FOREIGN AND COLONIAL RAILWAYS.

Colonist, Volume II, Issue 141, 25 February 1859, Page 4

FOREIGN AND COLONIAL RAILWAYS.

... (From the Engineer,. November l.)':. : What has been done in Great Britain in railway construction must in time be done also-for--a great part of the world. If the two hundred millions of square miles ofthe earth's' surface were to be traversed by railways to bat the one-hundredth part of their proportionate extent in this kingdom, where there is only one 'mile of railway for every thirteen square miles of area, the the total extent of railways would be more than 150,000 miles. At present there are hardly 50.000 miles of railway in the world, there' being 26,000 miles in the United States of America, 9500 miles in Great Britain,. 4500 miles in France, and perhaps 10,000 miles in all other countries together. The enormous system of American railways consists mostly of single lines, of cheap construction, and their total earnings are no greater in a given time than those ofthe railways of this country. Tlie English railway system, which is generally considered as completed, is being constantly, although gradually, extended. There are acts in existence at this moment for the construction of more than 4800 miles of new lines, although some 2600 miles of this amount, from a lapse of the powers granted, by Parliament, xvill never be undertaken, unless under renewed charters. We are to look principally, however, to foreign countries for the future extension of railways. Although these may present no such gigantic instances of progress as have been witnessed in England, the aggregate railway construction ofthe xvorld will doubtless go* on—no one can say for how long—at the rate of several thousands of miles yearly. In the United States, alxvays the greatest seat of foreign railway operations, a consfderableextensioniscontemplated. Throughout the countiy various connecting lines are required to complete the present system. Some of these will open up through routes of great importance, such as that contemplated from New York due west through Pennsylvania. Probably quite 4000 miles of these connecting lines are still required. West of the Mississippi river and in Texas, from 4000 to 5000 miles of railway are projected with the view of early construction. This is exclusive of a railway to the Pacific, the prospect of which is quite uncertain for some years, unless the production of gold in British Columbia should encourage the undertaking ol a continental line through British America. Such a line would be 2000 miles in length. In Canada, railway enterprise has proved extremely unprofitable, excepting the Great Western line, which has the advantage of a large traffic between the States. The grand Trunk Company will soon complete its great line of 1128 miles, about 900 miles being already in use. The completion of the Victoria Bridge at Montreal, and the connexion at other points of the divided portions of the Grand Trunk, xvill naturally add greatly to its resources, while the growth of the country, to which so strong a tide of British emigration is moving, will in a* few years furnish it with an immense traffic. In the event of the construction of a continental line to the Pacific, the Grand Trunk would form its o-reat eastern section of more than 1000 miles. Other railways are progressing slowly, and with very moderate encouragement, in Canada. Going to the other side of the globe. India has become a great field of railway enterprise. The great Indian Peninsular Railway-will include 1235 miles; 180 miles are open and in public use, 732 miles under contract, and 373 are unlet. Its completion up to Jubbulpore is secured by contract in March, 1862. The Bore Ghaut incline, xvhich now intervenes between the detached parts of the line in use, is to be completed in February, 1861. The discontinuous portions of the line now open are earning above yearly, and are sufficient to show that the scheme will be self-supporting on its completion. The East India line has been probably opened to Oawnpore, making 270 miles in operation, while the recent report of the directors shows an active progress on nearly 400 miles of the uncompleted portion. Each of the great Indian lines has carried, upon the portions in use, about half a million passengers, and from 70,000 lo 90,000 tons of merchandise, in the last fiscal half-year. These lines are constantly generating new traffic, are raising the wages and increasing the value and effectiveness of native labor, have considerably increased the-external trade of India, and have, otherwise done much good., The Scinde and Punjab Railways, both large and important works—the former already in construction—will not only prow

