Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1889-05-16
DIAMOND JoE's RAILROAD.
It is Short, But Has Made For
tune For It's Owner.

There is at least one railroad in the
country that pays more that falr re-
turn upon investment. 1t runs from a
point ON the Iron Mountain Railroad IN
Arkansas, to Hot Springs, in that state.
1t is twenty-five miles long, and 1t cost
$500, 900 in the usual way. 1t was
narrow gauge when it was built, seven
teen years ago, and it is narrow gauge
to-day, though it is the intention OF
its owner to change the gauge soon, as
Hot Springs loses that sort of patient
who is too weak to stand the fatigue OF
even a single transfer.
On the front of each locomotive on
the Hot Springs road is the coat OF
arms of the owner, Joseph Reynolds.
1t is large diamond, inside of which is
the letter 81" To the Southwestern
public, and over large portion OF the
West also, Mr.. Reynolds is known as
Diamond Joe," not ON account OF the
diamonds he doesn t, but is able to wear,
but on account OF his coat OF arms, or,
as he calls it, his trade mark. Before
he was known as Diamond Joe the owner
of the title got his start in life from the
man who first putJay Gould on his feet.
With the money advanced by Zadoc
Pratt, late of Prattsville, this state, Jay
Gould went into the tanning business,
notin Wall street, but in Sullivan coun-
ty, and Joseph Reynolds emigrated to
Wisconsin and undertook the raising OF
wheat. He raised lots Of it and gave his
wheat a market reputation by marking
the sacks in which it was packed, with
a large diamond inside of which was
stamped ~.
Hot Springs was small pumpkins when
Diamond Joe paid his first visit to the
place. He had made a lot of money in
wheat, and having worked hard In the
meantime, found his health not what it
should be. A friend told him there was
some wonderful water in Hot Springs.
He went there, saw the springs, bathed
in the water, was made well, and CON
Guided that some day Hot Springs would
be a popular health resort. He con-
eluded to tap the Iron Mountain Rail
road with a narrow-guage road, for prior
to 1872 people who wanted TO reach Hot
Springs were compelled, after they dis
embarked from trains ON the Iron Noun
tain Road, to reach Hot Springs by
stage coach, and neither the coach nor
the road over which it travelled was in
the best condition. Diamond Joe OBJ
tanned charter from the Legislature of
Arkansas which permitted him to charge
each passenger on his road Mt the rate of
10 cents per mile until the road was
brought within the limits of Hot Springs.
Diamond Joe continued to charge 10
cents per mile until couple of years
ago, as the terminus of his road was
just outside the limits of Hot Springs.
A couple of years ago the Legislature,
egged on by philanthropists who felt
certain that Diamond Joe was making
too much money, compelled Mr.. Rey-
nolds to carry his road into Hot Springs
and to reduce his rate to five cents per
mile. Being man who is open to rea-
son, when it Is backed with sufficient
authority, he obeyed the order. He has
not lost money by the change, for the
crowd that visits Hot Springs is annual
ly growing larger, and every atom of it
is compelled TO travel to and from the
Springs on Diamond Joe's railroad
His little railroad, it is believed By
men who have studied it, has netted
him for fifteen years the sum of 800, 900
per annum on an outlay of $500, 900,
a fair profit, at least as railroads co.
Neso York Times.