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"The Clifton Railroad"
Carthage Republican, Tues., March 23, 1869
No trains have been run on the Clifton Railroad for several
weeks. The accumulation of ice and snow on a wooden track upon which
light engines are used, must make the running of trains almost
impossible. We imagine that the projectors of the road from Carthage
trough Pitcairn and Edwards, will do well to substitute iron for
wood, if they want a road that will be of any benefit to them.
- Reformer.
It is well enough to criticize the Clifton Railroad, but we
should not be in too great haste in charging all its defects or
misfortunes to the wood rail; because if this wood rail is a thing of
real utility, its use should not be discouraged.
"No trains have been run on this road for several weeks." About
one year ago the same remark would have been substantially true of
the Rome, Watertown & Ogdensburg road. Yet that road had not yet
adopted the wood rail. We read in exchange that no trains have
arrived or departed from the city of Montreal in two weeks. We have
not heard of the Grand Trunk adopting the wood rail. We read of
various other roads in this northern latitude being obstructed by
snow. What shall the people depending upon these obstructed roads do,
in order to have a road that will be of benefit to them?
But seriously, if the Clifton road was laid with iron rails
would its stoppage for a few weeks in the winter be at all
surprising. Its construction was mainly for the benefit of the
Clifton Iron Works, and not for public convenience. It has always
seemed strange to us that they could operate this road at all, with
its very sharp curves and grades of nearly, or quite, 300 feet to the
mile.
Yet with one full years experience the Company owning that road
have resolved to add four new locomotives and eighty cars to its
rolling stock, by the first of April next. In view of this fact, have
not the projects of the road from Carthage through Pitcairn and
Edwards, reason to expect some benefit from their road, with its
gentle curves and easy grades, even though a wood rail is used in the
first instance.
We do not pretend the wood rail is equal to an iron
one, but we do believe that it may be used in many instances, and
yield beneficial results to the country, and satisfactory dividends
to the stockholders.
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