: of great value lo North-Western India, 1 buC like all other profitable colonial lines, will also have a favorable effect here. . Kurrachee, the port, of Scinde, is rapidly rising in commercial importance, its external trade being reported as already above two andaquartermillionssterlingannually. The boats of the Oriental Steam Flotilla, whereby cargoes of 1000 tons may be carried in tlie shallow waters of the Indus, will soon be in service, and will, no doubt, add ; largely to "this prosperity. The training of native labourers to railway works is a satisfactory feature in the operation of Indian railways, promising, as it does, much good for the country. No less than 43,000 labourers, mostly natives, are beinor employed upon the Peninsula line up the Bhore Ghaut to Sholapore._ In Russia, in addition to the national line from St. Petersburg to Moscow, the Grand Russian Railway Company have a concession of 2585 miles, including lines from St. Petersburg to Warsaw, and from Moscow to the Crimea, with transverse lines from the Baltic to the Dneiper, and from Moscow east. A line to connect the Volga and the Don is also comtemplated, to correspond with powerful steamers to be placed on those rivers, while we have recently heard of a great and difficult scheme for a line from St. Petersburg to the Amoor. The completion, of the line to .the Prussian frontier has been fixed for January, 1861, the equipment of 2000 Waggons' being supplied from Berlin and Hamburg, a large part ofthe rails being made in the Oural, while 100 locomotives have been ordered at home. In all, from 5000 to 6000 miles of railways are immediately required in Russia; and while Russian Bonds remain at 12 per cent, 'premium, there is little doubt that sufficient means will be forthcoming, the Government having guaranteed 5 uer cent, upon an estimated valuation of the new lines. European Russia, allowing it but one-tenth of the proportionate extent of railways possessed by Great Britain, would have 16,000 miles. The present aspect of Russian political affairs, including the probable emancipation of the twelve millions of serfs, indicates a rapid progress, and great ultimate development of the industrial and commercial interests ofthe country. In Austria, the Lombardo-Venetian and South-Austrian system will be, when completed, one of the most considerable in Europe. 650 miles are already in full work, while, when all the lines are completed, it will have nearly 1900 miles, connecting Austria, Hungary, and Southern Germany with Trieste and Italy, and extending in one unbroken line from Vienna to Milan, and from the Bavarian frontier to Florence. The profit on the LombardoVenetian lines at present existing averages 17-_- per cent. In Australia, railway works are proceeding but slowly. The line from Melbourne and ... that from Geelong to Ballarat, are under construction. In New South Wales £700,000 have been appropriated for railway works to be carried on during the present year, and it is understood that Sir Morton Peto is to be called in, in the execution of the work. At the Cape of Good Hope, a line of fifty-four miles will be carried rapidly forward. Kaffir difficulties are reported as entirely settled, while the means placed at the disposal of the Government of the Cape—£4o,ooo a year for three years —for the purpose of civilizing the people, will effectually secure the permanent peace and prosperity of the colony. Spain has nearly 1500 miles of railway in working and in construction, besides several hundred miles of projected lines. Should the Spanish Government take pains * to restore its foreign credit, a large amount of English capital would find its way to the railway enterprises of Spain. In Brazil, two important lines are going forward, the Don Pedro 11. railway and the Bahia and San Francisco.^ The second division of the seventeen miles of the first mentioned line, and which had been undertaken by an American contractor, is reported as the most difficult piece of railway work in the western hemisphere. The French Government has made a concession for the first Algerian railway, a line of fifty-seven miles, from Constantine to Philippeville. It is understood that Sir M. Peto has expended some £15,000 in surveys in this region, and that he will compete for the concession. Several eminent English engineers and contractors are endeavouring to obtain a concession also from Algiers to Oran. In Turkey, the Ottoman railway from Smyrna to Aidin has just been let to contract. In many other parts of the world.railvvays are also being just commenced or extended. In most of these countries the new lines are what our earlier railways were to England: and the time is not probably far "distant when, as it was also in England, these pioneer lines will lead to an astonishing development of the whole system. When we see what railways, in conjunction with the character of our p:ople, have done for the British isles—so small a part of the earth's measurement—we may conjecture the result when the same works are developed in every country on the globe. In the general spread of civilization, and in the increase of commercial intercourse, the world would appear to be entering upon a new period, the advantages of which, however great, must benefit England equally with other nations. . "Do you keep nails here?" asked a sleepy-looking lad, walking into a hardware shop'the other day.—"Yes," replied the gentlemanly proprietor; "we . keep all kinds of nails. What kind-will you have,' sir, arid bow many?"-—"Wiell," said lhe boy, sliding towards the door, "I'll take a pound of fingeir-nails and about a, pound J aud * half of tbe-riails."

