54 THE MASSACHUSETTS SOCIETY 



McAdam. The relation of this improvement to agri- 

 culture was indicated by the editor in quoting the 

 remark of a respectable farmer that "fuel is now (in 

 1824) cheaper in Boston than 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 improve- 

 ment 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 bring- 

 ing 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 con- 

 sideration, for building the Baltimore and Ohio rail- 

 road. 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 pub- 

 lished; but the facts developed in the Baltimore pre- 

 liminary 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 ad- 

 miration, and instances in English experience were 

 cited. By an engine of ten 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 passengers 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. 



