Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-02-05
NARROWING THE GAUGE.
WHAT IT WILL COST THE PLANT
RAILWAY SYSTEM.

The Change to be Made In Ten Hours by
an Army of 1880 Men-S2OO.O 900 the
Estimated Cost of the ChAnRe-WhAt
was Accomplished at the Atlanta Con-
ventiOn.
Col II. 8. Haines, General Manager of
the Plant Railway System, arrived home
yesterday morning from the Railroad
Convention at Atlanta. The convention
was one of the most important OF railroad
officials ever held in the South, for its
business was to arrange for change in
the gauge Of Southern railroads.
Although Col. Haines was opposed to
making the change he was chosen chair
man OF the convention. He stated yester-
day that on Wednesday, June ,, the
gauge OF railroads all over the South will
be Writ ually the same as the standard in
the East, North ana West. Early
Tuesday morning, June l, an ar
be distributed along the 600 miles Of track
controlled by the Plant Company. Three
or four men to each mile will draw the
spikes along one rail, shove the rail in
three inches closer to the other one, and
drive the spikes. AS the rails are bOlted
together, the work can be pushed very
rapidly, and by O'Clock In the afternoon
the company hopes ID start train out Of
Savannah and run it over the entire
length Of the road.
The cost of moving the rails will be the
small item in the cost. Changing the
gauge OF the car wheels and locomotive
wheels viii be the heavy expense. The
gauge will be 4 feet 3 inches, \ inch
wider than the standard gauge. Some
roads have gauge of 4 feet so inches.
One wheel press will press ON the wheels
of from 80 to 70 cars a day. For some
years axles have been turned of in the
rear Of the wheel seat in contemplation Of
this change. A. large number of cars
that are now running on dished face
wheels will be all right as soon as the
wheels are pressed back.
A report was adopted fixing the charge
for pressing on car wheels SO per car, and
in the event that il is found necessary to
turn up the aXies, So car.
Mr.. Huger, the Secretary Of the meet
ing, estimated the entire cost of the
change at $150,000. The cost OF the Plant
system alone may reach $4,000
The convention will meet in Atlanta
again Feb. 16. The chairman appointed
the following committee TO communicate
with the leading railways that are of a A.
foot 8 y inches, and 4-toot inches gauge,
and agree upon a wheel gauge which will
be suitable to both gauges:
L. ID. Kline, chairman; Reubin Wells,
j. +. Devine, james Mehan, K. D. Wade,
G. NJ. ID. Riley, W. Fl. Thomas, William
KinyOn, w. Z. Newman, J. S. Cook, j. E.
Warwick. q. Il. Granting, S. B. Hampt,
and &. w. Gates. This committee will
report at the next meeting.
The other committees appointed by the
chairman are as follows:
Committee on Date of Change Of Gauge
Z. B. Thomas, chairman; }. T. Horroban,
C. H. Hudson, VIM. Rogers, H. r. Duval,
Henry Walters. r. G.. Fleming, J. W.
Thomas, J. W. Green, J. Fl. Sands, r. A.
Anderson, j. B. Peck, Cecil Gabbett, W.
Il. Kline.
Committee on Trausportation-J. F.
DeVine, chairman; J. II. AYerill, d. E.
Maxwell, 4. X. Huger, PeytOn Randolph,
A. B. Andrews, Frank Coke, V. e. Nc
Bee, Frank Huger; c. 5. GaGsden, WV.
Starr, l. Y. Sage, A. b. Bostwick, w. Il.
Green, j. G. Gault.
Committee on Roadway-W. W. Coe,
chairman; c. z. Hammond, NJ. H. Dooly,
VIM. Minis, h. w. Reade, J. N. Brown,
R. MuilfOrt, Hamilton Wilkins, G.. r. Tai
colt, 9. NJ. Bolton, Thomas Bernard, B. r.
Dunn. r. Southgate, j. T. Alexander, r..
A. Bridges, j. w. Craig, L. Burnley, B.
r. SwOop.
Committee on Machinery Reuben
Wells, chairman; T. D. Kline, r. d.
Wade, $. B. Haupt, Joseph FL. Greene, G.
NJ. d. Riley, J. S. Cook, NJ. l.. Collier, w.
H. Thomas, T. w. Gentry, q. W. Gates,
J. E. Worswick, W.T.. Newman.
The Savannah, Florida and Western
Company was represented by Col. Haines,
General Manager; r. G.. Fleming, Super
intendent; George Riley, Master Me-
chanic, and g. NJ. ID. Riley and H. W.
Reed, Masters of Roadway.
The Charleston and Savannah was rep
n
way and Master OF Transportation, and
G.. S. Gadsden. Superintendent.
The representatives from the Central
were VIM. Rogers, General Superintend-
ent; w. W. Starr, Master Of Transporta-
ton; Il. ID. Kline, Superintendent South