46 THE MASSACHUSETTS SOCIETY 



30 years ago ;" the reason being that roads had been so 

 improved that it had become more of an object, to a wider 

 district of country, to bring wood to the capital. This 

 improvement of roads had not been by the McAdam 

 method ; but the point of the editorial comment was that 

 still better roads would make the great market town still 

 more accessible to the farming population, for bringing 

 all their products. In 1827 the Journal published an 

 article of twenty-five pages length which was mainly a 

 description of the project, then under consideration, for 

 building the Baltimore and Ohio railroad. An official 

 survey had not been made ; but it is editorially remarked 

 that one had been made in the State of Massachusetts for 

 a more difficult road from Boston to Hudson river, and 

 that the stock already subscribed for much exceeded the 

 estimate of cost. An official report on this survey had 

 not been published ; but the facts developed in the Balti- 

 more preliminary report were deemed important to the 

 farmers of Massachusetts, as respects facility in getting to 

 market. The great speed with which journeys may be 

 performed and freight conveyed was held up to admira- 

 tion, and instances in English experience were cited. By 

 an engine often horse-power, it is said that, in one instance, 

 50 tons of goods were carried on a level road at the rate 

 of six miles per hour, and lighter cars for conveying pas- 

 sengers were moved at twelve or fourteen miles per hour. 

 The cost of the Quincy granite railway is stated at 

 $11,052.98 per mile, which was believed to be one-third 

 more than, in 1827, would* be the cost. 



Soon after 1820 were exhibited at one or another of 

 the society's annual cattle shows, and gained official ap- 

 proval, a newly invented corn-cracking mill, new devices 

 for a corn sheller and a hay cutter, a new style of plough 

 for paring or slicing meadow. land, and a flax-seed separa- 

 tor. In 1818 a premium of $25 was paid for a threshing 

 machine, but it was not an entirely satisfactory apparatus, 

 as special efforts were made about the same time to get 



