National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1886-02-08
THE EADs SHIP RAILWAY.
Its Actual Cost Estimated by an Ex-
pert-Some of the Features.

EDITOR NATIONAL REPUBLICAN,; As l
promised in my last article upon the Eads
ship railway to show that Mr.. Eads had
overestimGted the cost of the construction
Of his ship railway, have consulted with
engineers, railroad contractors, and builders
Of marine docks aud ways to satisfy myself
that the estimate which ] had made was n
| fair and equitable one. My opinion was
that Mr.. Eads could accomplish all he
promises in his bill. c., "transport a
loaded vessel, weighing, with her load, not
less than 5000 tons--for S20,000,000.n |
arrived ut this conclusion as follows:
Length of railroad 100 miles, including
all side tracks, &c. (NIr. Eads computes II
at 1874 miles.) one hundred and fifty miles
of tlrst.class railway, three tracks, with
| grades from to . per cent, as proposed by
Mr.. Eads, and in accordance with the pro-
| SI5OO,00O; engines, rolling stock, shops,
tools, &c, $500,OO0: total for railway,
| SS,000,000
These figures are based upon 1000 miles
| Of single-track railway built in Texas during
1850 and 1881, which cost less than $4,000
| per mile, including right Of way.)
Two marine docks, one on the Coatza-
| coalCos river and one on the Pacific side,
| with capacity TO take In a vessel $50 feet In
| length, 50 feet beam lover ALL, 10 feet
depth Of hull, weighing 1000 tons, can be
| built all complete for Sl,O00,O00 each
| $4,000. COO.
There is no marine dock in this country
| which cost this amount. \ marine railway
can be built for 100000, with capacity to
handle the vessels proposed by Mr.. Eads.)
Five turn tables, as proposed by Mr..
| Eads, can be built in working condition to
carry a 4,OOO.ton vessel for 100000 each.
| S50O0O0.
For the work on the bar at the mouth of
the Coatzacoalcos river, and upon the river,
we will estimate the expense ut 81, 200, 600.
This expenditure Is not necessary for the
success of Mr.. Eads's proposition, as a
vessel drawing twelve feet and weighing
| 5000 tons can pass over the bar and up the
| river to the marine docks without expend.
| ing one dollar.
For dredging on the Pacific side 10 the
| fifteen feet canton, S50O,O00. Contingent ex-
| penses, attorneys, agents, engineers, and
| other expenses, S3,OO0,OO0 profits to Mr..
| Eads and associates, S5,000,000 giving a
total capital Of 10000, 900, or $l7, 100000
less than Mr.. Eads asks Congress to guar
antee to pay in installments of S2,500,0O0
| per year for fifteen years after he has
demonstrated that he can or has
transported loaded vessel weighing,
| with her load, not less than 5000 tons,i'
from the Atlantic to the Pacific over his
ship railway, If we are to have "ship
| railway across the lsthmus Of Tchaunte-
| pee, and Congress proposes TO grant sub
sidy to Mr., Eads, or any other engineer to
aid In its construction, let them draw up
contract with the parties, requiring them to
construct marine docks and a railway which
| WI transport a vessel equal in size to any
| Of our third-rate naval vessels, giving full
dimensions, not less than $50 feet in length
5Ofcet beam, with draft of Mt least 90 feet,
weighing not less than G,0O0 tons with hei
cargo. The people Of the country will
indOrse the actions of Congress In ap.
propriating S50,000,00O for or toward q
work of this kind but to contribute
S3G500,000 toward u "toy railway" to
transporta II "McXican sloop," and to enrich
the sChemers over $2O,O00,6 900, would not be
tolerated one moment by the taX-paying
people. Congress willnever do it. President
Cleveland is too well posted in the matter
Of the cost of marine docks and railways
ever to place his assent to any such scheme
Notwithstanding he recommended the con.
sideration Of the project of uniting the two
oceans by a "ship railway" We want the
"ship railway and will have 1t, provided
we can get It at fair cost without duplicat.
ing the ilnanciering Of the Panama scheme
as 1t is now apparent that If 1t is ever com.
| pletcd 1t will be at the cost of the French
| government COMMERCE.