The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1878-01-22
AnInteresting Letter From Gen,
u. Il. Kelley.
Hot STRINGS ARK, [
January 10, 1878. 4

Editor IntsllIgencer.
noticed in your paper Of . late aate
that our old amutual friend," the veneer
able Eligah Day Esq, had recently been
on a visit to frisnds In Waynsburg Green
county, Pa, and that be travelled from
Washington to WaynSburg on the mar.
row aug railroad recently opened Tor
travel, / was much surprised TO learn
that he was four hours making the trip.
I presume. however, that the road is In
an unfinished condition, and unsafe ior
making quick time. fully concur with
YOU 10 your views in regard to narrow
gauge railroads. They are destined TO
Become important feeders to the great
through lines OF the country, as well
as channels OF communication between
local towns and villages, aiEordlng tacili.
ties for trade and travel, and shipment
Of the productions Of the nelghborhoods
through which they may pas, and when
heretofore have been entirely cut OF a
portion Of the year by almost impossible
roads. Narrow gauge railroads can be
constructed 10 much cheaper, that pru.
dent capitalists will adopt them between
ali local points.
road extends from Malvern to Hot
Springs, 25 miles. 1t was constructed by
an invalid who visited the Hot Springs I.
few years since from Chicago, Mr.. Joseph
Reynolds, Familiarity known throughout
the West az diamond Joe" Mi. Rey'
nolds received so much benefit from the
waters, and suffered SO much in coming
here by the old stage route from Little
Rock, that he determined 10 make a more
comfortable way for patients to reach the
Hot Springs. Accordingly, he procured
a charter and contracted at once Tor The
construction Of the narrow gauge rail-
road at a cost Of about $4,000 TO $4,000
per mile. 1t is probably one Of the most
complete narrow gauge railroads In the
country, both in construction and equip
ment, The grade Is fine, and with but
few sharp curves. Itcarried over 10000
through passengers last year, about 4,0Ot
bales Of cotton, and 400 tons Of other
freight. The passenger trains between
Malvern and Hot Springs usually make
the run IN one nOur. n nutupeE VI VIZ
tineuished railroad men were here on q
visit from the North a few days
since. I was invited by Mr.. Conger,
the agent, to accompany them on their
return as far "a Malvern. We made the
run in forty.iye minutes. The Hot
Springs narrow gauge railroad leaves the
Iron Mountain and Southern railroad al
Malvern, iorty.fve miles southwest o.
Little Rock, and follows up the Valley
Of the ouachita pronounced WashataU)
in nearly n western direction twenty-five
miles to Hot Springs. The country
through which the road runs ia quite
poorSvery little unprecedented ar
unbroken forest the entire d~istance-con'
~sequently has but little local or ~neighbor,
hood trade or travel. II the country be-
tween Malvern and Hot Springs was a!
good a that between Washington and
Waynesburg, or between Washington and
WeiIsburg-as thickly settled and az
productive-the Hot Springs railroad
would probably pay better dividendt
than any road in the country, as 1t is moi
an expensive road to keep in repair.
B. F. KELLEY.