The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1871-06-23
Narrow Gauge Railroads.
"a true copy.l
JNo. II. FREEMAN, Clerk.

As narrow gauge railroads are attract
ing more than ordinary attention, we
give below what distinguished civil en-
gineer writing from New York says: On
narrow gauge, now in actual operation,
the cars carry three tons of load to one of
car weight, while on the broader gauge
the cars carry only about one ton Of
freight to one ton of car weight. But
even If we assume that the carrying ca
pacity Of the narrow gauge be two Of load
to one of car tonnage, end that Of the
broader one to one and apply this to min
eral or coal hauling in which the cars are
empty returning from market, and loaded
going 20, we find that two hundred tons of
freight viii require one hundred narrow
gauge train to pass twice over every mile,
being one half ton of car to one ton of
load each way, or added together, there
will be total of non-paying hauling
done over each mile of road Of one ton of
dead weight to one ton of paying weight.
In the broader gauge two hundred tons
OF freight will require two hundred tons
Of dead weight, and this hauled both WAYS
will give one ton each way, or added to-
gether, two tons of dead weight to one
ton of paying weight hauled over each
mile-that is TO say, two tons of total
haulage over the narrow gauge will give
one ton of paying weight as against three
tons of total haulnge over the broader
gauge giving one ton of paying weight
Therefore, in this view, the saving in
hauling is fifty per cent of the total load,
80 that if it cost one half cent per ton
per mile to move train, one ton of
freight, on the broader gauge, costs one
and half cents per ton each mile against
one cent per ton each mile on the narrow
gauge
The actual economy of working narrow
gauge lines is fully established from the
experience of those already in operation
in Europe. The lightness of the locomo-
tivcs and cars causes also a great saving
in the cost Of mainte nance Of way.
Freight and passenger cars can ba
hauled over a narrow gauge line at saw
ing Of from one-third to one half of the
actual cost Of the usual four feet
eight and half inch gauge, and that the
narrow gauge roads can be constructed
Mt about One-half the cost of the broader
So that not only will the original capital
needed be reduced one-half, and at rates
twenty five per cent less, but the profits
to the road proprictors will be largely in,
creased.
1.-THE conclusions drawn from the ex-
perience of the narrow-gnuge roads now
in operation, can be depended on, viz
the reduction of cost in carrying freight
fifty per cent, the distance from Mem
phis to Kansas City and other Western
cities may be, so far as relates to cost of
carrying freight, lessened about one half
1t may be proper to add that the EN-
porOr Of Russia has sent 4 commission
to England, who have examined all the
facts relating to narrow gauge roads, and
have reported 80 favorably that the sys-
TEN has been inaugurated in Russia
In the estimates Of cost above given
that of the right of way constitutes a
large sum. Here people will gladly give
the right Of way and share of their land
in order to have saleable lots fronting on
the road. Therefore these LOIS will cost
less here than in mere densely populated
States
In the engineers estimate Of the cost Of
the narrow gauge road from Cape Girar-
deau to the Iron Banks, in Bollinger
county, Missouri, il lie stated that the en-
tire width of the right of way is but thirty
feet; but the cutting, where it runs
/ through forests, is only twelve feet. The
road bed is but six feet wide on top, and,
in many instances, the curves are net
more than two hundred feet radius. The
estimate of the cost of one mile finished,
is thus given by the engineers:
Cleaning track half distance 500 per mile g 100 %
Grading six feet wide at tsp ............ LOO o.
$40 ties feet long, l2z cents each. 4s7 90