The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1871-12-28
From the Cleveland Leader, Dec, 81
The Valley Railroad.


Since the first puff Of steam from the
first locomotive that in 1882 carried lts
train from Albany to Schenectady, rail-
roads in this country have been an az
sured success.
Forty years have done for us with
steam roads what would have taken
centuries, and therefore has our nation
leaned forward with a rapidity that has
surnrised the world. No intelligent
man at this day for moment hesltates
in such enterprises, for they are the
first means that modern invention can
supply to add to individual and national
wealth and in the construction ana
operation of roads much has been
learned, and many fanciful theories ex-
ploded until we have come to the plan
and practical ground Of fact, and base
all calculations upon realities. Lines
of RAILWAYS at present traverse our
country from north to south, and from
east to west, so that city and village
alike are allied in a common interest,
and the steam whistle has become the
pioneer of civilization.
Cleveland, already blessed with many
roads, is vet to have another, and men
are at work who in a short time propose
to give to this city of the lakes another
artery Of wealth.
The Valley railroad is road to be
quilt extending along the valley OF the
Cuyahoga, through Akron and Canton
in an air line southeast from Cleveland
to Bowerstown, on the Panhandle rail
road. 1t will be about ninety miles II
length, running through remarkably!
fine region Of country, Is yet unde
yeloped, but abounding in minera
wealth, which will furnish a carrying
trade equal to any except the Srea
trunk lines.
We are fast becoming the first manu-
featuring city in the State, and from
this source principally derive on
wealth, so that OF all people we SHOULD
| be the first to aid with our voice an
money any means that will add to GU
future prosperity.
The road is to he constructed som
what differently from the other line
leading to our city, and III this YER.
difference is claimed one of tn
great sources Of lis value. 1t will b
built as a narrow gauge road an
therefore will require less width OF roa
bed, lighter ties and rails, lighter ms
cbinery and cars, and OF course Wi
aehw fa5e q4s5Fa @le6 81 tfRe En- old hf a
gauge cost from sixty to seventy pc
cent, while on the wider gauge car
carrying ten tons of freight usual
weigh ten tons 1t has been found tina
on the narrow gauge, cars can be cor
structed, weighing five tons, TO carr
ten. Thus it will he seen-that q grea
gain is made in the tonnage of freigh
in proportion to the weight of cars.
For example we will take train OF
the usual gauge Of road, which is fou
feet eight and hall inches; one engin
will draw twenty cars Of coal of invent,
tons each gross, equal to four hundred
tons gross weight, only half of which
Tor two hundred tons) is paying freight
This, at 81. 80 per ton, would give 500
gross earnings; but we must deduc
from this sixty per cent for expenses
and We have left 1920 net profit in car
rving two hundred tons OF coal.
| On the narrow gauge road train o
equal gross tonnage would give 266 ton,
OF paying freight, and this at Sl.O0 pei
ton, or 33i per cent less charge, would
give 500 gross earning. Deduct from
this fifty per cent expenses, which i!
twenty-five per cent more than the
known cost Of working narrow gaug.
roads, and we have 1888 net profits
Now, if the wider gauge road can earn 6
dividend of ten per cent on net prof
1920 per train, as above shown, the
narrow gauge road, costing one-thrd
less, on net profit Of $l33 per train
would earn over sixteen per cent divi,
dend.
These figures are based upon what
has been done, hence a road so con.
structed can carry at less cost and still
declare larger dividends than is possible
for the wider gauge.
With these simple facts before us we
are ready to welcome at the earliest
possible day the completion of a railway
that not only promises SO much to its
projectors, but one which, in the region
through which it runs, will develop a
world of mineral wealth and add great
" IN the nrosnerity of our city T.