The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1870-12-13
Tha Narrow Ganpe Railroad

The experiments that have been made !,
with the narrow gauge railway are i'll tie
highest degree gratifying IN their results.
We look upon this kind Of railroad IS
great blessing 10 society. The railway upon
the broad tracks has placed the communl-
ties Of. many localities under serious EN-.
barassment. Villages are left in inter-
mediate situations, having no communica-
ton With the world save by vehicles drawn
by horses, which in no wise supplies their
wants in a country Of railroads. They ure,
therefore, lett, as it were, out Of the world
This disadvantage to which so many popu-
lations are subjected suggests the INQUIRY
"What can be done for their relief" "W hat
"can be done to bring them luto communi-
"cation with the world upon terms some
"what corresponding with the intercourse
(which other parts of the world main
"tained with one another" The answer
is now given. 1t should be hailed with de-
light by all men. This answer IS the "nar-
row gauge railroad" 1t is to become the
connecting link between all the trunk lines
OF railway and the communities not taken
un by them. It will be the interesting
crossline railway which will didusc the
benefits Of railway communication through
out the land, aud give every nelehborhood
that facility Of intercourse and transport
alton that will place all upon O footing
something near equality.
Therefore we invite the attention OWL.
lages and local populations to this impor-
tant railroad plan. We urge upon them to
consider it well-to make their estimates OF
its cost and its advantages, and then See
whether they have not the means to build
short lines Of narrow gauge ways, and
whether they will not be handsomely re-
warded BY the convenience and the profits
those lines will give. We learn from let
ter to the Railroad and Mining Register,
written by MIR. H. T. Q. D'ALIGSY. O New
York engineer, shat a company is now Or
Ranizing for the es press purpose OF build
Ing on contract, on this principle, roads
and branch rolds especially to connect min.
ing or manufacturing districts with main
trunk roads. at the head OF this corpora
ton is Mir. MATT. ELLIS, President OF The
Iron Bills ailway Company, OF Kentucky
and the first road will be constructed thi.
winter in the Hanging Rock region OF the
Ohio river, for tie purpose of connecting
this Iron HIS mines with the Eastern Zen
lucky rsaroad.
Mr.y'A1IeSY gives some interesting facts
from lhe report for 1860 of the Festintoe
road 1t appears that the net revenue Of
tho, road last year was slo,622, the capital
otthe company being only e96,1s5. Mr.
3ALreSY says: "The economy OF the
construction aud equipment of narrow
"ausge road, 2 feet inches, is immense
"when compared with the cost of road 4
"fest 81 inches. For single track it Is 90
"per cent. over an ordinary fat country ;
"but in the mountainous or. mining dis
"tricts the proportion Increases to Is per
scent and more. In fact, narrow gauge
"road can be established, and will prove a
"psying concern in countries SO rough that
ono attempt would ever be made 10 con-
"stIuct road of the usual gauge. Mar
"row gauge roads will accomplish revo-
"lution In the railroad system OF the
"United States"
With pleasure we add this evidence IN
favor Of the narrow gauge railroad for
neighborhood purposes--for that benefcent
agency which relieves neighborhood popu-
latiops from, Isolation, and places them
again IL communion with the world
social, commercial, and literary.