148 SECTIONAL ADBRESSES. 



the present 3 ft. 6 in. line from Oodnadatta to Alice Springs, 297^ miles, 

 in order to open up for development the pastoral and mining McDonnel 

 Eange country. This line could be built at a very economical cost if 

 permanent way, released by the widening of the existing track from 

 Maree to Port Augusta, were utilised and practically a surface track 

 laid, the cost working out at about 1,490,502L, or 5,010L per mile. 

 Taking into consideration the cost of this line, the adoption of the 

 eastern route would secure a saving in capital cost of 2,938,771^. as 

 compared with the western route. 



With regard to working expenses and receipts, the western route 

 complete was estimated to show an annual deficit in the early years 

 of 17,024L, to which must be added interest on capital 973,9'27L, 

 making, therefore, an annual charge on the Commonwealth Treasury 

 of about 1,000,0001. The eastern route, including the Oodnadatta to 

 Alice Springs line, would probably have an annual excess of receipts 

 over expenditure of 107,832L, the interest on capital would be 852,638L, 

 making the annual charge on the Treasury about 744,806L The 

 eastern route would, according to these estimates, mean a saving of 

 about 250,0001. sterling per annum as compared with the western route, 

 in addition to the saving of nearly 3,000,0001. in the original capital 

 outlay. 



Should the eastern route be adopted Mr. Hobler anticipated a rapid 

 development of Port Augusta. The erection of large meat works and 

 the deepening and extension of the harbour would make this port the 

 natural outlet for the pastoral, agricultural, and mining products of an 

 immense area of Central Australia. 



It will be seen that there is very little to choose between the two 

 routes as regards mileage of new lines and the cost per mile. The main 

 factor in the comparison of the two routes and the one which is most 

 open to dispute is the expected annual charge upon the Commonwealth 

 finance for a good number of years. Since these proposed railways are 

 primarily development lines, they cannot possibly become a paying 

 proposition until the expected increase of population and resultant 

 more thorough and complete development of the great natural resources 

 of this hitherto almost unutilised area of Australia have had time to 

 materialise. 



A very recent suggestion by the Surveyor-General of South Australia 

 is that the transcontinental line should start from Tarcoola on the East- 

 West line, thence run direct to Oodnadatta (a new line), from there , 

 follow the overland telegraph line to Barrows Creek, deviate then 

 easterly, but return to the telegraph line route at Powell's Creek, and 

 continue to follow it till it reaches the terminus of the existing line at 

 Katherine Eiver. 



Of the two problems, the one which seems most lu'gent and calls 

 for a prompt solution is the transcontinental line, with its various pro- 

 posed branches. Capital can only be provided for either the unification 

 of the gauges or for the transcontinental lines by borrowing, and it is 

 obvious that borrowed money, for the interest on which annual provi- 

 sion must be made, is better spent upon railway work, which will at 

 once increase the output of the primary products of Australia and pro- 

 vide work for an increased population. I would therefore urge that 



