The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1853-06-06
THE GAUGE ON THE CovINGroN
RAILROAD.

kAlLkOAp.
When we corrected certain very pa'pao''
errors in an editorial article of the Lyncho"'s
y;rgin;an. relative to the gauge on Tue Wv
;ng,on and Ohio Railroad. few WEEKS s'u'e
re had M conception that we were running
I'll of the engineer on the Virginia ana en-
- Railroad. Such, however, was oul
fate and we this day violate s'ahu'hg RUE
,r ibis psper, to give publicity to his answer
,o,e, TO saw that we have had the com
;..,;op in our possession since Thursday
a., bur have delayed its publication in order
chs, we might learn something definite relative
-, the facts at issue between US with regard
en- the railroad movements in Kentucky. We
nave not yet received the desired information
I'm, the public shall have il as soon as we car
Law our hsnds on it. In the meantime, here il
Colonel Garnetl's communication:
Tohe Editor of the Richmond Dispatch:
SIR-In YOUR paper of the 2Sth, YOU Ia e
;ssue with the Wig nian in relation to certain
inflammation which the editor derived from me
beg YOU will allow me TO explain the grounds
of that information.
First, as to the difference of opinion between
your authority and myself, with regard TO the
cost of transhipment, which l assert cannot
exceed Scents per ton of 1000 lbs, which is
equivalent TO 5 miles of distance. This is q
subject requiring no scientific investigation and
on which the authority of a warehouse hand,
in any of The railroad depots in Richmond, is
better than that Of Sir Isaac Newton.
have generally assumed, without ever hav-
ing tried the experiment by watch, that IN
one day of ten working hours, four hands would
transfer the loads of s cars on one track, to
like number on parallel track. These cars
should hold from 10 10 tons each. Eight cars
of 8 tons each would make "a tons, which at
5 cents per ton, is So 90. Now, four hands at
so cents per day, is 50 20. You will perceive
that have allowed Ii hours for transferring
the load on one car. have this morning tried
the experiment with my watch. | took car
containing 80 bbls of -four, weighing 6 SS8 lbs.
and IS boxes Of tobacco weighing IU,67l lbs.
making in all II $50 lbs, or 81 tons. The
time occupied by four hands in transferring this
load to another car, working at ordinary speed,
was Just fifteen minutes, or one fifth of the
time red by my calculation. Inc expense
therefore might have been pat at one per cent
per ton, and has certainly been placed too high
by my calculations. 1t has been generally as
sumed, Of late years, that the cost Of transpor-
tation on railroads is one cent per ton per
mile, and therefore 5 cents will pay the cost of
transportation on FIVE miles of road.
Will ii be commended tina! even a day is
matter of serious consequence in the transport
ration of tonnage2 Where there is much TOM
mage to transfer, large force must be employ.
ed, and twenty hands can transfer the loads of
~ cars in one hour.
l will hazard the opinion that, where two or
more companies, are concerned, no loaded cur
will ever run more than three hundred miles
and probably not as much. Frequent trdn-
shipments are to be avoided, but motives of
policy, prudence and economy will inevitably
fix limit not TO be exceeded.
1t is $50 miles from Nashville to Chattanoo-
ga, and 300 miles from that point to Augusta.
They are now building an immense depot in
Chattanooga for the convenience of tranship-
ment. 1t consists of two tracks separated by
platform of moderate width, and the whole
'~nnHer rocf
1t is not tile bug bear of transhipment that
makes me prefer five feet gauge. Its be-
cause the almost unanimous voice OF scientific
and practical men has condemned the narrow
er gauge; and | do not want the line OF trans
portatiop, from the Ohio TO Covington, by rail
road, and thence to Richmond by canal, TO
throw away this advantage, which the Stale
might possess, in the competition with Baitl-
mole. There is much weight Of authority in
favor of still wider gauge, and have hereto
fore been with those who advocate still high
er limit. | would not now feel any serious
objection to the adoption Of five feet three
inches or five feet six for the Covington and
Ohio road. There are some considerations
which have decided me in my preference for
FIVE feet. Many of those in whose judgment l
have most confidence think it the very best
width. 1t is the gauge of all the Southern
States except North Carolina. 1t will enable
the work. shops of Virginia to send locOmo-
lives, passenger and freight cars to all the
Southern States. Ii would give to the slave
holding States great military strength, as, in
the movements of an army, where it might be
difficult to arrange relays of cars at different
points, one train could go from Richmond to
Louisville, Memphis or New Orleans.
But, Sir, am not anxious TO have a contrn.
versy on this subject, and | am perfectly will
ling to rely on the Board of Public Works to
settle the question. The people of Virg na
will certainly expect that Board to investigate
the subject thoroughly and collect such evil
dence as may throw light on it. Let them in
terrogate the most eminent locomotive builders
in the United States as TO that gauge which
would enable them to build the most perfect
locomotive. Let them interrogate civil engi-
neers Of standing who have no interest in the
question as to the best gauge for railroads
With regard TO the fact stated by me, that
certain railroads in Kentucky had fixed On the
five feet gauge, | certainly understood Mr.
Culue, tHt SHicl L-uSiucCt Vi tuc NdySVllIe
and Big Sandy road, TO say that they had
adopted five feet gauge. He might have ex.
pressed his own opinion of what would be
done, but understood him as saying it had
been done. The adoption of five feet gauge
BY the Danylle and Lexington road could no,
have been known 10 Mr.. Stevenson when he
wrote to Col. Fontaine, as il occurred several
days after my conversation with MIR. Chlde.
1t was done chiefly upon the urgent appeal o
the Lexington and Covington road, which Com
pany had previously adopted it. | still believe
that these two Companies can bring the Others
into the measure.
All these facts can be ascertainedin the mos
authoritative manner before il can be necessa'
ny for the Board of Public Works 10 settle thu
question.
With an apology for the length OF this com
nuncation, remain, with great respect,
Your OBJ. servt.,
CHAs. F. NJ. GARRETT.
LYEcHBuRG, May 80, 1858.
COMMENT
Colonel Garnett asserts, with quite as mucl
holiness we think as is warranted by the eyi
denee ne adduees that tr,rah:n.o-. -..~. l.