The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1877-03-29

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fof 800 900. aud upon this sam IL
would cara 0 per ceut, dividends, At
the lowest estimate. The cost Of oar
Vermont Valley road was $500 600.
AZ nauow-ggage il would not have
cost over $500 900 and gu such an in
veslmeut would have regularly earned
! per cent per anuum. The sullivan
road. running between Bellows Falls
aud Windsor. which originally cost
81 $50, 900, could have been built as a
narrow guags for 100000. and this
sum would have earned per cent disi.
dends The Vermont aud Massachu
setts railroad cost about 81 900, 900.
or $50 600 per mile built as a morrow
guage it's original cost would not have
exceeded 81 900 600, and on this in
vestment II would have be0n one Of the
best pieces of railroad property in the
New England states.
The lesson taught by these figures
Is self evident 1t is. simply, that oil
Of the railroads named have been
built upon plan and at first cost en-.
tirely disproportioned to the amount
aud character Of the business which
they were designed to accommodate.
and the statement might easily aud
with equal truth be extended so MS TO
apply to nearly every other line Of
railroad in the Eastern States. Care.
ful aud complete statistics show that
tue average cost Of al the railroads in
New Eng land has been at the rate Of
$50, 900 per mile, and II is fact VIII ich
admits Of no question that in every in
stance these roads could have been
| built on the mario g.guagc system at
40 average o! $4,000 per mile. thus
making at the outset. and during the
life of the roads, saving in interest
alone, on the original investment, OF
$4,000 per mle--an item which has
in itself the suggestion Of a very com
Portable dividend. But this is not all,
for statistics show, as well, that while
the cost OF operating the common
guage roads amounts to 80 per cent OF
the gross earnings per year, narrow
guage roads could do the same bust.
ness, with the same expedition, at
cost Of only 50 10 90 PER cent of the
gross income. II IL. indeed, the can
didly expressed opinion Of competent
and experienced railroad men that
were 90 all Of the railroad lines in
New England North of the Boston aud
/ llbl1y. 81 ba bailt aiew at the
/ pr sent day. ~ the light OF present
knowledge on the rnbject, they would
he constructed on the narrow.guage
plan. thus sving two thirds oi taJ tirst
cost Of construction and at least ole
tonrtn Of the yearly cost Of Operations
whale their speed. durat ihty, comfort
aud general efficiency would be not in
the least impaired
/ suppose, then, the Brattleboro and
Whitehall railroad ssre 10 be com
mon guage road. with track 4 feet 81
inches wide a. are the roads already
mentioned. is rost would be- 50, 500 >.
600, while as narrow guage The cost
oi construction aud equipment cannot
exceed 81 500 600 The difference il
the yearly interest on the investment
~osld be @ per cent Of 81 200 900, OF
tthe very considerable item Of S72 600
II The roaa should De business o
IS 900 per mile, OF S262, 500 per annum
which Il 1T leas a safe estimate. the
difference ia operating expenses would
be- over $50 900 making - at. a total
saving every year in l1sur OF the uAr
row guage system. a. appli i 70 this
line. IL sl22 600. or over per cent on
On The wh9le cost In other word.
Id nay he said il the light Of the Ggtrc'
already given. that il the r1al wrr'
a. be built - : comm d ksuge thfpaga
the IVES, Birrr valley aud over thi
mountain. a4i a. such il were a. eari
s262 500 per year, IT, operating *
penser could Of Is less than 50 pc
ccat Il IL. gross earnings, leaving Gull
So. 500 70 pay the interest on 40 10
,sslmeat Of $3. $40 600, while a. uar
lrow-gaage. liz business being th'
I same, il is entirely sale 10 estimate IL
operating expense. at mol nare thai
. 80 peroeat Of its gross income. which
/ waaid leave Inc very handsome sum q
. sio5 900 TO pay the interest aaa ib'
! dividends
J FROM these statemeais. all " which
are gleAse3 from reliable sources. and
: admit u absolute veriGcAiiOu. il il