Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1854-01-17
TO CORRESPONDENTS.
III. Gauge ON tn. co,lustou Road.

adopted on the Covington and Ohio road The subsc,
WAS brought forward by Mr.. Deane in the shape of
amendment 10 the bill proposing appropriate indefinite
millions to that Improvement Mr. Deane proposed tina,
the gauge should be five feet-tbe width Of the Lynch
burg and Tennessee and all the Southern roads-and not
four feet eight and hall inoheshe gauge Of the Central
and all the roads looking Sorthward Mr. Deane gave
his reasons in speech of great power-snd which evi.
IDENTIFY made deep impression upon the House.
This IL question Of great Importance to the iu
ture webeing and greatness Of the Common wealth To
proper appreciation of it, there are two points to be
considered; ]. Which is the best-the most economics
gauge-which will transport the greatest quantity pas
sengers and freight at the least This is paint to
be decided by experience and authority . Surprising
that the other be the better or that the differ
ence is trivial in ITSELF which in the particular case and
with reference to the permanent interests the State
the one that should be preienedS To determine this
point greater variety OF considerations admissible
and the weight OF these in favor Of the dc gauge
greatly predomnaes, that have hesitation in giving
our voice for it-uness there be great and decided
objection to 1t the first With respect to the
frst,-authority and experience the advocates OF the
narrow gauge stake themselves upon the distinguished
authority of the Chief Engineer of the Central Railroad
We have no objection 10 the question upon that au
thority.
gentleman Nhen Chlet EnSlner oil the James
and kanawha Company, made report upon this very
road (0ct IsSs) and strongly recommended that the
gauge should be six feet. lie urged both for the adj
vanages Of passengers aud freight 1t is unnecessary to
make extracts-they were read the House by Mr..
Deane-and the gentleman in the report which he has
just made the Central Road Company comedies the in.
insic superiority Of the wide gauge-and admits that
it were open question, he would be in favor of that
XIV and IL
row gauge-he thinks it polite to adopt that gauge also
We copy his words
at has, know been suggested that awider pauoa than
tha which has become almost universal in this country
and IN all Europe is ntrinscay than that which
is in general use. do know that should deny the
TACT II that were the question here
ut Tue problem not now to ascertain what would be
the best gauge for Railroad but which is best for the
Covngton and Ohio road connecting rs it does with
VI oaus oil narrow gauge at its Western exlrem
y and another system Of the gauge spreading over
all Northern and Central Virginia. at its Eastern end
III the question were still new and open one | be-
'Neye that should be inclined 10 recommend Il, ..,
gauge from Richmond to Cincinnati there to connect
VAN the SIX ieet gauge leading from Cincinnati to ST.
LOUIS and from st. Lonis Westwnrdly and thus obtain
ad'd"'"ge orer all competitors North or South. But
TINS question oil intrinsic superiority has been foecosed
Dy Tue net work o narrow gauges extending from the
western border of Virginia through Northern Kentucky
ana southern Ohio TO Cincinnati and over these our
cars most pass"
mere IS ample confession OF the intrinsic psrioriiy o.
the wide CAUGHT would give San airantage ORR al
competitors North South" 1t is Mr. Elet who speaks
and as he is the only respectable authority auced for the
narrow gauge, and he prefers the wide We need NOT
refer TO other authorities lie settles the question of il
intrinsic superiority" and it nav be
TO addnce other authorities In passing however ii may
ne stated that whenever the question is open and new
tne mario" gauge oil is l2 rePudatei by engineers all
over the world The British Parliament had this matter
unIaF IaraItn
appointed to investigate it, reported in favor Of feet 2
inches as the gauge which experience had
to possess the greatest advantages Six feet vas consider
ed 100 wide ana 4o l'2 too The feet gauge OF
the Southern roads approaches very nearly the stand.
ard thus deliberately endorsed by the experience of Great
Britain.
But the adoption OF this "infrimscaHy letter" gauge
he eontend' Is not advisable in this particular case WHY,
Because The says) the Coyington road will con
meet WIN system OF narrow gauges in KentIlck,
aud Ohio Now this is a question Of Egri-abon
winch We are as much privileged TO have an opn-
'on as Mr.. Elet any other engineer A h,sty
reading OF his report would leave the impression that the
narrow gauge in Ohio and Kentucky was indenticaI IN
'"A' VI t"e central road to Wit as l2, and that the
guAge OF the Kentucky roads beyond Big Sandy was ire
Vocabiy liked. Now neither is the fact TIN. pauo. ol
the direct road from Big Sandy Lexington has not be.r
hHed at a aud the company is probably Awaiting our ac
o"' anu WI" adopt Tie same gauge that do The roal
from pig sandy down the Ohio to Cincinnati, Ly MAYS
Vile is only completed for few niles but that is too wind
ing way for us. II would upwards of 50 ton NOR
TO bring produce by that Richmond from Cinc;nua
Titan II would go to New York by the way of the Lake.
That road then by Maysvle is out Of the question
should have no influence with us Asto the Ohio roads
they have narrow gaugebut the gauge of the Cen
trail road-they are 4.lO-aul not Land tbe differ
ence OF an inch and half far as changing cars Az,
breaking bulk is concerned, is fatal as two feet vol,
be. The conneXiol, therefore with tue Ohio roads 81
humbug-and Mr. Elet on his principles should adj
Socate the wide guage now be did il s8s-and Ne IA
sti admits ia "inrinsc superiority The only Kentnc
Ky road with which we proitaby connect and which
tcyoHd LeSingon sW connect us icith lie fret 0aly
TO Memphis and tie Soah--is not vet commence dan,
no gauge Is fixed for itwhic all the Ohio roads tendinl
West, except one far in the interior which Baltimore
trying TO build In ion with it, roadare l. 10 paups
The Miami Iiailroad which runs due North from Cincn
natl the trunk into which all the roads IN Ohio runniU
from The last empIy-and that has gauge as have al
its tributaries Of 40.
Mr. Elei, In his report, says
III ia somewhat remarkable and very important fac
THAT all the roads OF Virginia designed to share th
western trade which lie the south Of James Rive
"'NP'e" h'e gauge, ana lat all the roads
Virginia lying the north Of James River have adop
"the4 feet inches gauge while all the roads of IT.
southern part Of Kentucky aud Tennessee have adope,
'the feet guage Of the Southern Virginia roads an,
Those in northern Kentucky have adopted the feet
'inohes Of the Northern Virginia road I'VE have oread
stated that this IL Of fact with respect 10 the on
important one in this conference.-the Big Sandy and Low
'ngton road-whicb has fixed guage-awaitng our ac
tion. Eds WI ut difficult to conceive [co,tnuss N
Elicit Of state Of facts more fortunate for yirpini
Ethan thisn
To the eyes Of Northern man II NAV seen, VERY far
tunats-buI to Virginan who desires consolidation
aud unity Of all the interests Of the Commonwealth IL
state OF facts pregnant with mischief and full Of danger
IL establshss Northern interest in the very heart Of n
State IL gives TO this whole tier OF Northern roads
Northern vsage-a Baltimore look and exposes them
be tapped at every point by that gnspng city Aead
are there propositions before the House for Rsilroa
from tbe Pennsylvania line in Honongaia county TO N
mouth % ibe.Ksnawhs--and another from tho mouth
Et In Kansvba 10 the Baltimore aud Ohio road in y
ior county. and again another down the valley from Sale
20 Winchester Thus tapping on both sdes the