The Elko independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1869-1872, 1871-01-07
THE ELKO INDEPENDENT.
SATURDAY. JANUARY =. ,s.l.
Projected Narrow G.aEe n.iirona.

Projected N.rrov Gauge Railroad.
The present facilities Of transportation
from the mining localities in our State are SO
onerously expensive that the people are be-
ginning to be awakened to the subject. The
vast fields Of mineral wealth which lie hidden
in the bosom of our mountains, require tina,
an effort should be made for some more CON
venient and less costly means for bringing our
ores aud bullion into market at . greatly de-
creased rate than at present. Weare told that
strong effort will be made very shortly to in
troduce for this purpose new method.
Parties are now at work earnestly for the pro-
jectiOn Of a narrow gauge railroad to be. built
between Elko and Hamilton; and We learn
that at the present session OF the Legislature
o bill will be introduced authorizing the res
pectiye counties that will be benefited by the
road. to loan their credit to the enterprise, in
the shape of bonds, that the work may be
carried on. Some citizens of this comfy may
be inclined 10 think such q course wouId be
detrimental; that the county in now largely in
debted and that the tax upon our people
would be too severe. To such we would say,
that to make us a. thriving and growing CON-
nunity, it will be necessary TO be enterpris-
ing. If we would see our towns and cities
built up, We must put forth our power. No
great work was ever accomplished by waiting
to let somebody do that which we should per-
form ourselves. BY the counties of White
Pine and Elko loaning their credit to the ex-
tent OF some $3.50, 600, parties in San Fran
cisco stand ready to advance the necessary
funds to build narrow gauge railroad from
Elko to Hamilton. Sowe are in favor of aiding
the project, and hope our citizens will consider
the subject we'll and conclude that they will
try to advance work which will build up
towns and cities for us, and infuse q new
life in trade. Some months since a committee
was appointed in White Pine county TO inves-
tigate the practicability of building a railroad
from Hamilton to intersect the Central Pacific;
to inquire into the resources of the mineral
lodes; to estimate the quantity of high and low
grade ores that could be procured and the
amount of tonnage that would be carried to
and from the mining localities. After a care
full consideration, the committee reported,
and produced statistics that were much more
favorable to the cause than were anticipated
There is no cause for doubt that a railroad
from Eiko to White Pine would infuse new
life into business matters and be productive
investment to all our citizens. The narrow
gauge railroad is well adapted for our section
Of the country; its practicability has been
tested in Wales and in Canada and we learn
that it is in contemplation to introduce this
style of roads in the Pennsylvania coal dis
tricts, and in other portions of the States
east. It commends itself to general favor on
account OF the economy of its contraction as
we'll as in its lower cost of equipment and in
the lighter expense of working. Locomotives
and cars are made correspondingy light with
the construction of the roadway. The gauge
Of this road will probably be abont two and a
half feet. recommendation for the narrow
gauge over and above that OF economy is, that
very much sharper and more frequent curves
are permissible without danger to the trains
or loss of tractive power by the engine. A
railroad on this cheaply constructed system
would be productive of incalculable benefit,
and the easy facilities of transportation would
give fresh and healthy impetus in the devel-
opment of the resources Of this section of our
State.