Delaware state journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1870-1883, 1871-11-21

We presented to our readers, few weeks
ago, an illustration OF the narrow guage
rasstnger train locomotive, built Tor the
Denver and RlO.Grande Railway. This
week We give two Illustrations OF passenger
car of the same line. This car was de-
signed and built at the works OF the jackson
n Sharp Company, Wilmington, Deli one
of the largest establishments In this country,
and the only one, we believe, up to this
time, which constructs nafrOw-gauge
passenger aud freight cars. The raplditY
with which American capitalists have adopt
ed the new style appears In the TACT thal lhls
company is already filling, or has filled,
contracts for such cars with dozen different
roads. On the Denver and Rio Grande
the cars have been running daily since the
middle OF August, sometimes as high as
forty miles per hour, and have wilhstood even
the seyerest gales OF tie Colorado plains
with perfect success.
As our readers are well aware, we have
taken occasion 10 throw cold water, now
and then, upon the exlravagant claims and
OIhescs Of the ultra advocates ol narrow
gauge. This does not prevent US, however,
from Owledging lie real merits under suit
able conditions; aud certainly we have meyer
doubted The feasibility OF constructing strong
and staple rolling stock on this plan. II
nny engincers have entertained doubt on
this point, the performance Of the cars made
by the jackson & Sharp Company will
satisfy them Corroboralive evidence is
furnished us by Mr.. Edward NJ. Grant, one
of the best engineers in The South, and con-
suuctor olf TskeRee Rahroad-in Alaha-
ma. Mr. Grant writes, about fortnight
awe have thoroughly tested your passen-
ger car built Tor our three-leet gauge road,
and find it perfect success, in every respect
The steadiness and evident stability o
the car is the universal subject Oi comment
by all passengers who have passed oveE The
road.
81 have no Hesitation in pronouncing i
ouual, in point OF comfort and ease OF motion
to any car / ever rode in, even upon thu
test roads in the Northern States, an'
consider the successful operation OF the thre
feet roads as fully demonstrated by th
practical test Of running our liue, since
was opened for business"
1t is evident that the American model o
passenger cars is the one which can be- mos
successfully adapted TO the narrow gauge
The differences between the European Style
and this will le recalled by those who hav
travelled abroad. The long car, the be
cord, the swinging truck, and the stove, Il
well as The drawing-room, sleeping an
huiel coaches, and the baggage system, al
OF American origin, and we think that i
most respects our plan is superior 10 th
European. The points in which foreigner
surpass US, viz, discipline and care for tn
safety and comfort of passengers, could I
easily grated upon our system.
TheAmerican narrOw-gauge car closely n
semble the usual model. They are 35 leet Ion
7 feet wide, and 1Ol feet high. 1t wegt
$4,000 pounds and carries 80 passengers, b
ing 41G pounds of car for each passenge
The ordinary frst-class car, on the Oth'
hand, weighing 39,OO0 pounds, carries b
rrltf fpl Il do nf Anf
weight per head. The requisite stability
secured by placing the sills only p inche
instead Of 45 inches, from the ground. Til
gives an ''augle of stability" Of 50l degTe
Tor the empty and 47l degrees Tor the load
cara remarkably broad base, which leav
no reason lor apprehension as to safety und
speed.
Tne interior arrangement may be inlerrl
from the section given. Tue seats are dOul
ON one side and single on the other, this a
ranrement being reversed in the centre
The car so that each side carries hall dOul
and half single seats an arrangement win
secures a proper balance of weight VIII
the car is full.
Uniformity of gauge in the railways
any country is undoubtedly desideratu
and II the narrow gauge ls 10 be genera
adopted, its exact width should be fixed
custom or law. The Massachusetts statl
prescrbes three feet; and this Is the gene
narrow gauge Of tine United States Forei
authorities seem TO incline to three feet
inches, apparently on the grounds that
requirement of boilers and tre-box
Cspecially where wood Is the fuel, exclt
lie narrower gauges. Tie Queensla
railways of Australia, some lines in Inc
the Toronto, Grey and Bruce, aud
Toronto and Nepissing, Of Canada, and
government railroads Of Norway, all baV
81 feet gauge.
We hear no complaints, however, as
boilers aud flre-boxCs from our Ameri
lines: and a. to accommodation OF passeng
our narrower gauge appears TO be Il
equal TO the other. In fact a car seven
wide will accommodate three persons an
rang.way; giving each person Is inc
and a foot additional width will do no m
According TO Charles Douglas Fox,
MESSENGER cars on the three feet six inch re
are 80 feet long and feet six inches "
and carry but 80 passengess; while, as
have shown, the Jackson II Sharp cal
feet long and feet wide, carries 81. Cal
comparisons OF prolonged practice betv
the Canada railways (built by Fox) and
own, must determine permanently w
gauge is the best. So lar, our Amer
preference seems TO be sufficiently
founded.
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