The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1876-02-25
THE MARROW GAUGE.
n Survey OF the Field


BASE.
From the State Sentinel.
StR-If indianapolis. EvansviIlc a,J
New Albany be taken ~ pol.t-. ~e
have triangle which has n rsilrpad ,.n
each slde, and The Ohio river fof its Jlee.
| This triangle contiins about suRl -,u.rr
miles, embracing the largest portion OF
he great Indiana coal field The work
able veins Of camel. coking nrd non
looking or block coal are inexhau4ihle
IN quantity, and ussurpas in quality.
IL also contains extensive depo-il4 ~
IRON orc. ire clay. potters CLAY. linn
stone, sandstone and other minera a,,.t
thousands of acres Of ito surface 49,
covered with timber ofthe finest g-owti.
oi every variety usually found IN thie
latitude. The soil is generally good
some Of 1t very fertile, producing fne
crops OF wheat, corn. barley, oats. poft
toes, ana grass. The hill lands are rr.t
adapted for orchards, yielding ~
lcrops OF apples and peaches. Taken
laliogciher this IL. rs regards it, miner
land agricultural resources, climate ai.,
-alubrity. one Of the most favored rni
tons OF the state. and strange n. il m
lappcar, lcs- has been done 10 utilizeth,
vast natural wealth by providing trt
indispensable requisite -cheap transpor
taiion = than has been done for any 9th.
portion of like extent in the state of n
diana Neither indianapolis nor Evans
lvillc have direct railway or water com
iiiulliriiion with this rich section, o.
which the mineral alone, now wing bur
led III the bowels Of tho earth, would b.
s1lilicient 10 increase the business anl
A.
cheap transportation ia tho first thing
To he provided, and this can not be ac-
complishcd by building expensive and
loutrageon-ly disproportionste broad
gauge railroads. Their great frat cost is
RsroND TIE REACH OF THE PEOPLE,
without recourse to borro wing ut high
rate OF interest, and generally enorinou,
discounts. So that lhev fall into the
hands OF the receiver before fhc bust
ncss j. sufficiently developed to sspport
them. But should they fortunately es-
icapc the receiver. the excessive wear
and tear and the increased cost of one
ration incident 10 moving their ponder
lous machinery and ears incurs for All
time an oppressive tax on the industries
lof the country. With n properly CON
Islruricd narrow gauge road one Ia
iwhih broad gauge principles have hesn
! ignored the case il very different.
lFheir greatly reduced first cost brings
lihelr construction within the means of
those for whose benefit they are reqIir-
lea. v Without rcronrsc to borrow ing The
dead weight they have to haul being
very much less IN proper tion 10 the pay
mig oai and being 20 murh liC,,icr. the
wrar and tear OF iron rails and alachi-
merry ! so much less than that of ia,
ib.oh gauge, HAT they can afford "a
lhaui frci1his aud passengers from - 10
- pee ccai cheaper than can be- done bv
broad gauge roads. This j. incontr,,-
vcriihle. having been thoroughly DO
mon>tfnled ny practical experience. an
/ lS one of the chief reasons for advn,.si-
ting tie construction of three-fert
= lugc road from indianapolis to Evans
-lNille, win u branch Via. Shoals to Rock
,roll. Amy city 10 succred IN mannfac-
turing must have an ample. and vha; il
.lepnallN Important, y regular supply nf
good coal az the lowest rates possible
lhis road could deliver block coal. the
best fuel yel found for the MANUFACTURES
lof IRON aud steel, and for steam, loco
lmnivc aud household purposes, iE ~
ldinnapolis and Evansville At rates hat
wonld defy compel ion. But that i
no' all mines, blast furnaces. qrarrics.
mineral paint works. brirkyard., pot
tcrics, saw mills. flour mills etc, would
1 spring up along the line OF this road.
(. which would bring hiilcr capital aud
labor. and thus give the manufacturers
. and merchants OF these cities
: AN EkrtNsivE HOME MARKET
, for their warcs and goods Bv a uni;c.l
effort ci The cities, town, and townships
Through which this road would run. il
lconld be bu'li and in operation b, tho
Isl of January next. Now is the time
to build necessary railroads: materials
land labor are so cheap. Iron can bc
purchased W one half its price four
! wears ago. the equipment atcvcn "A great
er reduction. aud carthw ork is now he
! ing done. not FAR from this city, NJ I2k
!, ! cents per cubic yard. That railroad
! between the points mentioned, il prop
! erly built aud managed. would he u
" profitable Investment can scarcely adj
! nit OF doubt. 1t would occupy large
I territory with scarcely any competition.
would have loadcd cirs each way, anl
escape thai c'mkcr of great many
= roads having 10 haul empty cars Que
! way aud the prnsprri j. that the bust
ness would increase indie tinitcly
Tnos. II. MlLLr>GTo>. G. T..
Evansville, Ind. Feb. IA, 1879.