G.— ENGINEKRTNC. 147 



In consequence of iliis divergence of views an to the nature of tiie 

 country through which a transcontinental line would pass, a Sectional 

 Committee of the Commonwealth Joint Standing Committee of Public 

 Works travelled in 1921 across the continent from Oodnadatta to 

 Darwin by motors, explored a considerable area of country both east and 

 west of the overland telegraph line, and examined local witnesses in 

 order to ascertain the views of those already settled in these areas as 

 to the most suitable routes for the proposed transcontinental lines. 

 This Committee was accompanied by Mr. Hobler, Commonwealth Engi- 

 neer for Ways and Works, who had already in 1920 travelled over the 

 Kimberley area of West Australia, and had submitted a report on the 

 railway lines which were required in order to open up that great cattle- 

 rearing area, and to give that district satisfactory facilities for marketing 

 their stock. 



The Standing Committee, after receiving the report of their Sec- 

 tional Committee, began to take evidence in the Southern States, and 

 at a meeting held in Sydney last May Mr. Hobler submitted a lengthy 

 report setting forth the conclusions he had come to in regard to the 

 best routes not merely for a transcontinental line, but for the various 

 O'ther railways which were required in order to^ connect the undeveloped 

 tropical areas of Australia with the southern temperate districts already 

 fairly well provided with railway facilities. Mr. Hobler's proposals were 

 based on the principle that the pastoral and cattle industries must be 

 considered to be the primary ones ; mining development would only, he 

 thought, begin at a later date, and agricultural developments would only 

 start when the primary industries were firmly established and population 

 had begun to increase. 



Two alternative transcontinental routes were suggested by Mr. 

 Hobler, with certain essential branch lines, viz. : — 



Western Route. 



Oodnadatta to Emun-ga-lan (Main line) 1,018 miles . . Cost £12,077,803 



Newcastle Waters to Camooweal (Branch line) 359 miles . . Cost £3,921,750 



(Average cost per mile about £11,300) • 



Total mileage . 1,377 Total cost . £15,999,553 



This proposal would apparently satisfy the claims of South Aus- 

 tralia, and would at the same time give a direct connection between the 

 Eastern States and the Northern Territory. 



Eastern Route. 



Maree to Emun-ga-lan via Boulia, Camooweal and 



Daly Waters 1,320 miles : Cost £14,329,864 



(Average cost per mile about £11,000) 



The lantern plates sliow these suggested alternative routes. 



The eastern route, which was the one preferred by Mr. Hobler, 

 would mean a saving in capital cost of 1,669,689/., to which would be 

 added a further saving of 2,759,584/. if the widening of the existing 

 3 ft. 6 in. gauge line between Maree and Oodnadatta were postponed. 



If this eastern route were finally adopted it would probably be 

 necessary, in order to secure the assent of South Australia, to extend 



