The Tiffin tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1868-1887, 1878-09-19
Will the Narrow GuAge SWAllGW the
Broad Guage?

lle expression OI the lh5b NhEEOH
Guage Convention in this city was to
the effect that the successful develop
ment Of narrow gusge railways re-
quires that they shall not he restrict
ed to auxiliary and suburban ser
vice, but shall have trunk lines, par
alleI UD the existing roads, SD as tn
avoid the cOst OF transfer from one
guage to another, and so as to take
possession OF the msin business, eX-
tinguishinE the present roads by the
oheapness Of the narrow gusRe.
As this proposes tO extinguish
works in which several thousand
millions OF capital have been invest
ed, aud To embark several thousand
millions more in the work Of destroy
ing, it becomes important TO examine
the narrow guAge economies, and to
see how far the present roads can
make them available in the struggle
for existence. The people are inter
ested in the preservation and increase
OF all roads most interested in the
best. The destruction OF capital is
not for the interest of anybody.
Therefore it will not he thought In
imicsl to any ypublic interest if we con-
slider how far the narrow guage ecOuO-
mics are applicable to the present
railways.
First, the present roads can at one
step seizs on all the narrow guage
economies by narrowing their track.
This can be done quickly, and at small
cost. Then they would have, besides,
the advantage OF the lower
guage aud straighter lines.
They may await the construction ol
the narrow guage, and they play u
still higher card. For We learn by the
arguments that the narrow guage
economies, In traction, gradients,
curves, dead weight, all construction
aud all equipment, are IN ratio to the
narrowing Of the track. IL, therefore,
a parallel stem line of three feet track
shall be built by the side of one Ol
four feet eight and half inches, tue
old road may take the wind wholly
out OF the other by narrowing its
track to two feet.
The old roads can always have this
highest card in reserve, to play against
tue narrow guage, in self-defeuse. But
they will fiTsL consider how many OF
the economies claimed for the narrow
track are available on their preSen
track. The advantage OF lower grades
and straighteT lines Is conceded u
them for it is by accepting the Ia.
tural surface OF the country that the
narrow track proposes to save cost in
grading. But rs the present roads
have already made this outlay, and
as ths capital invested in 1t has been
una 1aH 20, Las.
have this advantage in the current
cost OF traction.
For the cost OF traction on either
guage is in ratio to grades and curves.
The friction of the same weight on 8
curve in q track OF four feet eight and
half inches is no greater than on one
of three feet. And the same load goes
up hill no easier on the narrow than
on the common guage. These matters
are governed by mechanical laws, not
by convention platforms. And as tC
the economies by the saving of dead
weight by making the cars Of lighter
construction by making them sim
ply four wheel carts, dispensing with
the heavy frame nf the bottom, the
heavy platform, butler, aud four wheel
trucks by making trucks, axIes, and
wbeeIs lighter by smaller trains and
lighter lOcOmOtives-all these are as
available to the track OffOur feet eight
inches as to the track Of three feet.
For heavily laden cars in long trains
four wheel trucks, strong bottoms
buffers, and cOuplers are economy
but for short and light trains the carr
eau be made lighter. Also a liRhtel
engine can draw q light train. These
economies are Just as available in the
common guage IS in that OF three feet
And as these already have the heavy
eguIpIsent, they can WORK either Ol
both according TO the economies
Therefore, in such competing for life
the old roads, which nave already
the capital in reducing grades and
curves, and have thereby secured eas.
ier traction, would have the addition
al advantage that they can apply al
the economies OF lighter equipment
that are claimed for the narrow guage
We conclude therefore, from q view
OF the mechanical principles, that th'
narrow gauge will not swallow thI
broad gauge.-CiR. Gdzette.