On Railway Gradients. 123 



tains, it lias been found necessary in the crossing of this natural 

 difficulty, to adopt a steep incline. 



It would take too much time to describe the various summit 

 levels occurring near Kilmore, on the north eastern line — at 

 Elphinstone, at the Porcupine and the Alexandrian range, on the 

 Mount Alexander line — at the head of the Werribee, at Dayles- 

 ford and Mount Franklyn on the North Western line — at Jowerrk 

 Jowerrk, Yandoit,andthe Limestone Creek on the west line and at 

 the Moorabool, Buninyong and Warrenheip, on the Geelong and 

 Ballaarat line. This information is obtainable in the report of 

 Captain Clarke ; suffice it, therefore, to say, they partake of a 

 similar nature to those previously enumerated, and are difficulties 

 in the way of obtaining a comparatively perfect fine which cannot 

 be overcome. 



Some idea of the importance attached to the subject of Railway 

 Gradients in Victoria, may be gleaned from the extended surveys 

 made. The public cannot be aware of a tithe of the information 

 collected. When I state, however, that more than 120 miles have 

 been permanently surveyed, 1200 miles of Railway temporarily 

 surveyed, and nearly 2000 miles of tranverse sections taken, it 

 will be conceded, I think, that the question has not been slurred. 



Many of these sections have been taken over ground not pre- 

 viously surveyed, and an estimate may be formed of the diffi- 

 culties the engineer had to encounter in travelling over ground 

 little known ; nevertheless, the coast range has been thoroughly 

 examined, from a point some miles east of Mount Disappoint- 

 ment to the country far west of Ballaarat ; and its most favour- 

 able crossing for Railway purposes has been by gradients of 1 

 in 60 to 1 in 78, near Kilmore. Unfortunately, this is on a line 

 far to the east of the direct approach to the Gold Fields, and 

 would involve a most circuitous route to be made available for 

 that purpose. 



It is evident, that the disadvantages Victorian Railways will 

 labour under, are those of heavy inclines ; experience, however, 

 has fully proved, that grades far more severe, occurring in 

 Europe and America, have been, and are daily worked to advan- 

 tage ; and, it is not too much to hope that the improvements 

 daily making in the rolling stock of railways, will enable 

 the most unfavourable inclines, to be worked with far greater 

 speed and less loss of power than at present they can be. 



That Railways will do much for Victoria has never been 

 denied : — that her resources will increase and multiply beyond all 

 precedent : — that her mineral wealth will be developed to an extent 

 unparalleled in the world's history is not too much to be expected. 



