" Timehri " and Development. 197 



on completion of the survey, but the discrepancies should not prove 

 great and I feel confident the total need not be exceeded. Account has 

 been taken of the cost of labour, supervision, stores, etc., and the follow- 

 ing result arrived at : — 



Item. 

 Survey 



Earthworks and Clearing 

 Bridges and Culverts 

 Permanent Way and Ballast 

 Stations and Quarters 

 Station Machinery and Workshops 

 liolliug Stock 

 Telegraphs 



Engineering and Administration 

 Contingencies 



Estimated length of line 

 Total cost 



If the cost of labour* be taken at three shillings per day instead of two 

 shillings which may have to be allowed should labour be specially 

 imported, the above figures would be increased by quite £500 per mile 

 bringing the total cost up to £1,120,000. 



Taking the capital expenditure of the line at £1,000,000 and allowing 

 for interest and sinking fund at 5 per cent, per annum, there is a sum of 

 £50,000 to be met yearly. The working expenses on a line such as thi s 

 should be kept down to an absolute minimum to begin with, and will not 

 amount to more than £200 per mile per annum, or a total of, say, 

 £50,000 for the year. 



♦Note:— Cost of Labour.— The Secretary of State raises this question in his 

 despatch. The following notes are based on accurate information. 



1. From Sugar Estates' Books, Berbice (Indentured labour, — 



Trench digging costs 16 cents p. sq. rd. 



2. from Estates not employing indentured labour — 



Day's work with cvimiuelle and mattock, 275 cub. ft. 

 Day's pay (varying according to conditions), 40 to 48 cents. 



3. From Kailway Contracting firm in the United Kingdom. 



Day's work of navvy in medium clay (selected as comparable to average upper 



soils in the colony), 270 cub. ft. 

 Average price : Five-pence p. cub. yd. 



from (1) the price works out, for a day's work of 10 cub. yds., at 36 cents. 

 From (2) at average 44 cents. 

 From (3) at average 100 cents. 



This comparison makes it probable that even an attractive scale of pay will not put 

 cost of labour above chat of similar work at Home. The rate-s for bash clearing are 

 correspondingly moderate. — [Sc. Ed.] 



