196 fimchri. 



10,000 to 15,000 men. Due to the local conditions of the labour market 

 most of these will have to be brought into the country from oversea, and 

 Chinese or East Indian labour might be imported if this could be done 

 economically. The Panama Canal is now nearing completion and a large 

 supply of West Indian labour will be available from there. 



No doubt a fair number of labourers will be obtained locally and in all 

 probability Indians from the interior could be persuaded to work. I am 

 informed by Mr. Melville, the district Commissioner, Rupununi, that there 

 should be no difficulty in getting hold of 1,000 to 1,500 of these people 

 who could be employed in clearing the forest (which I understand is 

 work they readily take to), cutting sleepers, and work of this nature. If 

 some Government official who thoroughly understands the Indian could 

 be detailed to look after and explain things to them, there is no doubt 

 the experiment would prove a success and excellent work would result- 

 Wherever possible small contracts should be let and the piece-work 

 system adopted, more especially on earth-work, clearing, timber cutting, 

 and work of this nature. For instance, 12 men might be given a mile of 

 light earth-work to complete for which they would be paid so much 

 a cubic yard, the price varying with the hardness of the soil to be ex- 

 cavated. Clearing should be paid for by the acre, piles and large timbers 

 at so much a foot and sleepers in the same way. 



These sums should be based on the ordiuary wage so that the average 

 man can always make his day's pay while the one who chooses to work 

 harder will gain more. Day labour must be avoided where possible as it 

 is anything but satisfactory, and the tendency is to slack. Plate-laying, 

 ballasting, bridging and similar work will, however, have to be carried 

 out on this principle and it is here that good supervision is needed 

 Experienced foremen must be brought into the country who may be 

 given a bonus on account of good work or else paid an annual increment. 

 The same holds good as regards the senior staff and the greatest care 

 must be taken in their selection. 



COST OF RAILWAY. 

 The estimate for building this line under the conditions laid down in 

 the detail notes and carried to completion by the Government itself 

 should not cost more than £3,500 per mile or a total of £980,000 for the 

 whole work. This sum includes the cost of the Essequibo bridge which 

 is estimated at £30,000. It is difficult to give even approximate figures 

 of how this sum is made up without a definite survey, but the following- 

 estimate in detail will show how this cost is arrived at. It is based on 

 figures obtained from lines constructed elsewhere under similar conditions 

 and should prove fairly correct. They are of course liable to correction 



