276 SINDH RAILWAY ESTIMATES. 



which might have materially swelled his pro- 

 spective returns. 



He might also have fairly taken credit for 

 the saving his projects, if fairly carried out, 

 will effect in such heavy items of expense, as 

 wear and tear of tents and camp equipage, de- 

 terioration of stores by delay and exposure, and 

 the saving in the local expenses of the com- 

 missariat, which will be possible when a vessel 

 can discharge direct into a railway truck, which 

 will a few hom's afterwards deliver its contents 

 on the river-bank at Kotree, a point to reach 

 which at present occupies generally a month 

 at least, and often much more. 



I therefore consider Lieutenant Chapman's 

 estimates quite on the safe side ; and I believe 

 he might, without rashness, have greatly en- 

 hanced the amount of his prospective returns. 



As regards the extraordinar}^ facilities which 

 the line presents for either canal or railway, 

 I may be allowed to add my testimony as 

 an unprofessional traveller to the more com- 

 petent testimony of both engineer officers. I 

 have certainly never seen a country with 

 superior facilities for the easy and cheap exe- 

 cution of such works. 



