TRANSPORT. 311 



We will take first a length of 240 miles (Steven- 

 son Koad, or Mombasa to Kibwezi). The cost of 

 making a bullock waggon track with bridges and 

 ballast in swampy ground we will put down at 

 £200 a mile — a very low estimate. The road 

 requires, therefore, £48,000, for which we will 

 allow 4 per cent, interest and £500 a year for 

 maintenance — probably below the truth. 



Now 3 waggons and 50 oxen will cost at the 

 least £600, on which 5 per cent, depreciation must 

 be allowed. The salaries of one European and ten 

 natives will amount to at least £300 per year, 

 during which they might transport 6 tons of 

 merchandise across the road 12 times. There 

 will, however, be only transport upwards at first, 

 as the export from such a country will be insignifi- 

 cant for the first few years. Hence they will only 

 receive at the utmost about 40 tons to carry, which 

 must therefore yield them 



Interest on £600 ... 

 Depreciation ,, 



Salaries 



£24 

 30 

 300 



£354 



That is to say about £9 per ton for the journey of 



240 miles. 



The interest on the capital spent in making the 



road itself and maintenance will amount to : — 



4 per cent, on £48,000 £1,920 



Maintenance 500 



£2,420 



