
opened, its average receipts have amounted to
11,000_l._ per week, which have given a net profit of
6-1/2 per cent. on the capital, the working expenses
being taken at 50 per cent. of the gross receipts. One
of the great lines in a forward state, and likely to be
opened by the close of the present year, connects New
York with Albany, following the valley of the Hudson.
It will no doubt create surprise, considering the
immense facility of water transport afforded by this
river, that a railway should be constructed on its
bank, but it must be remembered that for a considerable
interval during the winter the navigation of the Hudson
is suspended from the frost.
A great line of railway, which will intersect the
States from south to north, connecting the port of
Mobile on the Gulf of Mexico with Lake Michigan and the
lead mines of Galena on the Upper Mississippi, is also
in progress of construction, large grants of land being
conceded to the company by the Federal Government. This
line will probably be opened in 1854.
It is difficult to obtain authentic reports from which
the movement of the traffic on the American railways
can be ascertained with precision. Dr. Lardner,
however, obtained the necessary statistical data
relating to nearly 1,200 miles of railway in the States
of New England and New York, from which he was enabled
to collect all the circumstances attending the working
of these lines, the principal of which are collected in
the following table:--
Tabular analysis of the average daily movement of the traffic on 28 of the
principal railways in the States of New England and New York.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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