The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-02-04
THE WIDTH OF TRACKS.
Great Railroad Man Tells How Abra-
ham Lincoln Fixed the Gauge.

a Great Railroad Man Tells How Abra-
ham Lincoln Fixed the Gauge.
From Kate FIELDS Washington.
- To me-" said @. P. Huntington. "Abra-
ham Lincoln was the finest character Of this
generation; esteem It the privilege OF my
life to have known him. for to know hun
was to belieVe In the divinity Of human
nature. You don't know, so I'll tell you
that it was left by law to President Lincoln
to decide upon the gauge of the Pacific
railroads. AT that tlme-the spring or
winter OF 1868, think railroads had diff
terent gauges the south had feet, the
north feet 81 inches the roads from New
ORR TO 81. Louis measured feet and the
road from St. Louis to Kansas City 81 feet.
le was imperative that there sheuld be a
uniform gauge. which eventually came to
pass. Now, by the ooncensus of expert opin-
ion, 1t has been fixed at feet 81 inches,
though there are a few narrow gauge roads
of 8 feet.
''In order to get Central Pacific matters
before congress, / spent months at Wash
lngton and stopped at Wizards. The
PRESIDENT referred this matter Of gauging
to john z. Usher. Secretary Of the Interior,
who was requested TO collect data and pre-
sent report to the President.
Before Usher made his report called
at the white house and saw the President
MIR. Lincoln said, 4 have been dilatorY
not from choice, but necessity. l now have
the reports Of five engineers In favor of a
5-foot gauge which desire TO present to
you for consideration before ysu give your
ultimatum.'
I'll hear you next Friday at II o'clock
a. m,,' replied Lincoln.
That was more than 1 had expected.
! telegraphed for G.. T. NJ. Davis, formerly
OF Springfield, ILL.,, 90 come from New
York, where he then resided, and make tho
argument He was q personal friend of
Liucoln's, and an able man. He and were
| promptly at the white house at IL O'clock,
out the President did not receive us until
| ll:4O O'Clock. The cabinet met at noon, 80
| that Davis had only time to SHAKE hands
with the President and say few words be-
| fore the officials arrived Lincoln permit
ted him to proceed. This did not please
Seward, who lived on the New York Gem
trial, and wanted a gauge Of feet 80 inches.
Addressing the President in his own peculiar
way, the Secretary Of State exclaimed: MIR.
President, what kind OF a meeting have we
| to-dayP
"a meeting Of the cabinet and their
friends replied Lincoln with diguihed com
posture. Go on, Col. Davis
"Davis went on. At the conclusion OF
his argument the President addressed him
| thus: 'Of the merits OF this case | know
nothing. There are so meny things Of
which know nothing as TO make it abso-
| lutely necessary for me TO trust to Others
I call in men for that purpose depend
on their Judgment and l find when too late
chat their advice has been far more selfish
than patriotic. Tell me truly what is the
best gaugeP
"rhe pathos of Lincoln's appeal was
sublime. The mans whole nature was uu-
velled. He was as true as steel TO duty, as
sympathetic by nature IS q woman.
wouldn't have lied to him for the whole
Central Pacific road. The decision was in
favor Of a 5-foot gauge. but the later uni-
form gauge, 3]6 inches less. 10 perhaps bet
ter. / did not think so then, nor did ex-
perts. Alb, Lincoln was q grand man,