The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1871-07-29
THE QUESTION SOLVED:

ing Gclusion began to yield to Pr;tcttc''i
tests, just us tho success of the lilSt
smooth-tired engine on II smooth ran,
forty years ago, was demonstrated by
an actual trial, after fifteen years OF ar
gument us to the best method of pre-
venting the wheel from slipping. The
speed was ut first increased to twenty
miles an hour, then higher and higher
till forty was attained. The inspector
has now fixed the maximum speed on
such tr:,mways at thirty miles.
1t being thus established that so mar
row Il gauge even as two feet can be
operated with entire safety at thirty
miles an hour, the little railways soon
became a national as we'll as II profess
sional s.scnsation," and the Angio-lh-
dian and two or three continental gov
crnments last year appointed commits
sions of eminent and skilled engineers
to visit Wales, the location of the mar
rowest of the narrow lines, to examine
and report on the alleged facts. The
line specially attracting attention runs
| from Port Mahon, on laEilGan BAY,
| to FcStiniOg, the scat OF extensive
slate uuarrics. The gauge of this line
is twenty-thrcc and Il half inches, ana
its chicffrcight goes on the down grade,
which, in many places, is very steep,
with extremely sharp curves. Inc
| usual tll1lc loI tittA'' A' y" ~
ty miles :m hour, but these eminent
experts found that thirty miles was not
an unsafe speed. The passenger car
riages are ten feet long, five wide, ana
six and Il half high, each holding
twelve persons.
HOW lIIGu SPEED AFFECTS SrAHlL-
The element of speed as it affects the
stability of trains is one which involves
the application of Il law of nature. vi
course there is more risk and greater
liability to accident on railways from
high than from low or more moderate
, speed; but the danger arises from the
inadequate strength of the materials OF
+. which the permanent way and rolling
stock are constructed, and not from the
l stability of the trains on the track
= This will appear evident from the
illustration we have in the two-wheeled
: velocipcdc or bicycle, which maintains
its stability by the rapidity of it's mo-
ton and the shifting of the body OF the
h rider in making curves. So in the
G curves of the railway, the inside rail Is
g always depressed in order to counter
T. balance the tendency Of the weights
o the carriages to fly off in the direction
e of the exterior of the curve, which
is, end is effected in the ease of the bicycl
e by the action of the rider. The chll'
l. trundling his hoop also illustrates tn
IT effect of velocity in preserving stabllI
ty or Il vcrticle position in the moVin
of the body, which topples overas 500
rs it stops.
All other things beng equal, u m
- now gauge train on Il track adjusted O
-, the curves to meet n given speed WI
~ be as safe as Il broad gauge train und'
=, similar circumstances. But IT ma
- we'll be claimed for narrow gauge roi
= inc stock that there is less liability
- one main class of accidents, namcl!
- those arising from the breakaSe
-, axlcs. A three-fOot axle, for instance
". may be reduced one-third in diamete
:, as compared with Il seven foot aNl'
w. ~ and be less likely to break than til
-, latter under an equal load.
rr rEArrIc CAPACITY OF TIE NEW MAJ
lN ROW GAUGES.
IS. The evidence furnished by the seve
II; nj government commissions cStaDllsh'
~ bavond question that the four foot ciGl
oi and u half inch gauge possesses Il c;
to pacity far greater than is needed ON
sc large proportion Of the English line
no If this is true of England, which COZ
ne tainS Il population tWO-thirdS that
n the whole United States in an area Ol
nd IN Il little greater than that OF II
Is State of New York, and where !;
} Il branches of industry arc stimulated |
Sc, q supcrabundancc of cheap capt.:
FOR how much more forcibly docs II
'rn remark apply to this country, Whe
ne capital and labor are scarce ana uca
The Legislature of Massachusetts II
lately had this very important SuhJ'
all under consideration, and q joint cor
= lnittcc Of the two branches was /;
nd pointed to inquire into the SubJe
we This committee, accepting the rcpo
IN of the European commissions as trtl
rs. worthy, on the nth OF March last ma
.cn a very able though not an eNHluStI
md report, pointing ont the great capacl
will safety, economy, and general adap
d Il ton Of the narrow gauge for bran
all. lines i'm this country. On the SutJ
lea, of capacity for traffic, the commit
has speaking of the Fcstnoig railway, s;t
;. uIt is u wonder of mechanical Sclel
and lamp of hope to the railway
uge sakcn everywhere. In one year
and tonnage amounted to l3G, 1;'2 tons, nv
.vor aging $50 tons per mile of road, VIII
be is more than double the traffic OF
tab Connecticut river railrOad-:L lar
tenn ample of the thirty railroads OF Mas
Iuch chusctt4-and its passenger buSiI
dis Though not strictly u passenger 70
,nti amounted the same year to SIX th'
D,m- and eight hundred and seven pass
ayS, GERS per mile, which exceeds Una
9ing the prosperous Worcester ana mas
one railroad for IS70.'
only WHAT Is ,rI,r. BEST GAUGE?
rl.Gr ' is Il question still undecided, and
WIN injnt committee, deeply impressed