— 20-t — 



them With the results obtained on estates with maca- 

 damised roads •where mules are employed. 



He takes advantage of the facility of putting up and 

 taking down the railroad, to recommend only one prin- 

 cipal line with moveable branchings off. Nevertheless, 

 he thinks it would be desirable to multiply the princi- 

 pal or diagonal lines, and to keep a few light carts for 

 the purpose of carrying the canes to these main trains. 

 It is upon this principle that Mr. Rochecouste's rail- 

 way will be constructed. 



On a level iron road, a mule can draw ten times 

 more than on an ordinary road ; with a gentle slope 

 downwards, it Avould draw a great deal more ; and with 

 a slope of one half to cTiie per cent the waggon would 

 be moved by the mere force of gravity, and the trains 

 would descend of themselves, requiring but one man to 

 conduct them and apply the break when they arrive at 

 the terminus. 



We cannot discuss all the details mentioned in the 

 paper — they shew that the use of railroads would con- 

 siderably reduce the cost of conveyance on estates, par- 

 ticularly if steam is used. To cite but one or two 

 exemples : If a given load is carried in the usual man- 

 ner, to a certain distance, on a level road, for one shil- 

 ling the same weight under the same conditions would 

 with a locomotive engine on a railroad cost less than a 

 half-penny, that with a rising of 3 per cent on common 

 roads, the cost would be 3sh. 4d., and by a railroad and 

 with a locomotive engine 4 pence half-penny. 



The atithor thinks that the conveyance on railroads 

 is deserving of serious consideration on the part of the 

 planteis, (larticularly those who creating new estates, 

 are compelled to begin by opening roads. There are 

 places where a macadamised road would be impossible 

 and where the heavy wet prevents carting. In such 

 places, railroads are indispensable. The first outlay 

 seems to the author to be inconsiderable, they would 

 besides soou be repaid, not only by the profit resulting 

 from limiting the purchase of mules, but also by redu- 

 cing the cxjiense of rejjairs to roads. T.et us add that, 

 in those places where the rains often prevent the con- 



