358 Report on a Route across [No, 4, 



communication across the Isthmus of Krau has brought us to the 

 following conclusions. 



1st. That there should be two or three tug steamers with long 

 flat-bottomed boats to carry goods and passengers from the five- 

 fathom anchorage of the large steamers, 26 miles up the river 

 Pakchan, as shown in the sketch map of the Isthmus, by the 

 dotted green line, in which distance the river is nowhere less 

 than one fathom at dead low water spring tides. There is a rise and 

 fall of 8 feet. Time three hours' towing. 



2nd. At this point (see plan) opposite Namoy river, a railway 

 terminus and hotel, whence a railway will proceed, (leaving Krau 

 to the north) by Tasan, to Tsoompeon on the shore of the gulf of 

 Siam, distance fifty miles. Time three hours. 



3rd. Allow other six hours for discharging in the Pakchan, and 

 loading at Tayoung on the Siam side, (where there should be another 

 railway terminus and hotel) total time twelve hours, which is more 

 than that required by the P. & 0. Co. at Suez, on whose arrangements 

 we will suggest further improvements. 



4th. There need be only one station in the centre of the line 

 where the rail should be double on either side, for the distance of 

 about one mile, to allow of trains passing, the remainder of the line 

 may be single as the Suez line. 



5th. The boats of eight or ten tons for the river service, should 

 form the bodies of the carriages for the railroad service, patent slips 

 being formed at the Krau terminus and if necessary also on the 

 gulf of Siam shore, up which the loaded boats may be dragged on 

 their own wheels, which could form the slip cradles, and the boats 

 could be tacked on to the engine and proceed to the other side with- 

 out any delay. The arrangement of the boats for goods and passen- 

 gers is a matter of detail easily managed. There is no reason why 

 a carriage should not be in the form of a boat, especially when time 

 is saved in loading and expense in rolling stock. These boats would 

 be at the anchorage, ready for the steamers as they come in from 

 the mouth, when loaded, would be towed up to the railway terminus, 

 dragged up the slips, and taken off at once per rail to Tayoung, where 

 there should be a wharf for the China steamers, to lie along side, if 

 there be water enough, if not, the carriage should be launched at 

 once on to the sea, and sent to the steamers. 



