Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1872-03-13
Narrow Gnnge Rallways-.No. I.


be experimental on the contrary SO success
al have they become that public attention
has been drawn to them, and thoughtiul pru-
dent man are asking, why every section may
not have its railway when they can be built
at such cheap rates. Very few persons
state the correct problem to themselves or
the public when they proceed to build a rail
way. They ask how much money can be
commanded for the work whereas, they
should ascertain the least amount for which
it can be built, keeping in view the amount
Of traffic that the line may reasonably expect
to command. Disguise the fact as we may
is unqucstionably true that our railways have
capacity far beyond our wants, and that
common sense and true economy dictate that
we cease to squander our scant means in
building huge, costly structures, with ca.
pacity at least from FIVE to ten times greater
than our business demands structures that
cannot be made to pay, or, if SO, at a fearful
cost upon the industries Of the country.
Major Adelskod, State Engineer Of Swe
den. closes a recent report as follows " II
every case where the narrow gauge road.
have been built they have realized every cx
pectation, and deem it a waste Of capital t,
build broader gauges, when a narrower an,
cheaper will meet all requirements. Thel
can easily be built and at such cost that
with but small amount Of traffic, they ar
not only able to cover the cost Of operating
them, but pay good interest on the capita
invested"
Gen W. S. Rosccrans, in a recent lette
on the subject Of narrow guage railroads, give
some very interesting calculations, whie
show that if the railroads Of the Unite
States, down to the end of 1861 had bee
built on the narrow guagc plan, the saving
first cost would have been $3.50, 000,0 600, th
annual interest Of which at 6 per ceut.
/ SOS, 500 900, and the annual saving in hau
age would have been sl00s00,000; in a
an annual saving to the people Of the Unite
States Of 500 600 600. He shows rurth,
that 4 much greater saving is in the questiC
Of the future Presumng that all the stat
are TO be as well furnished with railroads as Il
state Of Ohio, there will be a total length
lG5. 800 miles, and the annual saving on tn
length of roads in the narrow guage syste
would he s547 $40 515. which would nav {
orr present national debt in about five wear
Can any possible advantage which Il
broad puapo system offers. either real or ia
cied over the narrow. COMPENSATE the neon
or the Tpitod States for this enormous ext
expenditure of capital2
100
u II should be kept ID remembrance To
the country has had but two Republican "a
muistratlons--the four years oil mat oil NJ
Lincoln aud three years OF that oil &c
Grant. 1t is true we had hepupI'can 20
gress during the administration OF Andre
johnson but the executive became SO e''e
TALLY Democratic through It's treachery as
etleetually neutrali7e the power oil the Il
publican majority IN Congress during that
mlnistration. The administration OF n
Lincoln was charged with the DUTY oil su
! pressing an armed rebellion against the %
S stitution aud the Union WIN what adm
and fidelity 1t fulfilled It's trusts we need
say Its record Is one OF when no par
Gen. Grant was charged with redeemng t
$ national debt and establishing our impair
credit Gen Grant found the national de
5 Of 80 500. 463 26O. less cash in the Treasu
On this the nation was paving monthly