Description:

Italian Railroad Italian Railroad


Railroad Construction in the Papal States of Pre-Unified Italy--Amazing Archive!

 

Small archive comprised of a 46pp manuscript beautifully bound between cobalt blue and gilt-stamped boards, and an 8pp issue of Scientific Correspondence in Rome, the Italian language materials dating ca. 1850-1854. In near fine condition. Expected surface wear includes minor edge toning and isolated ink stains. Slightly worn binding. Should yield more fascinating discoveries when fully translated!

 

The first item is a preliminary research report drawn up by Head Railroad Engineer Carlo Scarabelli during the summer of 1850. Scarabelli was tasked with investigating the possibility of railroad construction between Bologna, Ancona, Rome, Velletri, and Ceprano in the central Italian territory known as the Papal States. Scarabelli's report is meticulous, mostly handwritten in delicate script, and complete with 5 two-page spread tables. He signed his report twice, once on August 6, 1850, and once on September 2, 1850, both times as "Firmato Carlo Scarabelli Ingegnere."

 

Scarabelli's report is divided into two main parts: the projected cost, and anticipated profits, of undertaking the Papal States Railroad project. Cost per kilometer in Roman scudi, a unit of currency used in the Papal States until 1866, is analyzed, as well as how local topography and economic conditions will affect the project. Scarabelli's report is replete with detailed comparisons with other railroad projects undertaken in Belgium, Germany, Austria, France, Monaco, and greater Italy. Part II outlines how much passenger travel and transported freight (in the form of produce and livestock) could be expected to offset costs.

 

The second item is the January 28, 1854 issue of Scientific Correspondence in Rome, Universal Bulletin entitled "Railroad in Rome." The 8pp printed newspaper issue discusses news about the ongoing railroad project.

 

Modern day Italy was equipped with limited railroad service well in advance of its official 1870 unification. Technological leader Great Britain constructed its first railroad in 1825, connecting Stockton and Darlington (mentioned in Scarabelli's report), followed by the Liverpool-Manchester line (also mentioned in Scarabelli's report) in 1830. Ireland followed in 1834, as did Belgium and Germany in 1835; Austria in 1837; and Italy and the Czech Republic in 1839. In this chronological progression, then, Italy constructed its first railroad somewhere in the middle of the pack, before even France and Poland in 1842; Slovenia in 1844; Hungary in 1846; and Spain and Slovakia in 1848. Western Europe constructed its first railroads between the 1830s-1850s.

 

Pope Pius IX (1792-1878) fostered infrastructural improvements in the Papal States during his 31-year-long papacy, authorizing railroad construction as early as November 1846. The Pia Latina Society (also mentioned in Scarabelli's report) was formed to finance railroad construction between Rome and Ceprano. The first leg of this route, Rome-Frascati, was built between 1850-1852. Construction continued in fits and starts until at least 1862; by then, the Pia Latina Society had merged with other corporations. The shrinking of the Papal States prior to its annexation by Italy in 1870 complicated pontifical railroad construction.

 

Scarabelli's report also mentions Giuseppe Pianigiani (1805-1850), an influential Siennese railroad engineer. Over his brief career, Pianigiani oversaw railroad construction between Empoli and Sienna and Florence and Livorno. He studied in Florence, Paris, and England.

 

Carlo Scarabelli was born in Bologna. After the Papal States railroad project, he later worked on the railroad linking Po to Tuscany.

 



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