_Length. Leagues._ _Cost. Francs._
Table. Canals. Railroads. Canals. Railroads.
I. 727-1/4 214-3/4 242,640,000 74,550,000
II. 459 61-1/2 147,790,000 10,500,000
III. 34 279-1/4 29,733,000 67,840,000
IV. 25 120-1/2 18,270,000 41,143,000
V. 152 118-1/4 47,900,000 22,650,000
--------- ------- ----------- -----------
Total. 1,397-1/4 794-1/4 486,333,000 216,683,000
Deduct 144 105 72,500,000 21,750,000
--------- ------- ----------- -----------
1,253-1/4 689-1/4 413,833,000 194,933,000
VI. 110-3/4 69-1/2 24,250,000 12,690,000
--------- ------- ----------- -----------
Totals. 1364 758-3/4 438,083,000 207,623,000
\________ _______/ \___________ __________/
\/ \/
2,122-3/4 645,706,000.
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:
_Countries._ _Canals._ _Railroads._
England 1,100 leagues. 313 leagues.
France 998 50
Belgium 115 74
Other States 400 50
----- ---
Totals 2,613 487
\_________ ___________/
\/
General Total of Europe 3,100
" United States 3,050
NOTE 23--page 281.
_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 some important 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.