West-Jersey pioneer., 1877-10-18
Nuts for our Narrow Gauge Enthusiasts
to Crack

to Crack
That we are creatures of strange impulses
we must all admit. Too frequently men
oppose measure or an undertaking for no
apparent reason but because others favor
it; and Dace 0ers1. That this is the case to
greater or less extent everywhere is too
well established a corollary to require any
argument. 1t is evidenced more particularly
in measures of public interest, as for in
stance this pet scheme of Mr.. G. K Lands
the Narrow Gauge Railroad-of which
the people Of Cape May have heard and
read SO much of late. We have opposed
that enterprise, and we have not been
mealy-mouthed about giving our reasons for
SO doing. We believe the road will never,
nor is it intended to, reach this side of Vine
land. We believe that if built, it will not
in any sense fill the requirements of com
peting road; that it will not pay running
expenses, and must eventually impoverish
those, as in the case of the Vineland Rail
way, who have invested their money in it,
But around here are certain enthusiasts, who
openly declare they favor this new road
why !? Because the West Jersey Railroad
Co. is opposing it. 1t is true the latter cor
poration is not in favor of the new enter
prise, nor would it's officers be faithful to
their trust in pursuing any other course
than the one they have marked out The
W. J. R. r. does not fear the proposed
road in the light Of compettior-bu only
so far as it has tendency to depreciate its
stock, which it must certainly do, no mat
ter how inferior its equipments and accom-
modations
We have taken the ground that no mar
row gauge road has ever succeeded except
when without a rival, and this one, Mr..
Lands informs us, is intended to compete
with the West Jersey road. Take in sup
port of our statement the very evidence
heretofore misarplied by the very ev-
dence heretofore misapplied by the advo-
Gates of the N. G. to Cape May. How often
have we been referred to the New Short
Line'' to Atlantic City, before it was com
pleted, by showing the need Of another road
to Cape May. That road is now in opera
ton, and the public is at liberty to inquire
how the promises of few months ago have
been realized. Has the place been bene-
fitted by the increase of travel? The resi-
dent population say no. Its nonresident
property owners, or many of them declare
their determination to sell out rather than
be subjected to repetition of the disgrace
full annoyances of last season. The busi-
ness men of the place have appealed for
relief to the authorities, and everywhere is
manifested spirit Of opposition to the
policy inaugurated by the narrow gauge
management.
Is the stock Of the new road desirable
investmentP Capitalists think it not, and
decline it for the best of reasons.-Only a
few weeks since when the road applied for
an extension, a prominent firm of Camden,
which had gone into the enterprise with
enthusiasm at its start, rather than accept
the terms offered for their claim-one, two
and three years extension with Mr.
Massey sendorsement-sold out at fifth cents
on the dollar.
In the matter of accommodations and
equipments does the narrow gauge compare
with the broad? A few days ago Ex-Sena.
tor Leaning, of this county, tested their
merits by embarking on narrow gauge
train to Atlantic City, which had two of the
powerful engines Mr.. Lands describes in
his lectures on the subject, attached to nine
passenger cars. A broad gauge train OF
twenty eight passenger cars, filled, and one
| locomotive, passed them on their way,
reaching its destination over an hour ahead
of the narrow gauge train.
These are some of the facts which can be
applied in our own case, as proving that
the economy of operating a narrow gauge
road is not so apparent as Mr. Lands would
make it appear to onr Cape May people,
| Cape May Wave.