The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1874-10-22


Narrow Gauge Railroads.
The prospect now is that the narrow
gauge road between Washington and
Wsynesburg, Pa, will be built The
Wsynesburg Republican Of this week an
nounces that only 5000 to $4,000 Of the
stock remains 10 DO taken in order TO have
enough means to get the road ready for
the rolling stock The people Of that
portion Of Greene andWashiugton counties
through which the road will pass, have
apparently resolved that despite the dull.
ness Of the times and the break down 81
so many railroad projects in diSetent
parts Of the country their enterprise snail
eliminate in success. They have shown
decided pluck and perseverance in keep
ing the movement alive and pushing 1t
forward to probable success.
And speaking Of this Waynesburg and
Washington narrow gauge road, leads us
to notice that It Is asserted by experts
that road ofthree feet gauge can carry
Ave tons Of paying freight on each car as
chesply as the ordinary gauge road can
carry the cars empty" An estimate made
with regard 10 the Lake Shore and Mich.
igan Southern Railroad, shows that
whereas 1t took $780, OLE tons Of dead
weight to transport 4 1882. si3 tons Of pay
ing freight, the gauge Of that road being
4 feet 81 inches, on o 0 foot gauge the
same weight Of psying freight could have
been carried by 1,7l723O tons Of dead
weight, or about one.third. And in the
case Of the Grand Rapids, GreenVille and
AlpenA Railroad, 1t is shown that, where
as the 1856 miles Of road would cost, if
built on tho foot 81 inch gauge, 49,
1874, on the plan Of the 8 foot gauge 1t
would cost only s3.595.532-a saw
ing approximstIng TO 40 per cent. The
latter road is, VIC believe, to be con-
structed on the narrow gusge principle.
Prince Edward Island British Province,
chiefly valuable for Its fisheries, though
endowed with rich soil, which is under
careful and general cultivation, has been
without railroad until the present year,
when the Prince Edward Island Railway
was commenced, TO run between the
towns oil Tignish and Georgetown, a dis.
lance OF 1Gl miles, with branch line Of
IS miles. The construction Of this road
Ia interesting In the present connection,
from the fact that it is being built on
narrow guage-3 feet 0 Understand this
alter Csreinl and extended investigation
on the part Of the Provincial Government,
by whom II ia being constructed. The
entire cost Of the main line OF this road is
estimated at $2.OH,OOO, and $50 miles
are expected to be completed before
Winter.
Railroads are in their iniaHcy-only
some forty years old in this country-Ard
we have much 10 learn about them. I'm.
doubtedly upon the question Of gauge We
have much 10 learn. The width Of a rail-
way has a direct bearing upon the vital
questions OF: Cost Of construction; cost
Of operating power OftractioD, or draugGt,
&c. The railroad world has rejected most
positively the wide gauges Of six and
seven feet. But without trial Of mar
rover gauge the decision seemed to be in
favor Of the 4 foot 81 inch railway.
The Richmond Dispatch in late arti.
Gle on this subject expresses the opinion
that the Narrow. gauge is taking hold on
public opinion and may become tic road
Of the future. 1t says that there can be
10 mistake about the capacity OF the mar.
row.gaugO way. 1t has been tested folly
in England and elsewhere, and in this
country on the Denver Narrow gauge
road and others. From official statements
VIC learn that thei Festiniog railroad, in
Wales, which is only foot III inches,
single track, transports annually 0,8sS
tons OF freight per mile, or nearly three
times as much as the average Of the roads
in the United States; and 1t is not employ.
cd to nesr its full capacity.
We cannot resist the sober, common
sense deduction from the facts, that where
cheap railway will do all the business
1t is, with the lights before US, folly to
build one that will cost one.third more
aud will require one.third more than the
nsrrow-gaugc-or cheap railwsy-to OPP
perste 1t.
That We may build cheap railways that
will do all we want them to do is a great
gain to society. Even if we contemplate
the necessity Of q double track, the argu.
ment gains force, for the comparative dit.
ference in favor of the narrow gauge is
further increased by every additional ex.
penditure.
Tho subject is exceedingly interesting.
It is well worthy the study Of the people,
II we can have railroads for third or a
halt the cost Of those VIC have heretofore
built, it will be great blessing to the
people.
TwoNEw Presidential candidates The
Cincinnati Gazette brings them both out
on the same day. Here they are: "There
Ia WnIIAM ORION. Why would not he
make as good President Of the United