The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1883-08-17
Narrow Gauge Roads.

as the Southern States become more populous
they mnst build thousands of miles of railway.
Hence the question of gauge comprising, rs X
does the saving or the losing of II ON a third 10
halfof the millions which must be invested in
eSetructure and equipment OF yailronds is
question Of supreme moment now. 1t Is an
interesting subject, and il should be discussed
calmly and with an eorpe I desire to arriveat n
proper decision. The people want light and
they should have il. Evidence is certainly Gu
mulative in favor Of n narrow, three feet
gauge. gentleman who is well known in both
Augusta and Atlanta, and who is now q director
Of tho Bast and West road of Alabama, and its
chief engineer, has recently spoken emphatically
on the subject. He is no other than Capt Jno
Postell, of Atlanta, consulting, inspecting and
practical engineer, and from whose pamphlet we
quote:
"Therc is growing preference for the narrow
gauge system all over the country. The rapidiiy
with which these roads are being constructed in
the United States is something marvellous.
Eight thousand miles now under coustruc-
tion, and new enterprises are continually being
projected end orgauized
The narrow gauge has great advantage over
the standard gauge, in being much cheaper in
point of construction. They can be operated
with ease ON over eighy-thrce feet grades and
ten degree curves. These would be considered
excessive in the standard gauge, and to lessen
them increases very much the cost of gradation
The narrow gauge is cheaper in its maintain
ance. This is obviously so, MS the mat erals are
lighter and therefore subject to less wear and
tear. The replacement is less, and carry
ing less dead weight the on the supcrstruc-
ture is ais less.
The carrying capacity isjuSt about cqu0l 10 that
Of the standard gauge. This may be easily
accounted for by the fact that having less dead
weight to carry, proportionatc increase may
ibc made in freight. For example, standard
gauge car averages about four tons more in
weight than narrow gauge car. This, in a
train OF twenty cars, gives eight tons in favor
CT the narrow gauge.
The greater durability is in favor of the narrow
gauge. The trains being lighter, the rails are
subject TO less wear, and there being less dead
weight, and the wheels near the centre Of the
axle, the chances Of endurance and durability
are proportionately increased.
The safety of the narrow gauge as compared
with the standard is no longer an experiment,
bM a fact .fmily determined and settled. The
question of safety, especially in turning short
curves, is decidedly in favor of the narrow
gauge system.
There being less tonled Indebtedness to be
provided Tor, there will be rroportiona,cy larger
dividends"
THESE rvgtvui Uv.sI.oions Tbev ,nnool
40 common -pu. ..l,A. "a .LA masnIs &C
experience as to narrow gauge roads earning
large dividends? Take the earnings land expen-
ses Of the thirty-seven and half miles of the
East and Wes. Railroad, of Alabama now built
and running, for the year 1881 Cash receipts,
SlOl ZIG, so; cash Observation-Disclosures ex-
penscs, $35,2lS, 7S. balances to w and A Rail-
road, &c, $50, 1927, and the net cash profit is
S3G,s59,5l. "From which it appears" )" Gays
Capt Posell, "that the expenses were S35, ,218..
IS, and the net profit $50, ,S59, 81, thus showing
that the expenses were less than 80 per cent of
the gross income
Quite good showing, and in the interest of
the people, we shall pursue this subject further
at another time.-AugustG Chronicle.