The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-05-22

the Southern roads that have not 81
ready adopted the proposed Uniform
stsndard will make the change. The
NJ ssissippi and Tennessee railroad
changed to the standard gauge several
years ago. Tho Louisville, Memphis,
New Orleans and Texas railway was
constructed on the standard gauge
but the Memphis and Little
Rock, Memphis and Charleston and
the Louisville and Nashville roads are
preparing for the change, and alter
next Saturday trains will be Iua on the
standard gauge. As it requires years
TO build railroad, the public cannot
understand how the gauge OF rail-
road 500 or 1000 miles in length can
be changed in one day. 1t is as e"y
to change in day 1000 miles as one
mile when labor Is abundant. II took
1000 laborers, at an expense Of VI 20
each per day, to change the gauge oil
the Mississippi and Tennessee road
in one day to Grenads, q distance oil
100 miles, and 10000 laborers applied
for employment. Everything is az
ranged for the change beforehand,
only one rail is removed, and ten men
can change mile in one day. The
general reader will not understand
the reasons that induce this change.
But business men, and especially
those connected with railroads, have
long seen that the difference
In the gauges between the railroads OF
the North and South have been
great impsdiment to commercial in
tercourse between the two sections.
Rapid transit is the demand Of the
age in which we live, and this was
greatly impeded by the tedious math'
DDS Of changing the trucks OF freight
and sleeping cars to meet the differ
ence between the Northern standard
gauge Of four feet eight and one'hall
inches and the Southern gauge OF five
feet. Different gauges required ire
auent changes, not only where the
wide and narrow gauges met, but In
several Of the Southern States
where the lines were part standard
, gauge and five feet gauge. For in
| stance, II was found that the demands
Q Of travel warranted the running OF
l. sleeping car between Tampa ant
}. Boston. In coming north this car lei
{ Tampa mounted on trucks, having
= gauge of only three feet. At Gaines
h vile the car was put on the hoist sn'
, a pair of fivs-ieet trucks put under II
I At Weldon the operation was gon'
a through with sgain, new trucks thi
/ time being the standard gauge Of fou
o feet eight and one-bali inches. Tn
v same trouble was encountered in va
@ rious parts OF the South and in ship
a ping freight the same change OF truck
q was often repeated. So rapid aud e1
a tentive has been the trade and trav'
G between the North and South that I'll
}. wonder that the change which is
/. be made next Saturday has go Ion
Is been delayed. The most sagacioV
railroad men OF the South have know
that they must adopt the standal
gauge, and have built their cars an
" locomotives to suit the staudal
ID width. For the past two weeks q
ry Southern roads have withdraw
le the rolling stock they could possio
d. spare from traffic 30 as to change 1t
Ir. conf rm to the standard gauge. Near
n every read has already driven the
ire side row Of spikes, against which o
ty of the rails will be showed and spik
en- on the outside when the day OF chan
q comes. But little freight will
ly transported on the Southern railroa
ry on next Saturday, but the passeDi
III trains will not be disturbed. Itsee
rty like a gigantic undertaking to char
his the gauge Of the railroads Of elev
.he Southern Safes In one day; but
VI, will be done, and so systema tca
vas that the traveller will meet with no
zen terruptlon, and would not, unless
Irst attention was called to II, know this
all commercial revolution was in progr
IA -one that will be an advantage to