The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1877-12-05

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Davis Esq, which we cross with the
highest grade we have on the entire
route, viz. 60 feet to the mile, by using
said grade we cross with only q 70 foot
cut, thence continuing along the
north branch of Charters Creek, we
cross the main stream, and ascend along
the main stream and the banks OF Catfish
Run until we reach the National pike at
the CHARTERS Valley railroad depot.
80 that the route may be familiar to
your many readers, Will mention some
of the places through which we pass, viz
Bethany, the seat of Bethany College,
Dunsfort and Atchison postotfices, also
the farms of Abrsm Hair, Geo. Smith,
Keenan, Bros, Sheriff George L. Work,
Hsmp. Davis, David MeClsy, William
Wlley's heirs, t. Hess and others.
here give you the table of distances
to the important points on the line from
Wellsburg.
To Dunslort ostoft1ce................"!g.iU
To Atchison
To Sheriff Work saw mill.......H 5O
To Davis summit Zg4O
10 W washington, fd...'....'.''.''
The following is an estimate cost OF
the road as built on the probable locs-
ton:
'lOO
TleS. hVvo
Iron. oo'VVV
IeIeSrap N.''':'''',:' .'...''' i'''N
Equipment, including one locoma-
i've, cars, passe ger and water
IN
Engineering, experimenting, con.
tingencies, &c. 10 pei cent. IL 5OO
The above is estimated tor 3 narrow
gauge e toot) road, plan which, if fully
carried out, will enable tie cca-psny TO
build, equip and run the road without
lease to any of the great railroad grab
bing CON panies. A road thus run by the
parties building it, is sure to give better
satisfaction 70 the shippers, to be more
prompt in the deliver OF cara, and
should the revenue be largo enough to
paw the running expenses, there is more
certainty of the stockholders obtaining
dividend The officials come so closely
under the eyes OF all interested, which Is
not the case with large roads, that the
prevent,ves of dishonesty are multi
piled.
Narrow gusge roads are the only
means Of developing naturally rich
country without artificial wealth.
With regard to cost the narrow gauge
road can be built and run for one-thlrd
or one-fourth the amount OF the broad
gauge. The road bed is not SO wide, or
the IRON so heavy. The sleeper grades
and sharper curves can be more tsvorsbly
used, and thus many deep cuts. and nesvy
embankments are avoided. The saving
IN runping the rosd, rests principally ON
the small amount of dead weight to the
paving.
I extract the following table from the
report of the Denver and Rio Grsnde
Narrow Gauge K. K.
Cars, l6, 20 total dead weight, l36
and 80 tons; total paying weight, l6O
and 100 tons; total weight, cars and
load, 296 and 220 tons; saving in total
weight, 76.
Some have supposed the speed could
not be so great on the narrow gauge, as
on the ordinary gauge, but such is not
road, some of the trains have Travelled At
the rate of forty to sixty miles per hour
The center of gravity is kept 80 low as
to give the cars stability, the main sills
are distant only - inches from the
rails, which is l8 inches less than the Gus
tomsry on the broad gauge roads. 1he
larger portion of traffic coming over the
road being mineral wealth, namely, coal.
limestone, sand, &c, the transit ment
need be no serious obstacle, as 1t can be
made by running the narrow gauge cars
on trestle Immediately over the gon-
dols cars of the broad gusge cars and the
mineral dumped. The shipment of mer-
chsndise will not be so great as to cause
much trouble 10 transfer them from one
car 10 the other, the two cars being on a
level for that purpose. So Tar as psssen-
sengers are concerned, on districts of the
main thorough fares, the people are sc-
customed to changing cars.
1t would not be amisS TO speak word
about the mineral wealth OF the country
through which the route passes.
CoGl.-There will be found on the
hills, on the line OF the road, several veins
of coal. The principal of these are the
river vein, feet thick, snd the Buffalo
and Rush Run veins, feet thick. The
iue of this coal Is such as TO be tsvors-
blv mined on the line of the road for II
miles, commencing 81 Wel!sburg.
Llnestone.-There are several large
veins OF limestone between Wellsburg
and Blsvis Summit, which will be about
on the same level as the grade OF the
road. There is one vein twelve feet
thick.
Sard.-A large business could be car
ried on in the shipment OF sand to the
larger manufacturing places.
BuiLding Storls.-These exist IN large
quantities along the entire line of the
road; 'srge portion Of these are free
stone. All are good for found ,tions, or
dressed, are suitable for ornamental ar
chltec.ursl work. Stones are so plenty
on the line of the rosd, that ballast will
not cost the company more than is nee
esssry to pay for the breaking of themi
TFm5er.-This is the most abundant O.
all the objects of weslth. No true esti
mate can Se formed of the actual amount
of timber on the line, beech, msple, wal
nut and poplar, and with them oak for
tsn-bsrk, which may be said to be almost
inexhsustible.
In conclusion, the route proposed
building upon is practicable, and sbounds
in wealth, which needs development.
All that is required will be energy and
perseverance,, 10 give q rosd opening up
this rich country.
JOHN W. CREIGH, c. Z.