Knoxville journal. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1874-1986, 1875-12-23


A plan Is just set on foot for the con
s,ruction of what are % be called Rural
Railroads." in France, which seems de-
serving Of notice. am not aware of q
similar description having been yet con-
tcmplated in America or any other eeun-
try. A first experiment OF the kind has
just been decided upon in the Department
OF the Seiuc-ct- Marine, and general bin
on the subject, which has been reported
on favorably by the Conseil d'EsaI viii
be submitted to the Assembly some time
after the reopening of the session The
project was first broached in the Society OF
Agriculture of France, by Mr.. Cnabrier, .
well-kneNn civil engineer, who has de.
voted much time and attention to il, and
il has since been adopted and patronized
both by that society and by great num-
Der of the Conseils Generaux OF tho de
partments, rs promising to afford NEST
valuable addition TO the means OF trans
port for their produce To the agricultural
districts
The proposition is for the construction
Of narrow lines of rural railroads, eff a
width OF one meter only instead of the
usual gauge of meter and halt along
the wide space which every traveller in
France must have observed ~ be land
sometimes wondered To seel leit on the
side OF almost every high road Now, al
present, the ordinary railroads transport
heavy goods at the rate of three or -four
confines tor less than cent? per ton per
kilometer; but they only do this under the
condition of allowing large accumulation
OF such To take place, and consequently u
great loss of time to be incurred at the
different stations or depots, and then send
ing of the whole in lump by one slow
heavy. goods train. Now, these "rural
railroads." economically constructed, and
without stations, or accommodations OF
any kind, profess 10 be able To replace
ordinary carriages, without any delays, at
two or three times less than the present cost.
They will connect the small towns and
villages and manufactures all over the
country. and carry of their produce, az
ricultural or other, ~ II is ready for trans
port. For their construction there will be
no need Of " acts Of Parliament, " or com
pulsory appropriations, or surveys, or
other expensive preliminaries, any more
than for costly contributions OF any kind
along the line. All that will be required
will be the " concession of the Ioadsides'
for the purpose by the Conseil Generate
OF The department, with the authority 10
INQUIRY, mere hhu lhtIc, inc lntllhcs Nhcn
too steep But the speed Is not intended
To much exceed that of an ordinary road
carriage, and the trains will stop and pick
up goods awaiting them at every road they
cross. Simple receiving Offices may be
established at village stores, or the owner
OF goods may bring them To the trains
himself, aud accompany them to their
destination, paying his fare on the way,
just as in an omnibus or tramway, with,
out the ceremony of tickettaking or other
impairment The expenses OF laying
down such rural lines" according TO u
very carefully prepared estimate viii not
exceed 5000 francs per kilometer, in.
stead Of more than i00, 900 francs, which
Ia the case even on the most economically
constructed ordinary railroads in France.
The estimate. also, OF the proceeds OF
lines, based on a rate of twenty-five cen
times per ton per kilometer, aud on the
average road traffic of goods aud passen
gers, seems 10 be fairly remuneratIvc in
financial point Of view and AS an invest
meut. exclusive of the general advantage
To agricultural interests 10 be expected
from the undertaking Paris Cor Phltd'
deiphta Bulletin.