The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1871-09-14
RAlLieAl MrfIxG.

ing F. A. Wildman, Esq, chairman, and
E. W. Ober, secretary.
A few remarks were made by J. C.
Terry asking the definite object of the
meeting.
r. H. Bishop stated that it was to con
slider the course to be taken in behalf OF
the Kansas Central Railroad Company
known to us as the Leavenworth "har
row guage," and to give the report Of
the committee which went to Leaven
worth week since upon some business
Mr.. Anthony being called on stated
that about two months previous the
Leavenworth Narrow Guage had pre-
scented it's claims to the people of Leav'
enworth county, and they had been most
thoroughly investigated and approved
by all that their route was to be from
Leavenworth through to Clay county,
and on direct to Denver City from Clay
county up Solomon Fork, and also in a
southwestern direction through Saline
county to the big bend of the Arkansas
connecting with the Denver & Rio
Grande Railroad. (Which has already
1000 miles of road contracted) thereby
giving Salina competing line east and
west, and at the same time opening up
the country north and south; that lines
were under operation from the eastern
terminus ofthe road to both Chicago and
st. Louis, giving a complete competing
line both east and west; that 100 miles
of road would be completed inside of a
year, and Que hundred miles each year
until they reach Denver; that Jackson
county had voted 100000 in bonds, Pot
tawatOmic, $3.50, 900, that Riley would
pay literally, and $4,000 was desired
Of Saline, payable in 30 years, bearing Z
per cont, payable semi-annually to the
Farmers Loan and Trust Company of
New York City at the completion Ofthe
road to Salina, $4,000 is to be paid, and
at the completion of the road to the
south border of our county the balance
is to be paid them, they agreeing to tap
the south border of this county inside of
IL months F; the bonds to be put in the
hands OF trustees who are as much the
agents of the company as the county,
and held until the railroad ia completed
according to the contract that the mon
ey was ready to build the road, cars, en-
gines, and heay iron bad been ordered,
and that they meant immediate work.
J. II. Prescott asked Capt. Anthony
to explain the advantage of the narrow
guage" over the abroad guage.' if there
is any.
Capt. Anthony said that it can be built
for one-half the money, saving large
amount ofinterest. The committee on
the New York Central Railroad, some
time previous, had stated that ~ feet
guage could be built l2l per cent. cheap
or than a feet guage, and that the dit
ference between feet guage and one
of 4 feet 8! inches, is 33I per cent; also
feet guage being so much narrower
reduces the friction and weight; that
broad guage freight car would weigh 10
tons and carry 10 tons of freight, while
a narrow guagc would weigh but y tons
and carry 5 tons of freight; therefore
the narrow guage carries 2 tons offreight
one of dead weight, and the broad guage
but one. Three narrow guage cattle
cars weigh the same as one ofthe broad,
and will carry "a head while the broad
guage will carry but IL, and every mer-
chant and shipper could be Accommodated
by car rates on 8 head of cattle or TO-
900 pounds of freight that narrow
guage would save enough to build
couple tracks across the State of Kansas
nv the time there was a demand for 1t.
In India 500 miles of2l feet guage is
in successful operation. Skillful engin-
GERS have compared and say that they
can build a double track across the State
Of New York and carry passengers at l
cent per mile and make dividends when
the New York Central at its present
rates can not. The Pennsylvania Cen
trail are already making preparations TO
Law a narrow guage track inside OF their
old track and running narrow guage
trains en- tirely. A broad guage engine
weighs 80 tons, and its tender IA, while
a narrow suage weighs but and has 8
the power Of the large, no waste ofpower
and is built close, compact and durable,
and by compressed air can run trains
successfully with two or three men,
thereby saving great expense that 1t is
worth more than a 6 feet guage as 1t
runs cheaper, and it is not TO ride in
mansion that the people OF Kansas want,
hut cheap freights and fare; that it will
turn a curve at the rate Of "a miles an
hour with less danger than the broad
guage ut Il. In Wales p feet guage
is run success fully at the rate of a. mixes
an hour. and with the improvements of
Yankee enterprise may its speed not be
increased.
Mr.. Snead made some remarks in fav-
Of a competing line, and in favor Of the
narrow guage.
Mr.. Anthony said Kansas should make
law preventing parallel lines from
consolidating, and thought there was
was no possible show Of this road con-
solidating with any other.
Mr.. Prescott spoke in favor off COM
mittee Of FIVE being appointed 10 take
charge of the proposal left by Mr.. An
thonv.
1t was moved and carried that said
committee Of FIVE be appointed and in
structed to take charge of. the contract.
and present it at the earliest possible
convenience TO the county commission