The Nevada journal., 1860-12-21

nevada Will probably vote to subscribe
S500,000 toward its construction.
1t is important that this organization BIZ
effected before the sitting of the next Cong.
ress, that they may deal with company
already in existence.
In answer to the question; What can be
done in case no appropriations are granted
by the General Government? brief pro.
gramme is herein presented, which is well
worth attentive consideration;
Adopt grades of two hundred and fifty
feet per mile. The experience of the pas
six years has demonstrated that grades of a.
high as three hundred and fifty feet per mile
can be advantageously employed, and sue
cessfully worked with modern locomotive
engines.
The Virginia Central Railroad has from
1854 until short time since, crossed the
Allegheny mountains, and performed their
regular business over grades Of three hund-
red feet per mile, and curves as high as two
hundred and ihirty-eight feet radius.
Mr.. Ellett, the engineer of that road, in a
published statement, appearing in 1856
says; :. This road was opened to the public
in the spring Of 1854, and has now, in the
autumn of 1856, been in constant use for a
period Of more than two and a half years
In all this time, the admirable engines re-
lied on to perform the extraordi .ary duties
imposed upon them in the passage of this
summit, have failed but once to make their
regular trips. The mountain has been coy-
cred with deep SHOWS for weeks in success
sion, and the cuts have been frequently
filed, for long periods, many feet in depth
with drifted snow; the ground has beer
covered with sleet and ice, and every i'm
pediment due to bad weather and inclement
seasons, has been encountered, and sue.
cessfully surmounted in working this track
During the last severe winter, when Tho
travel upon all the railways of Virginia anC
the Northern and Western States was inter.
rupted, and on many lines for days in sue
cession, the engines upon this mountain
track, with the exception of the single day
already specified, moved regularly forward
and did their appointed work.
. In fact, during the space of two and {
half years that the road has been in use
they have only failed to take the mail thro
in this single instance, when the train wa.
caught in a snow-drift near the summit o
| the mountain.
1.-THE regular daily service of each of tn,
passenger engines is, to make four trips o
eight miles, over the mountain, drawing ont
eight-wheeled baggage car, together will
two eight-wheeled passenger cars, in eacf
direction.
&" In conveying freight, the regular trair
on the mountain is three eight-wheel house.
cars, fiilly loaded, or four partly loaded
Sometimes when the business is heavy
loads have exceeded fifty tons.
. With such trains, the engines are stop
ped on the track, ascending or descending
and started again, on the steepest grades
at the discretion of the engineer The as
cending engines stop daily on grade O
two hundred and eighty feet per mile, am
are there held by the brakes while the tanl
is being filed, and started again at the sig
nal, without any difficulty
"The ordinary speed of the engines, wher
loaded, is seven and a half miles an hour
on the ascending grades.
Greater speed and larger loads might
doubtless, be permitted, with success bu
the policy has been to work the track with
perfect safety, to risk nothing, and to obtair
and hold the public confidence.
The ordinary consumption of fuel il
ascending to the summit, or to an elevation
Of six hundred and sixty feet, over man,
curves of three hundred feet radius. i.
forty-two cubic feet, or nearly one-third o
cord. For traversing the whole distance
eight miles, including both the ascent ant
descent, two-thirds of cord, or one dollar
ana thlrty-tnree cents.
The total cost of working the two en-.
gines, when making two round trips pei
diem of thirty-two miles each, or a total o.
sixty-four miles per diem, is $3.50 pei
month, or an annual locomotive expense Of
1890.
" The cost of maintenance, repairs ot
road, night-yatch, etc, is 81, 795 per year,
or a total annual expense of SI4,755
" The engines weigh twenty-seven and a
half tons, fully loaded, with wood and wa
ter, and cost Sl2, 500 each.n
Thus the entire practicability of a noun
tain road, over grades of three hundred feet
per mile, and curve of three hundred to two
hundred and thirty -eight feet radius, is
successfully proven by actual experience.
Let us draw some conclusions thersfrom.
Even should the General Government
make the proposed appropriations, aud
were the capital all subscribed and paid in.
ready TO commence work, the requirements
OF the bill, no less than the necessity for an
economical and ranid construction of the
road, would seem to point to this as the
best plan upon which to undertake the work.
The grading of a permanent track upon this
route would occupy not less than two, and
perhaps two and half years.
As the road must be built from the two
ends, il order to procure iron, ties. etc.