The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1871-12-01
NARROW GAUGE RAILWAYS.


~ NARROW GAUGE RAILWAYS.
The question of cheap railways or greater
facilities for cheap and expeditions local
traffic in the State, will continue to impress
itself upon the attention Of our people more
and more every.year, until some solution
is reached by them in the practical problem
to be solved. We copy below the more
salient points Of an article which we clip
from late number of the Country Gentle
man, in order that our readers may be in
formed of the progress making in other
parts of the country, in the matter of cheap
transit and transportation. Virginia, from
the lay of her hills and mountain ranges
and the course of her rivers, is especially
interested in the question Of narrow gauge
railways, as feeders to the main trunk rail-
roads Of the State, and her interest in that
direction will increase in ratio quite as
rapid as that which shall attend her popu-
lation. gef a.h
We trust that the landholders Of Virgin
ia will ere long appreciate the Importance
of constructing lateral narrow gauge rail-
ways, such as the Farmville, Charlottes-
vile and Stanardsvillc line already project
ed. The cost of construction in Virginia will
be much less than in Colorado, where labor
is scarce and consequently expensive, and
transportation of rails and other equipment
materials is costly by reason of distance
from the seaboard points of supply.
A railway of two and half feet gauge
would be sufficient for ordinary lateral
lines in Virginia, and it is fairly presumable
that such road could be constructed and
equipped, for local traffic, at an expense
not much exceeding $4,000 per mile.
The entire amount required could be OBJ
tanned from the sale of bonds prcdicated
upon lands subscribed in aid of the road !;
the lands being held in trust by prominent
financial gentlemen, for sale to actual set
tiers, and the proceeds to be faithfully APP
4 piled towards the redemption of the bonds.
There can be no question but that such
subscription made by the landowners
along the line of the road to the amount of
one-ffth of their lands, would, by securing
the construction of the road render their re-
manning four-fifths much more valuable than
tile whole would be without such construc-
ton. The only point to be guarded against
\ by the landowners along the different lines
of road, is carefully to see that they do not,
by any possible contingency, involve their
lands generally by their subscriptions, but
only such portion as is actually intended to
be pledged for the construction Of such
railways.
The enhancing power Of a railroad over
the value of real estate is far greater than
most people readily perceive. At points
remote from ready market it more than
4 doubles the value of real estate, in the
profits made therelrom; while in hardly
any case can it fall as low as one-fifth such
value. sNtN asses
But we return to the article of the Coun-
trv Gentleman, which is as follows:
4 While engineers and scientific gentlemen have
4 been demonstrating that narrow guage railways
never could succeed In this country, and the EN-
tire influence of the existing railroad interest has
been against the narrow guage, the various pro-
iects for narrow gauge railways In Colorado,
Kansas and Canada have been quietly but rapid
ly put in practical operation, without Land
grants, and with only such help as coma .Fde
4 stockholders contributed.
A correspondent of the Country Gentleman,
writing of the Denver and Rio Gr,tnde Marrow
'On the afternoon of August IA, the frst train
of cars that had ever been made up in this coun.
try to run on a narrow gauge track was prepared
for our party, who enjoyed run Of a little over
three miles, in the handsome passenger car
There was also smoking and baggage car at
tached to the tender and engine. The track il
only three feet in width, and the rails are only
half the weight of those on the wide gauge We
had followed the road-bed most of tho way from
Colorado Springs TO Denver; the ties were laid
nearly the whole way, and now we gladly availed
ourselves OF the opportunity to see the track
1 laid, which was not nearly SO laborious work Is
that we witnessed on the Atlantic and Pacific
road in the Indian territory. Then the party re-
turned to the city, and before leaving the com.
modious ear partook Of d collation. OF fruits from
4 The Pacific slope, and listened 10 an account OF
the road its origin, process and cost.
This road it seems is built without d grant OF
land from the government, and will be, when
completed, nearly 900 miles tn length, running
for the most part through an unbroken wilder
ness. For nearly half it's length it runs parallel
with the river whence it takes its name and II
passes through mining region OF great extent
and value. Its average cost per mile, including
equipments, Is $4,000 Foreign eaptalists have
invested In its securities, and the English stock
holders furnished the rails, in payment OF their
stock The Kansas Pacific railroad averaged
$2s 500 per mile. The gauge Is 20h inches less
than that of the Pennsylvania railroad The en-
gnes were built at Philadelphia, at the Baldwin
Works, and weigh only 10000 lbs while full
sized locomotives weigh $780, and the tender
weighs only 6,000 lbs. The passenger cars were
built at Wilmington, and are models Of beauty
and elegance; they are painted in dark colors.
like the Pullman Palace ears, and are fitted up
I. with taste. They are decidedly narrower than
the regular cars and seat three persons instead OF
4 four on a line two the side OF the passage
way and one ON the other. This arrangement
alternntes from the centre of the car making the
weight equal The single seat fronts the double
on the opposite side, being favorable for con-
ycrsatiop. They run very easily, tho motion be-
ing quite steady ns thai of the best wide gauge
railway in the country, and the height from tho
track is less. 1t does seem as II the danger from
accident would be less, for should two trains
clash together, the momentum would be less.
The passenger cars will seat SIS persons, are 6h
feet inside width, ~ feet high from floor 10 cell
ing and IS feet long. The train appeared very
diminutiye alongside of the broad gauge cars
4 yet its cars ara comfortable in all their be-
I longings and the short trial trip was very much
4 enjoyed by all the participants. The narrow
gauge is decided success, and the GROWERS who
have declared that its engines could not draw
good-szed trains, and make good speed, must
cease their complaints suppress their groans."
As laterais to the broad gauge, these roads will
Il prove of the greatest service, opening up the
farming resources of old and new States, md