The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1871-08-17
Col. Lows Report on the Narrow Gauge.

Ii was our intention to present summary OF
the points made in the report OF the Chief En-
ginecr, Col. James p. Low, to the Directors of
the Blue Ridge Railroad. In lieu OF preparing
this summary, however, VIC copy the following
from the Yorkvillc Enquirer:
He does not make the report as "!he plea of
an advocate of the new system, but rather the
result of the search of an enquirer" The facts
are ably and clearly presented and the result IS
such as to convince all who may read the re-
port that the subject is worthy the serious con-
ssideration of the people Of the State, and cspe-
cially those who have at heart the early COM
pletion and successful operation Gof this great
enterprise.
Col. Lows investigations of this subject
clearly demonstrate that all the early prejudl-
ces against the narrow gauge system have been
successfully overcome by forty years experience
in Europe, and that the same experience has
demonstrated the fact that all the excess of
capital involved in the building OF wider roads
has been wasted on works disproportiDned to
the duties they had to perform. He estimates
the probable cost Of completing the Blue Ridge
Railroad and furnishing it with rolling stock,
for the five feet gauge s7,54c,oO0,; to which
must be added, for retiring the old debt and
paving the floating debt, SSOO,0OO. Toward
this sum of $4,000 will be realized from the
four millions endorsed bonds, say, $4,000, 900;
leaving cash capital, to be raised, OF So, l4O,
900. The adoption of the three feet gauge, he
estimates, would. result in q saving on construc-
tion and equipment equal to 50, lao, 900, leaving
to be raised by cash subscription to preferred
stock only S2,0OO,0O0. 1t is also estimated that
the reduced working cost for the same amount
of traffic will allow the narrow gauge to pay
seven per cent on the investment, while on the
wider gauge only three per cent. could be real
lied.
The discussion leads COL Low to, the conclu-
sions-First. That the three feet gauge will
answer all the requirements of the prospective
traffic of the road. Second That the saving
in first cost will be immense, enough in fact, to
place the completion of the road within reach,
by raising S2,0O0,O0O Of additional capital,
while it seems impracticable to obtain the large
sum necessary for five feet line. Third,
That being built, the narrow gauge will be much
more economical in working, the expense being
only 521, instead of 10 per cent. of the gross
receipts.
These conclusions, so far as they relate to the
| requirements and expense OF railroads, are
alike applicable to every road in the southern @
States. And while all practical men will agree
with Col. Low, that the narrow gauge system
presents the most feasible plan for the construc-
ton of the Blue Ridge Road, it is also clear
that the public-stockholders and individuals.
would be benefited, were all our roads now In
operation to adopt the narrow gauge; as, quo
ting from the pamphlet before US: Every
inch added to the width of gauge, beyond
what is absolutely necessary for the traffic, adds
to the cost of construction, increases the pro.
portion of dead weight, increases the cost OF
working. and, in consequence increases the
tariffs to the public, and by so much, reduces
the useful effect of the railway"