Knoxville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1875, 1871-09-13
THE GREAT NARROW GAUGE,
Memphis, SOmeryiIIe. Bolivar, savannah
waynesborO, Columbia and
Knoxville

NhOhNNues
Mr.. Millington, the excellent civil enpi
neer who has made a preliminary survey
of great portion of the route of the mar
row gauge road to connect Memphis, Co
lumbia and Knoxville, says that it will
traverse country rich in agricultural and
mineral resources, and possessing q climate
genial and healthy as any in the world.
As regards local tariff, no
projected road in the South has a better
prospect for business that will be large and
remunerative from the start as numberless
industries will be developed, and diversity
of labor provided for the increasing popu-
lation by the cheap and speedy transporta-
ton this road will furnish,
THE GREAT END TO BE ACHIEVED.
An air line connects Norfolk, via Knox
vile, Columbia (the eastern terminus of
TINS road Memphis its western terminus).
Little Rock and Fulton, with FL Paso and
San Diego. The distance on this route
docs not exceed $500 miles, making not
only the shortest route from Norfolk, but
from New York to the Pacific. The con-
struction of the Southern Pacific road from
San Diego to its intersection with the
Cairo and Fulton road is fixed fact, and
Will no doubt be speedily completed. Work
Is progressing on the Cairo and Fulton
road from its intersection with the South
ern Pacific to Little Rock. The Memphis
and Little Rock road is completed. The
Duck River Valley road, from Columbia
ana Wartrace, thence to Knoxville, has
been started under favorable auspices, is in
good hands and will probably be built
without unnecessary delay. From Knox
vile to Norfolk and New York railroads
are already in operation, leaving the dis
lance from Memphis to Columbia-the
most favored portion of the line-alone to
be provided for. The Southern Pacific
Railroad { 'nnl many haa Hppi1aI 70
the narrow gauge-three feet. The same
gauge is contemplated from Fulton to Lit
tie Rock. From Little Rock to Memphis
the gauge can be changed in one day. The
Duck River Valley road has adopted a
three foot gauge, so that using like gauge
on this road Will give continuous three
foot gauge from San Diego to Knoxville
over 1000 miles, leaving only about 500
miles to be changed to give a continuous
gauge of three feet from the Atlantic to the
Pacific.
The Importance of connection without
break of gauge with the great Southern
Pacific railroad will doubtless influence
either change of gauge from Knoxville
eastward, or cause new roads to be built
The Knoxville and Charleston road has
adopted the three-foot gauge
RESOURCES OF THE BUILDERS.
AS regards the earnestness and ability of
Ihe people along the line of the road, judg-
ng from the earnest and jealous manner
n which they have taken the project in
hand, and the liberal manner in which
they have done all that has been required.
there is nothing to doubt in the future. 1t
only remains for Memphis to aid and fos-
ter generously project that every sensible
man can readily see will add materially to
our prosperity, by bringing to this market
thousands of bales of cotton now shipped
10 Mobile and New Orleans to avoid the
expense and trouble OF trans-shipment.
ana by opening q market now virtually
closed by lateral roads.
IRREGULARITIES OF THE ROAD.
The character of the road is in a great
decided by its connections. IL
must be narrow gauge road, say three
eet, and in view of all the advantages
possessed by narrow gauge roads, such as
educed cost of construction, economy in
operating, and the increased profits to
tockholders when they are in use, there
an be little doubt as to the character of
DAD that ought to be adopted between
1emph and Columbia.
The legitimate immediate effect of build
ng this road would be to add hundreds of
thousands of dollars to the capital and tax
bile wealth of the cities and counties
through which it runs, and to increase the
Intrinsic and market value of real estate
Ifsny fold. This road can be built, and
here is no good reason why it should not
re done without delay-all that is required
: united and determined effort, and all
bstacles will vanish like smoke