The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1871-08-24
NARROw-GAUGE RAILROADS.

We copy the following from the Philadel-
pha Press, believing the subject possesses
great interest to many of our. readers, and
that the construction of .narrow-gauge rail-
roads should be canyassed more, generally
and earnestly by the people than has hither-
to been the case. developing the re-
sources of Virginia" is sounded and re-
sounded in our ears but too many of
those who talk most glibly on this talking
subject, overlook practicable means, and
dwell exclusively upon those which, while
promising grander results, are impractica-
BILE Of execution. !" u. 3il Aitia.
That narrow-gauge railroads would de-
velope the resources of Virginia TO the
great enhancement of individual and State
wealth, none deny. The question is,
whether means can be raised to construct
them; and as a road of this class of capac-
ity sufficient for ordinary local transport
tation, can be built and equipped at cost
of 81, 900 to $4,000 per mile, and suitable
for first-class traffic, at a cost Of $4,000
TO $4,000 per mile by liberal subscrip-
ton Of land, in aid, and careful manage
ment of those lands as basis for issue
Of bonds, together with '.bonuscs of bonds
from townships along the respective lines"
placed on the market at par, or even 10
per cent. discount for per cent. stock !;
the question becomes simply one of honest,
active management on the part of directors.
There arc many undeveloped portions of
Virginia, where the advanced value of lands
along lines of narrow-gauge railroads,
would exceed the entire amount expended
for construction: ut
NARRow-GAUGE RAILROADS IN CANADA. Ifi
set us an example which the communities of this
vicinity, we think, will not be slow in following
when the whole subject of narrow-gauge roads
has become fully understood The people of To-
,onto and the population of the neghboring
counties have combined 10 secure the constIuc-
zion of several hundred miles of railroad which
is looked upon only as the beginning of net
work of roads soon 10 permeate the whole conn.
Try The charter for the, first of these was
passed in 1868, and in 1860 construction was be-
gun under the supervision OF The eminent en-
lineering firm of London, Sir Charles Fox & Son,
.fhe lines largely built by local subscription,
and by bonuses of bonds from townships along
the respective lines, 1t may be mentioned for
The edification of those of our own population
who endeavor to soil county and town bonds
which have been donated for railroad purposes
that many of these Canadian twenty-y year 9 per
cent. bonds have found a market at from lotto
103. ~
The Toronto and Nepissing railway company
is constructing Il road from Toronto northward
81 miles to tap the Gull River Navigation, with
a branch Is miles to the town of Lindsay III is
intended hereafter TO extend this line 100 miles
further TO the north. The Toronto, Grey and
Bruce railway has completed a considerable por
ten of line which viii be 200 miles long reach
ing Lake Huron. at Kncardine and Owens
Sound will compete with the Northern of Cana
da lColiingwood) for the. through Western trade
1'he lines pass through d broker country with
high SUBMITS to silI1nonnt; gradients of lO4 feet
are sometimes used, and curves OF $50 feet ra-
t'fus. The average amount of earthwork Is 49,
C0Oeuhic yards per mile, cuttings are fifteen feet
TX inches, ana embankments twelve feet six
inches wide at formation level: width of bridges
! etween pafapets eleven feet. Ea-.il III 80
The rails are of iron 40 lbs, laid on ties feet
inches long by inches inches placed feet
inches apart !. gauge, feet inches Mr. Fl- |
mund Wrifgge, who was one of the engineers of
the Victoria Bridge, and who within the mast
week has visited, in company with Mr.. Fox of
London, the locomotive and other establishments
OF Philadelphia is chief engineer OF these lines
and originator of many important dmt,ivyemenf
connected with their construction and mainte-
nance.