20 Timehri. 



weigh all other disadvantages. One of the greatest items of expense that 

 have to be faced in connection with hydro-electric developments that are 

 in any degree remote from the point of consumption in regions of tropi- 

 cal vegetation, is the establishment and maintenance of the cut and 

 cleared strip of country that has to be provided for the high tension 

 transmission line. The establishment of a road touching at the principal 

 points at which future power development may be expected would un- 

 doubtedly solve many of the difficulties attending such development, not 

 only in that it would provide a cleared strip along which the transmission 

 line could be carried, but also because of the facilities it would give for 

 the transportation of the necessary machinery, etc., to say nothing of 

 the opportunity and incentive to those interested in such schemes to visit 

 the various power sites. 



3. What are probably the most fertile fields of operation of the 

 mining industry in the Colony are located in the districts served by the 

 existing Potaro road, and as part of the Potaro road would form part 

 of the proposed new route great benefit to such industry could reasonably 

 be anticipated. 



4. The Bauxite Industry, the most advanced developments of which 

 are to be found within a few miles of Wismar on the Demerara River, if 

 carried to its ultimate development, namely, the actual manufacture of 

 aluminium, would create a very heavy demand for electrical energy, and 

 in this regard it is interesting to note that the distance along an existing 

 trail, between the proposed route and Rockstone is only ten miles, and 

 that taking into consideration the line of Messrs. Sprostons' Railway it 

 would be a comparatively easy matter to establish a transmission line to 

 the Bauxite developments. 



Of course the ultimate development of all South America, that may 

 be witnessed by succeeding generations, with heavy transcontinental lines 

 of railway, should not be lost sight of entirely when considering the relative 

 merits of roads and railways for British Guiana. The numerous possible 

 sources of hydro-electrical energy in the Colony are undoubtedly suffi- 

 cient to supply not only the Colony's industrial requirements, but also all 

 the light railways previously mentioned as supplementary to the road 

 system, as well as any portions of the main railway system of South 

 America that may come within the area of this Colony. 



One or another of the light electric railways previously mentioned 

 could be readily altered and adapted for through traffic to other parts of 

 South America when the time comes. 



My report to the Government of October, 1918, dealt at length with 

 the question of the relative importance of gradients on steam and electric 

 railways. In many instances it has been found economical to electrify 

 railways built at gradients suitable for steam operation in England, 

 Canada, and the United States, where the ex'ra fuel consumption by 



