The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1877-09-27
CHESTER AND GEORGETOWN.

points.
Mcssrs. Editors:
Whilo keeping steadily in view
the great benefits to be received by
this railroad Us whole, let us for
tho present consider tho cost, and
how wo can build only tho first
link-that which is to us the most
important as insuring immediate
and certain return for the means
expended upon it-viz., tho line
between Chester and Winnsboro.
The distance between these points
by tho G.. G.. & A. r. r. is twenty
seven miles. From my knowledge
of the country and of tho G. G. &
A. r. r., 1 am quite suro that this
narrow~gauge road can be built
with length not exceeding twenty~
six miles, and probably less. The
maximum grade OF the G. G. & A.
r. r. being only 81 end $40 feet per
mile, it was necessary to keep the
line upon the ridge, or as near to
it rs possible; and this involved
in several places very serious loss
Of distance. With grade Of los
feet per mile, our narrow-gauge
road can leave tho s'divide" and cut
off these long detours. We can
safely, then, estimate for only
twenty-six miles of line.
The Chester and Lenoir N. G..
II. r. has cost $4,000 per mile,
incluling equipment. But I learn
by an inspection Of this road that
there is very little really light grad
ing upon it, and u large proportion
of quite heavy work. There is one
bridge that cost poarJy $4,000, and
it is approached by trestlc fifty
feet high and four hundred feet
long. There are at least three
other heavy trcstles. I am informs
cd that tho entire work was lot by
contract, at n time when labor was
certainly twice as dear as it is now !;
and the iron cost just about double
it's present price. OF course spikes,
fish-joirts, bolts, cross-ties, etc.
are all proportionately cheaper now.
Locomotives, cars and every kind
of equipment arc unprcccdentcdly
cheap. Again, the very limited
grade of the G. G. & A. r. r. in
volved heavy work at several points.
The greater latitude, both as to
gradient and curvature, practicable
upon narrow-gauge roads will
enable us to avoid all this expensive
work, and build almost surface
line. There will not bo q single
bridge or trestle, excepting q few
nero Waterways in case we leave tho
ridge to save distance.
We sec, then, that the cost per
mile of the Chester and Lenoir
Railroad is not fair criterion by
which to estimate ours. It is per-
fectly safe to say that wc can build
and equip our road for between
$4,000 and $4,000 per milo, the
latter being in all probability the
nactnaatna figure. Twenty-six
miles, then, would cost from $1O4,-
600 to $4,000, complete, with
such rolling stock us would do all
the business of SO short line.
But, Mcssrs. Editors, it has
occurred to mo that if We build tho
road, wo can easily mako an arrange
ment with tho Chester and Lenoir
Railroad Company to operate it for
us upon very favorable terms, and
thus we could save, at least for the
present, tho heavy outlay for equip
ment. That company could operate
this additional distance without at
all increasing their outfit, and, in
consideration of the great benefit
derived from 80 important feeder,
could afford to do SO at nominal
rates. AS wo extend the road
southward, and begin to assume
the proportions Of q through line,
we can by purchasing gradually out
~,-1I