""THE MORMONS. (From the San Francisco Weekly Bulletin.) , ACCORDING to recent advices from Utah it appears that the Mormons are discontented at. the regular and independent irans- , .mission of the mails to and from Salt Lake City, and using all their endeavours to prejudice people" abroad against the service. The organ of Brigham Young, which in r . variably echoes his sentiments, 'charges, thut certain correspondence has been suppressed ; and insinuates :that other letters, which did come to hand by the mails, had been tampered with. Of course, people who are at all informed concerning Mormon affairs will not put the least reliance upon these charges or insinuations. That there is anybody, having access to the Salt Lake overland mail, who would violate a single seal, in order to pry into Mormon secrets, we do not -for an, instant believe. There is nothing to prompt to such an outrage, in the first place; and, in the second place, such meanness is never tolerated, by the American people.- We feel morally certain that Brigham Young's letters are as free from intrusion as President Buchanan's. If Brigham Young had no other desire than the regular and safe transmission of the matter from and to his territory, he could find no motive for grumbling. Indeed, the mail facilities being so immeasurably superior to anything the people of. Utah have heretofore enjoyed, that old schemer should be highly" gratified and rejoiced. But the source ofthe prophet's dissatisfaction lies in the fact, not that the mails are tampered with, but that they cannot be tampered with by him. Heretofore, he has held all the means of communication between his interior world and the rest of mankind in his own hands. No news has 'been allowed to go out except by his permission. No intelligence could come in until it had been scanned and twisted by his agency to suit his purposes. In this way lie kept the world in a measure in the dark as to what ras transpiring in Utah; and deceived the people of Utah as to what was taking place abroad. Letters 'written- from deluded victims of Mormon fanaticism to their friends "at home" never left the post office at Salt Lake. Brigham Young's postmaster was too thorough a disciple of Mormonism to permit his creed to be exposed abroad by such malcontents. The epistles were retained and the writers^ of them very warmly " expostulated" with. Letters for publication, censuring the Mormon rulers, it was impossible to get .from there. Only a few months ago, the correspondent of the Bulletin, to avoid the espionage of certain Mormon postal clerks, j had to°send his letters to us, addressed J under a fictitious name. In that way they escaped the rigid overhauling they would have received v had they been addressed directly to us, and managed to come to hand unopened. Now, everything is different. The mail service is in the hands of regular agents of the United States, who perform their duty promptly and efficiently. Brigham Young, nor his agents nor spies, can°pry into other peoples letters. They cannot retain epistles which contain what, for the good of the church, ought not to be known abroad. But once a letter is dropped into the box', it is sacred from molestation until it reaches its destination, and is given to its rightful owner. Besides which, the stages are constantly arriving at Salt Lake City, bringing letters and newspapers from all parts of the world, laden with intelligence which must be read with avidity by that heretofore exclusively kept people. All these things have a tendency to awaken old sentiments and feelings, and re-unite the self-exiled Mormon converts to the world they have foolishly left, and, in a measure, to weaken Brigham Young's hold upon their minds and consciences. Hence, he very naturally is opposed to those mail stages. They interfere with his relations at home, and they prevent him, by familiarizing the world with the real picture of Mormon wretchedness, as it exists in Utah, from making proselytes with the same facility abroad. By the Mormon dissatisfaction at the mail communication through Utah, may be deduced the conclusion that the most efficient method of battling the spread of_ that fanaticism is by opening and maintaining open free circulation over the country. Mormonism is a pestilential miasma that has settled over the Valley of Salt Lake. Let us open a current of fresh air. through the valley, and this miasma must, be dissipated, "it cannot exist when brought, in contact with the liberal and enlightened principles of the free world outside. And if the opening for a k\v weeks of a regular large stage route through