PRODUCTION AND CONSUMPTION. 
35 
would give us 24 trains per day, and 720 cars. The double track 
devoted exclusively to freight, we will tax to its utmost, and al¬ 
low one train per hour for nights, days and Sundays, without de¬ 
lay or accident. This would give us 24 trains per day, and 720 
cars, making in all 48 trains and 1440 cars per day. If each car 
contained 10 tons, it gives 14,400 tons per day. This gives us 
4,987 days, or thirteen years, eight months and two days to move 
the balance of produce for one year, after all our water craft 
have done their best. As all the cereals, pork, beef, and other 
provisions ought to be moved in 90 days at least, and the whole 
in one year, we must have not less than 40 double track roa^s to 
meet the actual demand “on that time.” 
The absurdity of the proposition gives its own answer. Still, 
I have nothing to urge against the building of any number of 
double track roads, as private enterprises. They will all help to 
the extent of their ability. Nothing more. But suppose that all 
the railways and the extra lake craft could dispose of 85,000,000 
tons, leaving 36,000,000 tons in round numbers, for the river and 
canal route. I have already seen that the grain could be moved 
in 95 days, and giving 36 fleets of 10 barges each for the 24 hours r 
the whole could be moved by canal barges, from the Mississippi 
to New York, without breaking bulk, in 333 days. This, I ad¬ 
mit, is crowding both'time and space somewhat beyond practical 
results, but not as much as the estimates do in reference to rail¬ 
ways. 
In the foregoing calculation, I include what is deemed sufficient 
for seed (20,000,000 bushels), under the amount excepted for 
“ home consumption,” and that I may commit no injustice, I will 
re-cast my figures, allowing the 18 trains of freight cars on the 
single track roads, as suggested by Mr. Gfault. This will give, for 
the propose! double track and the 4 trunk lines, 120 trains every 
24 hours—3,600 cars, or 36,000 tons per day, and to move the 
whole 71,325,030 tons by all the railway lines, double track in¬ 
cluded, it would take 5 years, 5 months and 20 days, and even if 
I have estimated the freight other than the canals, 100 percent, 
too high, with all this, to me impossible gain on the single track 
lines, it would take some three years to move it all, by all our 
present facilities combined. 
