The Railway Discussion 1902. 51 
construction and equipment similar to the existing West Coast Railway, may be 
estimated as follows :—200 passengers per day carried on an average 160 miles, 
say $9, $1,000; 100 tons of goods 160 miles say $13, $1,800 ; mails $100— 
$2,400 ; or £3,000 per week, being £156,000 per year, and when it is considered 
that practically all the traffic of the interior as well as that to the upper portion 
of the Amazon should pass over this railway, I think the estimate is moderate, 
and that a large traffic would very soon be developed in cattle, balata and 
sundry goods, to say nothing of the number of lives, gold and stores now so 
frequently lost on the rivers, which would be saved. 
Railway construction, however, in such a country as this cannot be under- 
taken without liberal Government assistance, and land or cash guarantee ; as 
no matter how great the prospect of a fair return on the capitas expended 1s, 
the British pubiic say, when asked to invest, ‘“‘we know nothing about this 
railway’s possibilities. If it is as good as it is represented to be, why not get 
a guarantee from the colony, and then we will subscribe.’ While another 
danger to be guarded against is, trifling with a subsidy once given, as the merest 
suspicion by the Stock Exchange or publ that such had been or would be 
possible would be quite sufficient in itseif to absolutely condemn any future 
issue of stock under a guarantee by such a Government ; and there is no more 
senstive pulse in the world than the Stock Exchange. There can be noquestion 
that the motive power for any inland railway in this colony should die electric, 
as power can be obtained to any extent from the falls on the various rivers 
which the propused lines would cross at frequent intervals. 
Tue Rey. A. CAMPBELL considered that in connection with a railway, such as 
that proposed, a reasonable risk should be taken, if there was a reasonable hope 
of success, and that railway development in the colony should be encouraged. 
The matter should be regarded not only from the standpoint of intercolonial 
trade, but of trade with other countries. The coast line bordering the Atlantic 
was the nearest landing point for Kuropeans, and if the proposed railway was 
constructed the colony might become the emporium of commerce for South 
American countries who would bring their produce to our boundary along 
their magnificent rivers. 
Mr. HARGREAVES remarked that for years past there had been a gigantic 
scheme before the United States Government to run a railway down the centre 
of South America. If, however, that railway ran on the west side of the Andes 
there would be insuperable difficulties in the way of making a communication 
with that railway by means of a railway from the Coast. 
THE PresiDENT replied that it would hardly be possible to put the ecb me 
referred to into practice, until the whole of the Spanish Republics ceased having 
revolutions. Continuing, Mr. Hill expressed his pleasure that his paper had 
evoked discussion, and that it should have brought back “a lost sheep to the 
fold *’ in the person of Mr. Dorman whom he welcomed back to the Society. 
With regard to the narrow gauge spoken of by Mr. Dorman, that gauge was to 
be found for the most part in Ireland, and he would be sorry to take Ireland 
as an example in respect of railway administration. The narrow gauge had been 
