48 Timzhri. 
interior, I would suggest that the stations or stopping places be arranged close 
to passing rivers, which would naturally lend themselves as highways of 
approach for passengers and goods to and from the railway line. For 
the shorter and more or less isolated lines used as portages and local accom- 
modation tracks, I would suggest the adoption of the Lartigue or Mono-rail 
system, which has much to recommend it in the way of lightness and port- 
tability. 
As to the motive power to be supplied to our proposed railways of the interior, 
I think the advantages of electricity are self-evident, with means of generating 
it by water power so ready to hand in the several districts, as compared 
with the long distance from a cheap coal supply. Not alone does the great 
Kaieteur Fall on the Potaro River offer itself as a vast source of supply in 
this direction, also the smaller fallsand rapids in the other rivers crossed en 
route, all of which could be made available as sources of generating power. 
In the absence of a detailed survey of the interior of the country, it is impos- 
sible to attempt anything approaching an accurate estimate of the probable 
cost of the railways projected ; but as a more or less speculative approximation, 
T may venture to name a million and a half sterling for the Essequebo and 
Mazaruni trunk lines, and another half million for the Cuyuni : an expenditure 
which I feel sure is entirely beyond the capacity of the colony to undertake 
on its own account: the only possible way of accomplishing the opening up 
of the interior is by means of liberal concessions in land and mining rights, 
offered to outside capitalists. In submitting this paper, my object has been 
to ventilate the subject and thereby arouse some interest and discussion on 
the possibilities of our colony’s future. 
The President’s paper was declared open to discussion on April 18th, 1902. 
The President stated at the outset that he had been placed in possession 
of a paper issued in March, 1901, by the Colonial Office, with regard to the 
application for concessions in this colony. This document, of which he was 
unaware at the time of preparing his paper, was accompanied by a map showing 
a proposed central railway. starting from Bartica and running to the South as 
far as Takutu, thence branching off to the South-west touching a point close 
to Fort Joaquim,—a shorter way of reaching the Brazilian border, but not 
touching the savannah country as proposed in his (the President’s paper). 
His attention had also been called to a monorail system, with a single rail close 
to the ground. This railway which had been termed the “wheelbarrow 
railway, could be propelled by manual or horsepower at the side. 
Mr. J. W. Dorman. 
Mr. J. W. Dorman, General Manager of the Demerara Railway Company, 
who was present, opened the discussion. He said :— 
IT have read Mr. Hill’s paper on the possibilities of Railway Development 
in British Guiana with much interest and would like to make a few remarks on 
it. For the convenience of those who have read Mr. Hill’s statement I will go 
hrough the several heads in the order he has put them,and therefore commence 
