268 A YEAR IN BRAZIL. 



provincial government authorized the construction of our first 

 railroad." 



In May, 1871, the General Assembly sanctioned the prolonga- 

 tion of the Government Trunk Line, Estrada de Ferro Dom 

 Pedro II., and made a credit of 20,000 contos of reis (^"2,000,000 

 at 24^. to the milreis) for that purpose. 



In 1883, there were 256^ miles of railway open for traffic in 

 the province, 108 miles were in construction, 172 miles were 

 surveyed, and 1506^ miles were authorized; making a total of 

 2043 miles. By the end of June, 1884, 715 kilometres, or 447 

 miles, were open for traffic. 



The Estrada de Ferro Dom Pedro II. Captain Burton, speak- 

 ing of this railway in 1867,* says, that three valleys claimed the 

 honour of being considered for the selection of a route : those 

 of the Para, Paraope'ba, and Rio das Velhas. The last-named 

 valley was chosen. This railway has a gauge of i| metres. It 

 enters the province near the station of Parahybiina, at about 

 226 kilometres from Rio de Janeiro. When I arrived in June, 

 1883, the traffic extended as far as Carandahy (4.20 kilometres) ; 

 but in January, 1884, after a long interruption of goods traffic, 

 owing to the injury done to the banks and cuttings during the 

 rainy season, the line was opened to Lafayette (Queluz), 468 kilo- 

 metres from Rio. The works are now in progress for the pro- 

 longation through Sabara to Sancta Luzia, which is in the 

 valley of the Rio das Velhas. f This railroad has an extensive 

 system of lines and branches in the province of Rio de Janeiro, 

 but as yet in Minas its only branch is the Sao Joao del Rey Line. 



This Dom Pedro II. railway is a government line, and no one 

 really knows what it has cost. One thing is certain, that every- 

 one who has had to do with it has been enriched. All the work 

 is done in the most costly manner, and a vast amount of expense 

 has been incurred, such as retaining walls five feet thick where 

 they are unnecessary. The platelaying, for instance, has been let 

 at five times its cost. The contractors feed their workmen, de- 



* " The Highlands of Brazil," vol. i. p. 153. 



t It has lately been decided that the prolongation of the railway beyond 

 Lafayette is to be on the metre gauge, and the portion already constructed is 

 to be taken up and relaid (January, 1886). 



