RAIL-ROADS. 555 



Steam-boats presenting less resistance, require less 

 power, but the proportion, must from the nature of the 

 water as a resisting medium, be the same. 



Now, engines of twelve horse power, have for several 

 years conveyed on a rail-road upon the average, forty tons 

 at six miles per hour, that is, they have performed the 

 work of forty horses on a canal, and twelve on a rail- 

 road, and from recent experiments, locomotive engines 

 have actually accomplished upwards of twenty miles in 

 the hour with fifteen tons, or what (if it were possible,) 

 would require 1000 horses on a canal. 



It appears desirable that the plan of placing the horse 

 upon a carriage to propel himself, and a number of load- 

 ed cars by machinery, is worthy of more attention, than it 

 has yet received. The power of a locomotive engine is 

 often greater than required. In descending the horse 

 would rest, and proceed at a velocity much greater than 

 his own. As the horse weighs but one third to one half 

 a ton, this addition to the load would be trifling, compar- 

 ed with the seven eighths of his muscular power, which 

 is required to propel himself when advancing on the 

 ground. The great speed which is attainable by the lo- 

 comotive engine, is also probably far beyond what will 

 usually be required, when experience hereafter has made 

 its deductions for liability to accident, and for these high- 

 ways of commerce being covered with traffic. 



It is worthy of remark, that stationary engines will 

 probably be much superseded. The engine will be more 

 frequently locomotive upon the carriage, working by a 

 chain or otherwise, and additional horses will in other 

 cases*be furnished for the particular parts requiring in- 

 creased power. This is frequently done at the hills in 

 Frc-uch roads. 



CXI'ENfE OF CONSTRUCTIQN, &.C. 



The comparative expense of constructing a canal and 

 rail-road, is about one third in favor of the latter. 



In England, there are stated to be about 2600 miles of 

 canal, in which thirtysix millions sterling are .invested, 

 or 800,000 per m'ile. Six years since, more than 1500 



