Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1870-11-04
The OnsIcv Railroad.

We hope that the 1aVOfaDlo oPP0-
Of connecting Wilmington with OhSio"
county by q direct railroad will not re al
lowed to pass away through mere neglecf'
From recent conversations with Ieadln8
citizens of that county, and from letters
.eceiyed, we arc satisfied that the people
Of Ons1ov are determined to have rail-
road. It seems fixed that the "fIahter
Railroad - from Jacksonville to some poin'
~, the Atlantic and North Carolina hali-
,oa5 will reoejye handsome county ap-
propriation, and tho contest viii DC PC
4uaon the road direct to this city and the
road to Tcachey' Depot on tho Whining
ION and weldon Railroad for the other
appropriation. The latter road has the
ADVANTAGE Of liberal charter aifeaoy
GRANTED. but as under this charter the
vide gauge IS required, We do NOT
know bat that it Will be rather dIsadVan'
faoe to the friends Of that route. we are
satisfied that at very early day IN the ap-
rroacl;na saesi OF the Legislature as
liberal q ch-rter can be Obtained Tor
direct route from this city.
Iho ONLY difficulty in the way Of thus Is
that the Commissioners Of Onsio# have
fve5 moon Il, 2lh of November as the
d,vf.r p vote t. bo taken upon these
variors agaro2i iatioDs, being the fourth
CAV OF he session Nothing can, Of course
be done by that time We therefore pro-
nose that the Chamber of Commerce OF
This ci-y, through its President, or a
special committee, apply TO The CommlS'
sioners Of Ou7iow 20 postpone this cleo
ton for two months. II order that a char
ter can be obtained for the Wilmington
Direct" 70 ate, thus placing both PROPOSE
tions upon the .ne footing. We are ad-
vlsed that such q proposition would be Ia
vorably entertained.
Without Discussing the advantages OF a
direct route TO tAis city, both to the people
Of Onalov and Wilmington, which we be
lieve are manifold, We ale persuaded that
the merits Of tho narrow gauge railroad
alone are sufficient to decide the question.
The subject Of narrow gauge railroads.
through the great success of those in OPP
Grafton in Wales, il e1erting very marked
influence throughout Europe. IN India,
also. this system OF railroads has already
been brought into extensive use, where its
ccoDorly Of construction and operation
makes it very valuable. Some attention
TO il is now being paid in the United
STATES, ana narrow gauge railroads are
about to be built in Texas. The British
Association. which Gl05 at Exeter recently,
discussed very fully the question Of narrow
GAUGE railways as tributaries to main stems,
and strong evidence was brought forward
to provo the imDlunso economy Of narrow
pauge over wide gauge roads. The cost
Of such roads Ia within the means OF even
small communities. The grading OF two
foot road can be cheaply donc-tho ex
Dense of engines and rolling stock is com
paeatiyaIy light, whilst tho saving of fuel,
in proportion to the amocnt Of freight
B7ch n roaI Is capable OF carrying, is quite
remarkable. At the meeting to which We
have referred. II was urged that g every
/" inch added to tho width Of gauge, be-
esvond what is absolutely necessary for
the traffic, adds 10 the cost Of construc-
8 ton, increases the proportion OF dead
weight, increases the cost Of working,
e and, in consequence, increases the rates
ss Of TRANSFORMATION" So much 50 is this
the case that, even if the original cost of
constructing q marrow gauge road were
equal to that Of wide gauge, the actual
saving IL dead weight, and in tho expense
of working tho smaller gauge, would be SO
enormous tLaE the narrow gauge would be
far the cheapest IL the end, aud would
Weld much larger profits to the stockhol-
ders.
Such is the deliberate opinion now held
by the most eminent civil engineers in
England, ana il is, therefore, not sur
1rising that there is growing up a
strong feeling against the construction of
broad gauge roads, except on long lines OF
route capabla Of furnishing IN amount of
traffic so heavy as to diminish to mini
mum the proportion Of dead weight ordi-
nasils carried. But, for all shot roads,
ond e-peola..s loe what we would call IL
.hls country 'Leighborhood roads that
is 10 80, roads that will act IS feeders to
q inaIu trunk ront!-the narrow gauge,
COSTING in erection and outfit not more
than aUoa. oue-tanln the cost Of the broad
gauge, is destined to become, il the Ian
guege Of the London JouraaZ % Engineer
ing "tne railroad OF the future.
We again urge upon our business men
the Importance Of this matter and the ne
eessity OF early action. Let us ask for u
reasonable 6elty in the election, and then
let Us apply for charter. II this be done
and the assurance Of d substantial sub
ecription IN the city and county along the
proposed line OF railroad is given, then Ii
the Wilmington and Onsow Railroad 6
fixed fact
EDITORIAL CORRESP ONDENCE