Knoxville journal. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1874-1986, 1874-12-24
Narrow Gunge Railroads.

favor wherever the people have OPP
portunities for observing their oper-
atoms ami results. And this popu-
lar favor appears to be awarded up
on good grounds. They are success
full wherever they have been tried.
The Des Moines & Minnesota Narrow
Guage road, from Des Moines to
Ames, is probably the only short
road in Iowa that is paying expen-
ses and interest on its cost. 1t does
this and makes fair dividends. The
same is true Of the roads of this class
in Colorado and elsewhere.
A narrow guage road from Keokuk
to Mt. Pleasant is now seriously con-
templated by the business men OF
those cities who are sufficiently acute
to see the folly Of investing $4,000
to SAC, 600 per mile in broad guage
road that can never pay interest on
its cost, when they can build mar
row guage road for $1,000 to $4,000
that will do the same work and
make money for its owners.
At the late session OF the State
Grange special committee was APP
pointed to examine the ID. d M. Mar
row Guage railway, and report such
information as might in their judg-
ment be OF interest to the body, as to
cost, construction, financial success,
etc. The committe made the follow
ing very fattering report:
Worihy Master.---Your committee,
appointed in compliance with an in
vitation of the Superintendent OF the
Narrow Guage Railway, respectfully
report as follows:
We passed over said railway from
Des Moines to Ames and back, leav-
ing Des Moines at Ill O'Clock this
morning and arriving on our return
at about 8 O'Clock this evening. Our
examination Of course could be but
partial. We gathered what informa-
ton we could from every source. We
talked with citizens along the line,
and at the stations, also with officers
Of the road; and from all we can
learn, we pronounce the road a
complete success in every particu-
lar.
The cost Of tile road, complete,
with rolling stock included, Is about
81 900 per mile. 1t Is now doing
business sufficient to pay expenses,
invest n large amount Of its earnings
i'm water tanks, building round-house
and side tracks and switches, and at
the same time keep its bonds at par
by satisfying the interest thereon.
The principal advantage of the
Narrow over the Broad Guage is in
the cost Of construction. 1t can be
built and equipped at just about one
half the cost, and Is sufficient TO do
the business anywhere, unless 1T be
where a through trunk line Is re-
CURED.
We would recommend that sur
port and encouragement he given TO
the Narrow Guage enterprise Wher-
ever railroads are needed TO faciii-
tate transportation i'm our State.
Many parts OF the State are embar.
raised and suffering for railroad
facilities, which with proper encour-
agement and energy, could without
great difficulty build roads OF this
class; and they will answer every
purpose of the heavier and more
costly roads.
Your committee also offer their
thanks to the officers and employees
of said railway, for the kindness and
courtesy received at their hands.
Respectfully submitted,
JOHN WELLER, Chairman.
Des Moines, Dec. II, 1874.
Now we do not care to be charged
with any decided preference for mar
row guage roads over others, except
as to the matter of economy for the
builders, owners or operators. Short
local roads, to be built with local or
home capital, In the West, will
henceforth be mainly Of the narrow
gauge kind, however, and capital
will shun the broad guage because Of
the heavy interest account they en-
tail against the road. If we were to
choose for Knoxville between the
two, at the same cost, to be operated
by foreign company, we should Of
course prefer broad guage road.
But If largely and personally inter-
ested In its financial success, our
choice would be for narrow guage.
Or if we were to choose between a
road of the latter kind and none at
all for our town, we should choose
the road. Knoxville is now In such
situation that she cannot afford to
be very particular as to what sort of
q railroad she will have. If the Des
Moines company will extend their
narrow guage to Knoxville we can
afford to give every encouragement
and aid in the matter that is within
our power. We want an outlet for
our coal to the north, northwest and
west, and must have it; and every