Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1872-08-01
The Railroad Meeting.

ShCNI'HS anu beuSlOle speech al
the courthouse last Thursday in
advocacy of the Fayetteville and
Columbia Narrow-Gauge Road.
His arguments were unanswerable,
in their soundness and common
sense applicability. He showed
by "facts and figures" that the
proposed road can be built for a
small sum, when compared with
past railroad experience-that it
will run through a country that
possesses scarcely a yard of sterile
soil, thus insuring an abundance
of produce, that is now inaccessi-
bic to any market; and these ship.
ments will increase in magnitude
aud value each season that the
road is operated. Immense guam
titles of ceda: timber, equal to any
in The world, slate rock for roofing,
etc., sand stone, limestone for
building, etc, would seek a mar.
ket over the road, all of which are
now comparatively valueless, be-
cause beyond the reach of foreign
purchasers. The cost of construc.
ton, as already mentioned, will be
far less than the broad gauge, and
the necessary repairs will show q
corresponding diminutiOn. In OPP.
Grating, the figures also show q
large balance in favor of the mar.
row-gauge. The power being util.
iSed, and the rolling stock made
light, there is less dead weight 10
carry; consequently, freight can be
reduced, (Which always tends to
increase the amount of business
done, and yet leave larger pro.
fit to the stockholders than under
the present system. Narrow
gauge locomotives have sufficient
power and speed TO answer the
general requirements. They are
doing it daily, and are operated
for about % per cent. less, than
the broad gauge. The passenger
cars furnish every requisite called
for by the first class coach; they
ride exceedingly steady, with less
lateral or oscillating motion than
we are accustomed to, and carry
less dead weight to each passenger
than has heretofore been deemed
possible. They are sure to be-
come favorites with the travelling
public, because, in addition tc
what has been said, they can
afford reduced rates of fare. Stock
men of experience now say that
they would prefer to seEd their
stock TO market in narrow gauge
cars, because so many are not put
together, and the danger of cattle
getting down is much less, while
they can be attended to and fed
much better. The narrow gauge
railway is by far the best means
for a general and quick develop.
ment of our resources, for the fol
lowing reasons
l. Costing only about one-half
as much as the broad gauge, it is
within the means of all sections to
build them; hence will enable them
to avail themselves of railway ia.
cilities, where otherwise they will
be compelled to dispense with them
2. From their small cost, light
operating expenses, and small in.
terest account they will prove to
be paying investments.
8. They will supply the great
want OF the age, cheap transporta.
ton.
4. Cheapening transportation,
they will develop dormant inter,
ests more rapidly than our pres
ent costly structures with their
high rates can possibly do.
5. Their general adoption in
sections without railway facilities
will enhance the value of proper
ties largely in excess of their cost.
6. Penetrating those sections,
and rapidly developing their re-
sources by low rates, they will
bring large new business to the
broad gauge r4ads, enabling them
10 reduce their rates and thereby