The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1875-04-20
written for The Spirit of Democracy.
COLUMBUS LETTER.

CoLUMBUs, OAIo, April 6, 1875.
ED. SPIRIT; During the past two weeks
] have had several interviews with Sena-
tor Hathaway. of Chardon, on the sub.
ject Of Narrow-Gauge Railroads. He
was one Of the original projectors of the
Youngstown and Lake Erie Narrow
Gauge Railroad, which is the pioneer
narrow-gauge road in Ohio. He has
been director of the road ever since it's
organization, and is perfectly familiar
with the advantages of this kind of road
over the standard gauge road.
l now propose to give you the facts I
learned from him-abridging them so as
to come within the limits of one article,
not too lengthy, and use as near his Ian
guage as can. The Youngstown aud
Lake Erie Railroad was built to give an
outlet to the country through which it
passes, and for carrying coal from
Youngstown to points along its line 1t
was the beginning Of new system OF
roads in Ohio tor the purpose of local
work, and in developing a section of
country that was suffering for want Of
railroad facilities.
Great difficulties were to be encoun-
tered in the doubts Of the people along
the line, of its ever being built.or wheth-
er it would not be too Insignificant for
the purposes if it was built, or if built
and was success as a railroad would il
be supported by the travel and products
that passed over it. In other words.
would it pay2
All these objections were overcome,
and the road was built at cost Of about
one-half the expenses of the building of
ordinary roads at the present time, ex
cept one mile of the road where an i'm
pediment was to be overcome, which has
not been in the way of any other road
in Ohio; there are numerous bridges
on this road. The building of it has de
monstrated that similar road through
ordinary country in Eastern Ohio can be
built ready for the iron rails at from SS,-
900 to $4,000 per mile. The steepest
grade on this road is 934 feet to the
mile; much heavier grade can, if ne.
cessary, be overcome. The cost Of fur
nishing road of this kind with rails and
equipping it with machinery, is about
one half the cost OF ordinary roads.
The expense of transferring loads from
narrow-gauge to ordinary gauge is from
three to ten cents per ton, except furni
ture and such articles; coal,iron ore and
such articles can be transferred at three
cents per car load. In carrying most Of
the articles that are carried, a narrow
gauge Car will carry as much as can be
put into car ON the ordinary gauge
This is saving of Eve tons on the
weight of the Car, and in the return of
empty, cars the weight is just half the
weight of ordinary gauge. The ,passen-
ger coaches on this road are all first
class J; o part of.them are narrow, but
convenient, double-seated; the others
are alternate, double and single, and &C.
commodate from thirty to forty-six per
sons They cost about %, 900 per coach
Another advantage is, that side tracks
may, without inconvenience,be put down
at any point along the line, and cars de-
tached and loaded,t to accommodate ship.
pers.
What has been the advantages Of this
road The money to build it was raised
along the line of the road, and was paid
to the people along the line for the work
in building the road none of it went out
of the country it Only exchanged hands
and gave ready employment to men that
would have otherwise been partially en-
ployed In times like the present. The
road was bonded to pay for iron and
equipments The effect on the valuation
of real estate, in the country through
which 1t passes, was to increase 1t fifty
per gnt. The effect on produce and
iturketing Was to bring them within a