194 Timehri. 



to bring produce up the Eupununi river from its mouth to Annai where 

 the Railway will be practically alongside the bank as this stretch of water 

 is navigable for launches and no rapids are encountered. 



The northern terminus can be situated at either Georgetown or near 

 Wismar, but I am inclined to favour the latter place to begin with. 



Terminal facilities would be costly at Georgetown and land for the 

 right of w r ay would have to be expropriated for a greater part of the 

 distance. In all it is estimated that the extra cost in bringing the line 

 to Georgetown will not fall short of £300.000. 



If the proposed northern terminus of the line is placed between 

 Christianburg and Wismar on the left bank of the Demerara river, good 

 ground can be had here for terminal facilities with a splendH waterfront 

 along which wharves can be constructed while at the back is a sand ridge 

 eminently suitable for quarters and offices for the staff. 



From this point the line would strike inland and climb up the water- 

 shed between the Demerara and Essequibo rivers (which nowhere about 

 here reaches a very high elevation) keeping a general southerly direction, 

 the Arisaru mountains, which are only a low range of hills, would be 

 crossed at a point some 3 to 5 miles to the east of the Essequibo river 

 where a break in them occurs. Continuing along at a distance of 3 miles 

 or more from the Essequibo the Mariwa creek should be crossed as close 

 as possible to its mouth in order that the line may be taken to the 

 vicinity of the Potaro mouth so that it can cater for the traffic of the 

 Coniwaruk and Potaro districts. In connection with this it would be of 

 great benefit if the line could be taken down to the bank of the Essequibo 

 river to enable freight and passengers to be loaded directly into boats and 

 train. It would also have this advantage, that if a line is ever built up 

 the Potaro river to Kaieteur the crossing of the Essequibo could be made 

 just above the confluence, where rock foundations would be obtained, 

 and on up the right bank of the former river. Owing, however, to the 

 short time at our disposal the question as to whether this is possible could 

 not be definitely decided and it is a matter for the survey party to go 

 into. I have, however, shown the line going down to the river's edge 

 and the alternative route in a dotted line, the latter involving a branch 

 some 12 miles in length. This branch should be avoided if possible even 

 at the expense of slightly lengthening the main line. A short branch is 

 expensive to work ; it means the upkeep of staff necessary for two 

 stations, the stabling at the junction of an engine and passenger stock to 

 work the branch, which is never fully employed and is comparatively 

 speaking out of control, while the benefits of having an important station 



