Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1871-07-28
Narrow ana Broad G,.agc Rairoad.

The comparative advanta gos of narrow and
broad guage railroads, form general theme
for discussion all over the country at this
| time. The five feet, or broad guage is tho
one now in general use. The narrow gnago
is three feet, costs less, and is said can be
built and used where tho broad guagc is ut.
tery imprdcticabc.
The whole tendency Of the age is to cheap
en- ncccssarics of life. The concentrated
focu power of invention is being directed to
cheapening the cost of the great practical
utilities of the day. The sewing machine
cost originally from one 10 two hundred dol
lars Now good ones can be bought from
ten to twcntyi five dollars. So with agric,.l-
tural labor saving machines.
10 simplify, cheapen aud put within the
ready reach of the poor, is the constant au,
of laborious and speculative ingenuity. The
cheaper these things, the greater the consum.
tion aud the more the profit.
This lesson is being applied to railroads.
From the Knoxville CA,oaicle we take an cx.
tract by Captain 0. G.. Vandcrhof, civil en-
g'necr, giving some most interesting facts
showing the comparative cost of two systems
OF railway. 1t will be found to repay peru.
sal.
Ihe following Is comparative cost Of the
hve'foot guages after graded and prepared for
the track. No definite figures can be made
ln reference to the grading, as it would vary
in different localities
Grading per mile will average between
$1,000 and 50 900 according to the locality
and the amount Of bridging aud masonry to
be put up.
FlVE.fOoT GUAGE--RAIL FIFTY FIVE POUNDS
TO THE YARD.
s. tons of rails at $40 90 per ton, $4,000 90
$40 rail l.spiiccs at co, 500 90
3 80 spikes at 5 cents 375 90
2OIO crosSties at SO cents, 1920 90
Laying mile track, 500 90
Total $S,5S7 90
THREEEooT GUAGE-RAI THIRTY POUNDS
PER YARD.
a tons rails at $75 90, s3,5G2 so
$50 rail splices at so cents, l65 90
SS'oSo 10" spikes at cents, 2ll 90
5000 crosstios at 27 cents, 75O CO
Laying mile track, 200 90
Total $4,6s3 SO
Difference in favor narrow guagc $3,598 80
Cost OF rolling stock Engines half less than
the broader guagc Coaches, cars, ETC., over
half less, according to style and finish
From this estimate, fair statement can be
made that three fourth narrow can be built
for one-half less than the wider guage
Comparative weight and capacities of cars !:
FULL GUAoc-EI0ur WHEEL CAR
Weight of car empty. pounds 10000
Weight of car loaded, pounds, 10000
Pay freight, pounds, 10000
NARROW GuAGE-EIaHT WHEELED CAR
Weight Of car empty, pounds $500
Weight of car loaded, pounds, l2,5OO
Paying freight, pounds, $4,000
Hero the narrow guagc has the advantage
in paying freight giving larger profit per
car than the broader guagc.
First class narrow guage ocomtives can BIZ
built for between $4,000 aod S6,OO0 Pas
sengcr cars according to finish, will cost from
500 to $500. Freight cars from $500 to
5000. Passenger oars used will seat 80 per-
sons, and from all information to DO
had, the passenger rides with as much case
and copfort on the wide guage.
Locomotives used upon these lines can haul
from 81 to 100 tons over sharp curves and
gradients, at tho rate of 20 to 80 miles per
hour
With these estimates the three foot guage
will not cost more than from $4,000 to So.
600 per mile, and yielding, in comparison to
the present income Of roads, dividends from
to 10 per cent. on the capital invested
4Naata Constitution.
A. STARTLING ExcLAMATIoN.-Th New
Orleans Bulletin publishes the following an
ecdotc of the celebrated Dominican friar.
Rocco, at Naples:
"One dsy he was preaching to crowd in
the market place. This day, said he, Il
will see if you truly repent your sins
Thereupon he commenced pentential dis
course that made the hair of the hard hearted