The Weston Democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1875-current, 1877-06-23

the ordinary width between the wheels
Of common road vehicles 10 England,
no ono thought Of making it narrower,
and it passed into general use as il 4
matter Of course, and was gratefully
accepted as fhe ding in common With
the discovery Of railroads. 1t grow into
use with the growth Of The railway
system, and the first innovation on tho
guagO resulted in an increased width,
instead Of decrease, Of 5, 0, and even
feoAa and all tho intervening widths
the Great Western Hallway Of Eng
land being the exponent Of the 7 feet
gauge. But after short existence
all Of the widest gungOs were reduced
to tho " Standard" having passed
through q most severe probationary
term, which resulted in their almost
universal condemnation and it was
not until lately that tho question was
asked " why narrower guhgo would
not do Z" And to this wo have au
answer in the shape of many miles Of
railroad, after encouateriag much op-
position.
Yet while tho proportions Of the
standard gSdg2 haze been forced upon
by proofs incontcsIiblc that they have
much OF merit, i. would have been an
error Of Judgment to have been con.
tented aud not tricl to sec if some i'm.
ProyCment, however small, could o.,
have been made. This has been done,
and as ihl standard guago was indeed
u mere matter Of eiamtc, aud not the
result Of experience, am risking moth.
ing in asserting that a short expert.
cucc has sGown that had tue 3 feet
gauge been the one accidentally hit
upon in the beginning, 1t would now
occupy many thousands of miles where
the former is in use, and would u1-
dOub,edly be cutitIei to the distinction
Of bljng termed the " Stluilrl." Had
this been the case, believe | ain not
speaking at random in saying that
many regions now unlcyelop5l for
want Of rail communication, would be
prospecting under the. growth OF well
connected railroad system and that
the paaic which was PrecmincntIy
a railroad Que, would no. have swoopcd
Down upon US when i! did, and
the $3.50, ,000,0 900 Of American railway
bonds which were last year as well as
previous years, in default, and a cor.
rcspoudingly large number Of railway
stocks paying no dividends, would be
still valuable securities. This, | be.
liCvc, would have been tho effect Of
such a system Of roads, as they present
an equal carrying capacity and facility
oftrau'pOrtation Of to tho present system,
and that too from an outlay more in
accordance with their income.
It is claimed that mankind is pro.
greISiVe, and while somo might say
that a 8 feet gauge is a IctrOgradO, and
not an advance movement, expert.
Oucc has shown that i! produces tho
greatest results With tho least outlay.
It has solved the problem Of cheap rail
transportation. Their rapid growth,
even during this long four years Of
"hatd times" which years have seen
the building aud cquiPPing Of about
$500 miles Of nArrOW.gaugo roads in
tho United States and Territories, is
communicative proof Of their merit, while
there arc hunreds Of miles projected,
and which will soon be in a fair way to.
wards completion. For the last two years
they have multiplied in a ratio tho 70.
verse Of the brOad.gaugO, ard almost
in the same proportion has the popular
feeling changed ia their favor. and
where they were first asslilgl By the
PartisaHS OF the old gauges, ayai,in.
themselves Of the press auI the issue
Of numerous pamphlets, they arc now
iu almost every Instance enihus.ls,!cal.
y supported.
1t is but decade Of years since ;hcy
were first urged upon the aI,ca,ioa Of
Of tho public in this country anl else
where, aud owing 10 vigorous oPpo.i-
iion it was four OR five years before i
sufficient amour: OF road was bull; to
put the merits OF tho question to a
pTaeliGa! test, But when this time ii ]
arrive, almost At Oaca all tho theories
Of the opponents were siIenc1l. aal
enemies became friends. The evidence
was too convincing, loo complolc, aal
cOmmculaIion la, most generally IA.
ken the place OF cri,isism. aud as a