The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1872-11-28

Ne Narrow casgs lsllfsaA.
For some time, shs question Of three
feet guage for sailroads, be- been At
tracing the atasstion Of railroad men.
On The mountains il tAe West, this
gnage has besa adopted - sons routes,
With entire Satisfaction; sad the idea Of
adopting it on nsss sastssiy routes has
been considered With favor. A track
i graded from Galsna to Plattyille in
our State with view TO The three feet
guage. In Iowa, some sixteen miles has
been completed, west Of 4cGregor, and
u running successfully. Il was to speak
briefly Of this road, that We commenced
this article.
Last week, in company with Gov.
Washburn. We visited Iowa for the ex-
press purpose Of examining . specimen
Of the narrow, or three foot guage rail-
road. Under the immediate superintend-
ence of Judge WilIisms Of xcGregoT, .
road of this Kind, sixteen miles 10 length,
has been completed, and has been in use
something over month. II il known
- the Iowa Eastern"
It now runs from the point Of junction
with the St Paul road, some eight miles
west Of McgreGor, and passes through .
fine country to Alkader, distance Of
sixteen miles. We passed over this road
and through the politeness Of the
officers learned some Of the nd.
vantagss claimed for il. In the first
place, its construction will not cost more
than three-6fths a much, cheaper, the
iron may be much lighter, 80 70 IS h
being deemed heavy enough the rolling
stock can be procured much cheaper;
an engine weighing from II to Is tons
being all sufficient; the running sxpens.
Is arc vastly cheaper; the wear Of road
10 much less. These advantage can
readily Be imagined and II the road can
do tho business Of the country, the de-
cision must be in their favor without ar-
gument.
1t is not claimed, that % large IN
amount Of business can Be done on the
three feet guage road, that can be done
on ono of the common guage, il both
arc crowded to their fullest caparity, bat
it is claimed that . certain amount Of
business can Be done ut about ono
half Of the expenses; and that the
amount of business that can BE- done,
will be ample for many of the lines in
the country. Our own impression, from
. careful investigation Of the matters,
is, that this claim, in favor Of the mar
row guage road, is we'll founded. We
do not concur with the ardent friends
Of the new system, that it is to become
the established guagc of the country,
within short time. This is asking too
much for II. But that it will DO found
practicable and profitable for many Of
the leading lines, VIC have no doubt. Its
cheapness commends il. It can DO built
and sustained, through many sections Of
the country, where the common guage
road would never be constructed. and
will be ampc for the business Of such To-
calities. ..
The Iowa Eastern, under charge of
Judge Williams, has been constructed in
the best manner. We never passed over
. road-espccially new one-that runs
so smoothly rs this one. The m Ition "a
very slight. 1t would hardly interrupt
writing, and does not inerfere at all with
reading. 1t is tho intention to press on
in the constructions Of this limo to Des
MOines and Lcavenworth, etc. Its
friends are ssnguineof It's complete sue
cess; and We nee no good reason why it.
shall not fulfill reasonable expectations.
We were highly gratiied with the trip,
and desire to cxpross our obligations to
Judge Williams for his many kindnesses.
We would also commend our Wisconsin
friends who are curious or interested in
this subject, to visit this line Of road and
We can assure them kind treatment from
Judge Williams, and will receive from
him . largo amount of information per-
tanning to the marrow guage railroad
system.
We trust the route now started from
Galcna into this State will be prosecu-
Ted along the cid military ridge, - it 10
called, to Madison. We believe il 10 the
,tyle of road tor that route. Let friends
examine WiscoSsis State Journal.