Salt Lake has already set the leaders to abusing them, what will happen in lhe course of a few years, or when a railroad is"-started over the territory of the''prophet? A troop of workmen, with picks and shovels, at work on such a highway, would be more destructix'e to Mormonism than a regiment of soldiers; and the whistle of the first steam-car will sound the funeral dirge of this most pestilential of modern fanaticisms. The letter of our Salt Lake corresponpondent contains a striking verification of one of the charges against the Mormons, which they have always pertinaciously denied, and which, by the report oi' Governor Cumming to the Secretary of State, it has heretofore been supposed was unjust. We allude to the destruction of the records of the United States District Court and the Territorial Government. It will be recollected that Judge Drummond and others have asserted, over and over again, that Brigham Young had broken up his court, destroyed the records and the library furnished by Congress for the use ofthe Judge, and forced him to fly the country. This lhe Mormons have repeatedly denounced as a lie told by Drummond to excite tlie Government against them, to their destruction. When

Governor Gumming entered Salt Lake by the permission of Brigham, in advance of the "arrriy sent out to establish and enforce his authority, he pretended to have informed, himself by personal inspection, and reported to the Secretary of Stale that all t the records, the territorial library, &c., were in perfect order and had not been disturbed. It appears now that the remnants of these * records have. 1 been turned over to the newly-appointed clerk of the United States District Court 'for Utah; and that, on examination, they are found most wofully defective. The largest portion of them are missing, or multilated, and the very archives of the territory have been scattered, so as to leave Utah without any legal record ofthe Acts passed by the.Territorial Legislature. And this is what -Governor Gumming calls being in "perfect ord-sr," and "remaining undisturbed!" It is hard to find a reason for the.Governor's concealment of the truth upon this very important point. We.well know, that from the time he reached the Mormon frontier, he has manifested an extraordinary zeal to restore and retain peaceable relations between Brigham Young and the Federal Government.. It has been more than once complained that he was pushing this desire too far, and thereby soiling the honor ofthe nation, which had been assailed by a handful of traitorous fanatics. But these complaints were smothered by the ready declaration that they all emanated from officers or attaches of the army, who xvere discontented at losing the prospect for a fight, in which there would liave been a chance to achieve glory and distinction. That the army, after marching so far and enduring the inclemencies of a bitter winter, unsheltered, should be, greatly exasperated at Governor Cumming's pacific polic}*-, was perfectly natural; and therefore people were -not prepared to set any great value upon what the army said to the Governor's discredit—especially when the burden of their complaint was, that he was going too far to conciliate the Mormons. ■_ It was not supposed that, a mem-, beiv, of the army could be a proper judge in such a case. The hopes ot the soldiers were all centered in a collision. Anything by Goveror Gumming, that prevented such a' result, would be considered by the army as wrong and injudicious. It is not at all curious then, that the Government, and perhaps the people generally, were disposed to pay very little heed ■ to* the grumbling of the army, that had been cheated, as they thought, out of a fight, and approve of Governor Cumming's pacific course ; and this especially, after that officer had reported that many of the complained of abuses by Brigham and his coadjutors, were pure inventions, or gross exaggerations." The destruction of the records of the United States Court is one case in point. Governor Cumming declared positively, there was "no truth in the charges, and everybody fully believed him. It must therefore create general surprise when the fact is known that the Governor himself has misstated the case. People will begin to doubt his other statements; and the complaints of the army may not be thought all unfounded after all. In this connexion, it is well to say it has been lately rumoured that Governor Cumming has been converted to the Mormon Church, and baptised therein. If this should turn out to be true, the mystery of his extraordinary friendship for the Saints will be partly explained.