312 A NATURALIST IN MID-AFRICA. 



So that if we allow a charge of £5 per ton on 

 merchandise carried, fully 484 tons at a total 

 freight of £14 per ton will be required to make the 

 operation pay. 



A railway across this country could probably be 

 built for £3,000 per mile which estimate includes 

 rolling stock. That is a capital of £720,000. 



As to working expenses, it is impossible to 

 obtain a definite statement, but assuming that 

 they would be about the same as in Natal, one 

 may take 5s. per train mile as near the truth. It 

 is 4s. 10'96d. according to the Government of Natal 

 Railway Accounts. This includes salaries, main- 

 tenance, and repairs of rolling stock and the 

 line. 



Thus the cost of transporting, say, 20 tons 240 

 miles would be £60, or £3 per ton. Allowing the 

 same charge of £5 for the use of the road, 484 tons 

 (the amount taken above as necessary for bullock 

 waggon transport to be productive) would yield 

 £2,420 for payment of interest, but 4 per cent, 

 interest on £720,000 amounts to £28,800. 



If we allow, however, £11 per ton charge, which 

 makes the total freight £14 per ton (as for bullock 

 waggons), then this would yield £5,324 for this 

 quantity, namely 484 tons. 



It is obvious that 2,620 tons at this freight 

 would be required to make it productive, or, on 

 the other hand, assuming 500 tons as the probable 

 amount to be carried, a charge of £57 12s. per 



