Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1872-06-25
KENNEBEC AND WISC4SSET Raj
ROAD.+

| II.
| We have before us pamphlet giving
concise history of narrow gauge railroads, and
a statement of facts in connection with the
projected narrow guage road from Wiscas-
set to Augusta. The pamphlet originated
through letter signed by Mayor Eveleth and
several others of the leading citizens of Au-
gusta, addressed to Henry Ingalls,, President
of the Kennebec and Wiscasset Railroad
Company, asking from him a statement OF
the present condition and prospects of the en-
terprise, also information relative to the ad-
vantage Of three feet gauge compared
with a four feet eight and e-haf inches
gauge.
| The preliminary surveys for the road are
all completed The route of the road is from
Wiscasset, through Alma, Whi.efeld and
Chelsea, to either Gardiner or Augusta. If
it goes to Gardiner it will pass through the
town Of Pittston after leaving Chelsea The
company have right TO connect their road
with the Portland and Kennebec or with the
Somerset and Kennebec Railroads, and are
authorized to extend their road from White
field. and TO connect with the Bangor and
Piscataquis or any other railroad in its line.
To aid the building of the road the Leg
slature has authorized the following towns
and cities to issue bonds, payable in twenty
years, at three per cent. sem-annual interest
ofthe accompanying amounts; Dresden, $50
600; Alma, $4,000; Whitetield, $3.50, 1000;
Pittston, $4,000; Gardiner, $50, 900; Chel-
sea, 49,, 900; Augusta, $3.50 900
The advantages to Augusta will be its close
and immediate connection with one of the
best seaports on the coast Of Maine, giving it
an outlet by water at all seasons of the year
for produce and traffic, lessening the cost of
transportation, and particularly affecting the
place as manufacturing centre.
A valuable chapter upon the importance of
railroads" is introduced, showing their growth,
their advantage in economy over the common
road and the manner in which they de velope
the growth of business and communities.
This is followed by n history and discussion
of the gauge question. The war of the gauges
in our own State is noticed, also table is
given Of the different gauges in the world,
and the gauge of each railroad in Maine. We
have but two gauges, the f., 50 inches, and
8 f., inches.
The pioneer Of narrew gauge roads appears
to be the Festinog Railway, in North Wales.
The gauge of this is nominally two feet. but
falls one inch short. The face of the coun-
try through which it runs is very irregular,
SO that there are curves of 1872 it., grades of 20
#. to the mile, filings Of colt, and cuttings of
| q it,, yet trains are run with ease and safety
at a speed of fifteen or twenty miles 10 the
hour. To this followed other narrow gauge
roads as it was found to be success. They
now exist in Norway, India Australia, Swe-
den, France, and America. In this country
the three feet gauge has been adopted in Indi
ana, Illinois, Iowa, Wisconsin, Nebraska
New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Massa-
chusetts, Montana, idaho, California, Geor-
gia, Alabama, Ohio, Nevada, West Virginia,
Pennsylvania, Colorado, Tennesee and Ar
kansas. Massachusetts, has recently COM
menced upon the first narrow gauge road
within the State. Pennsylvania has several
and the Pennsylvania Central Company is
building more. They are growing more rap
idly in the West than East. A convention of
engineers and railroad men who favor the
narrow gauge is now in session at St. Louis.
comprising some ofthe most distinguished men
in the country. A letter is given, containing
facts about the construction and working of
the Denver and Rio Grande Railway, which
runs from Denver to the City of Mexico, a
distance of 600 miles, and ascends the summit
of the great COLORADO divide" 5000 #. above
the level of The sea. Seventy-six miles are
completed and in operation. For u miles
the grade is nearly IS IT. to the mile. The
cuttings and entertainments are heavy and
there is much rock, but the cost Of the road
well equipped is but Sl4 900 per mile Trains /
have been run up to thirty and thrty-fiye /
nmies per hour, with ease-the average speed
Is twenty miles per hour. The capacity of
the road is nearly or quite equal TO that of
the broader gauges.
An examination into the relative cost of
roads OF the three feet and four feet eight and
one-half inches shows the former to be much
less. The average cost Of roads in Maine is
$780, 900 per mile. The three feet gauge
would have reduced their cost $4,000 per
mile, if the estimates OF reliable parties are to