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Show WHAT MAY BK DO.VK. Very narrow gauge railioaJa are now attracting attention in the United States, and it is not certuin but they will solve a difficulty which has been l'clt to a greater or less extcut in various vari-ous portions of the country. Wherever Wher-ever a largo business existed, there expensive ex-pensive railroads would answer the purpose; but iu districts sparsely populated popu-lated or where travel was limited, i'rom proximity to other roads, railroad facilities fa-cilities could not be obtained. The result re-sult bus been that the couutry lias not derived all the advaiitane from railroads rail-roads which it was possible i'or it to obtain under other circumstances. Again, suppose the managers of a costly road dug business by excessive charges, it would be difficult for the public to lind a remedy; for another costly road could not be constructed without bringing ruin on the persons owning it. But with a narrow gauge railroad, which can be built for ten or twelve thousand dollars per mile, all portions of the country may be benefitted. bene-fitted. The poorest county or town, for instance, may Lave a railroad which costs no more than the sum named. Indeed, it is believed by persons per-sons competent to judge in such matters, mat-ters, that narrow gauge railroads are destined to work a revolution in business busi-ness throughout the country. Under such circumstances, it is essential that the inhabitants of California should have all the information relative to such roads that can be obtained. The most remarkable instance of the value of a narrow guage railroad is to be found in Wales. A writer in an evening journal says : "The road in Wales, fourteen miles in length, was built fifteen years since, on a guage of only twenty-three inches. It was originally operated by mules for mining purposes, but as time progressed pro-gressed and the increasing business demanded de-manded greater facilities, it was determined deter-mined to substitute locomotive power, and ibr the past seven years it has been operated successfully in this way. passenger and freight trains being run over grades of nearly ninety feet to the mile the former attaining the speed at times of thirty-five miles per hour. Since the introduction of locomotive power, a large saving has been effected in the operation of the line, and the stockholders have realized thirty per cent, on their investment. Besides Wales and the countries where the severe se-vere topography entailed heavy expenses ex-penses in building the road-bed, narrow nar-row guages have been tried to advantage advan-tage for mining roads and branches in Eranee, Germany and Russia not sufficiently to suggest anything approaching ap-proaching to a general introduction of the system in these last-named countries, coun-tries, but to such an extent as to confirm con-firm the success of the experiment as more thoroughly worked up in those first mentioned." The same writer, a practical engineer, engin-eer, makes further suggestions for California, Cal-ifornia, as follows : "From some observation and study of the subject. I should suggest for the purpose a medium gauge of three feet, as one on the whole comprehending most of the advantages of the system, with perhaps the fewest objeotions. For excavations, a width at base of thirteen feet, and for embankments, a width of ten feet at the grade line; cross-ties, five feet long, 4x6, and rails weighing about thirty-six pounds to the lineal yard; passenger locomotives weighing from six to ten tons, and freight do. from ten to fifteen tons, when in full working order. Freight cars should be four-wheeled, with a box 6x0 in the clear, and set near the track, or in other words, with small diameter di-ameter of wheels. Passenger cars, on the other hand, should be eight-wheeled, eight-wheeled, forty to fifty feet in length, and seven feet wide in the clear. For their inside arrangement, the plan most economical of room would probably prob-ably be the English compartment system; sys-tem; but for the convenience and comfort com-fort of the passengers, as well as the proper supervision and attention on the part of the conductors, the American Ameri-can system of seats is much the best; though very possibly, in the ultimate operation of the cheap lines, a combination combi-nation of the two systems might to a certain estent; he advantageously adopted. "With a well-constructed railroad of the above described dimensions, and a suitable equipment, I should unhesitatingly unhesi-tatingly guarantee that trains can be run with the same promptness and dispatch, dis-patch, and with even a greater degree of safety, than over the average railroads rail-roads as now constructed and operated throughout the United States, on the regular four-feet-eight-and-a-half inch or broad-gauge principle."'. F. Call. |
