268 Comparative aclmtnzage of Ra2'l'wctys and Cctmtls.

1. “ The resistance to be overcome on a level railway increases only at

the same ratio with the speed, while on a canal alljncrease of speed is met
by more than a quadr.uple ratio of resistance. ‘

2. The facilities which railways afibrd for rapid rates of travel in the
employment of steam. Rapidity of conveyance, in the intercourse of a
country is of the first importance.

3. Canals must be made almost on a dead level, and the elevations must
be overcome by expensive locks; whereas, railways may be so laid as to
overcome an elevation of many feet to the mile. ,

4. Canals are often broken and rendered useless, till they receive exten—
sive repairs and their locks frequently become defective and must be rebuilt
pt gireater expense——railways are: but little liable to interruptions of any
an .

5. Canals are often deficent in water in times of drought, while railways
are in perfect order_.—railroads can be laid on summits, which afford little
or no water for a canal. , i

6. Railways can he used at all seasons of the year, while canals in lati-
tude 43 to 44, remain inoperative ‘five to five and a half months in the year,
and this too at the best season for disposing of agricultural products. This
advantage alone, other things being equal, must give to‘ railways an entire
preference over canals. The experience on railways in England and in
the United States is decisive on this point. ‘ , '

7. Canals are but imperfectly calculated to answer the wants of the tran
veiling pnblic—while railways afford the safest and best of all possible fa-
cilities for the purpose, and this too at a season of the year, when our canals
and rivers are closed, and when even our roadsare next to impassible by the
ordinary modes of conveyance.

8. Railways tend to drain the soil on which they are laid, while canals
promote the increase of stagnant waters and vunwholesome effluvia-.—a con-
sideration of great magnitude.

9. Railways occasion less general hazard and loss of life than canals.

10. Railways occasion no obstruction ‘in passing common roads, while
canals require expensive and troublesome bridges.’

11. Rivers are easily passed by railways on good bridges, canals require
expensive aqnaducts.

. 12. Railways afford more general accommodation to the country than
canals, by enabling the occupants of farms to make outfits for market by
branches.

13. The use of railways does not result in the deterioration of morals
which usually attends the business of canals. A single person is sufficient
to conduct a load on a railway, and his attention'is necessarily engaged by
-the duties of his employment. T

14. Much danger and loss is sustained on canals by leakage of boats and
other casualties from which railroads are exempt. The business of the
latter requires no inrurance.

15. The cost of a railway, is not more than half of that of a canal
through the same route.” [In the instance of the enlargement of the Erie
.canal to 7 feet by 7 0- feet-—-a double‘ track from Albany to Buffalo. will not
cost one-fourth the sum necessary to enlarge the canal, to wit, $100,000
per mile. The railway will have four ‘times the capacity 01‘. the canals,
for general transportation at all seasonsof the year.]

16. “ Railways will in no case interfere with the right to the use of streams
and water privileges—-the reversewith canals; 0 ’

'l--‘7. Lines of railroad may in general be made more direct than "canals,

V as ‘in laying out the latter we are obliged to conform tothelnatural surface

of the country.”