If to these are added some unimportant works, about which I have not been able to obtain exact statements, the total length of the railroads and canals may be estimated at about 2,150 leagues, and the cost at 660 million francs. If we take into account a number of important works, which have been undertaken in the last part of 1835 and the beginning of 1836, it will be necessary to add 900 leagues and 300 million francs to the above totals, making an aggregate of 3,050 leagues (7,625 miles) and 960 million francs (180 million dollars). I do not include the Nashville and New Orleans and the Charleston and Cincinnati railroads, which, however, will probably be executed before long, and with their branches will make an addition of more than 500 leagues. The Americans have already surpassed in the extent of their works, and the rapidity of execution, the most active and wealthy European nations. Almost all the works above enumerated have been executed in fifteen years.
The following table gives a summary view of similar works in Europe:
Geological Surveys.
The legislatures of several States have lately shown a laudable zeal for geological examinations of the soil. Maryland has a State geologist (Mr Duchatel) who is engaged in preparing a geological map of the State, particularly with reference to economical purposes. Dr Duchatel has already made someimportant discoveries in agricultural geology, especially in respect to the use of marl. Tennessee has also its geologist, Dr Troost. Massachusetts has a geological map prepared by Professor Hitchcock. Congress has caused some examinations to be made on the upper Mississippi. Dr Jackson has been several years employed in making geological surveys in Maine, and is at present occupied in Rhode Island; he has also been appointed by New Hampshire to explore the geology of her mountains and valleys. New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Virginia, Ohio, Indiana, Connecticut, Kentucky, Michigan and Georgia, have also engaged in the same enterprise, and partial examinations have been made in North Carolina. New York has in addition to a corps of four geologists, Messrs Vanuxem, Mather, Emmons and Conrad, a chemist (Dr Beck,) a botanist (Mr Torrey,) and a zoologist, (Dr DeKay.) It is principally to the efforts of the late Secretary of the State, General Dix, that New York is indebted for this great undertaking. Massachusetts has also organised a board of naturalists, to report upon the different branches of botany and zoology. In many of the States, a topographical survey more or less minute, has been connected with the geological explorations. Massachusetts has been trigonometrically surveyed.
FOOTNOTES:[EG]In a later work (Statistics of the British Empire, 1839), Mr McCulloch estimates it at 26,188,000 tons.—Transl.[EH]The postage of newspapers in France is two fifths of a cent within the department where it is published, and four fifths on any distance beyond it.[EI]In August 1836, this had been increased to 3,600,000 pounds.[EJ]These notes, with several others, have been omitted, as they contain merely statements familiar to most readers in this country.[EK]The author is mistaken; they were tried in the county in which the offence was committed. Boston is in a different county.—Transl.[EL]On the northern frontier there are from 500,000 to 600,000 dogs which enter annually; not more than 6,000 or 7,000 are seized.
[EG]In a later work (Statistics of the British Empire, 1839), Mr McCulloch estimates it at 26,188,000 tons.—Transl.
[EG]In a later work (Statistics of the British Empire, 1839), Mr McCulloch estimates it at 26,188,000 tons.—Transl.
[EH]The postage of newspapers in France is two fifths of a cent within the department where it is published, and four fifths on any distance beyond it.
[EH]The postage of newspapers in France is two fifths of a cent within the department where it is published, and four fifths on any distance beyond it.
[EI]In August 1836, this had been increased to 3,600,000 pounds.
[EI]In August 1836, this had been increased to 3,600,000 pounds.
[EJ]These notes, with several others, have been omitted, as they contain merely statements familiar to most readers in this country.
[EJ]These notes, with several others, have been omitted, as they contain merely statements familiar to most readers in this country.
[EK]The author is mistaken; they were tried in the county in which the offence was committed. Boston is in a different county.—Transl.
[EK]The author is mistaken; they were tried in the county in which the offence was committed. Boston is in a different county.—Transl.
[EL]On the northern frontier there are from 500,000 to 600,000 dogs which enter annually; not more than 6,000 or 7,000 are seized.
[EL]On the northern frontier there are from 500,000 to 600,000 dogs which enter annually; not more than 6,000 or 7,000 are seized.
Transcriber's Notes:Simple spelling, grammar, and typographical errors were corrected.
Transcriber's Notes:
Simple spelling, grammar, and typographical errors were corrected.