8 HENRY DEANE. 
money, and it showed great confidence in the future of this 
part of Australia. The conditions of those times, when the 
traffic across the mountains was only 40 tons per day, were 
very diffierent from those existing at the present day, when 
at times, in spite of improved curves, heavier rails, dupli- 
cations, and heavier engines, the Railway Department can 
with difficulty cope with the enormous passenger and goods 
traffic that has sprung up. 
Some notable examples of the same principle adopted of 
beginning economically and afterwards reconstructing and 
improving may be found in America. The world famed 
Pennsylvania Railway has been relocated on some portions 
of its main line three times, and on the Southern Pacific 
System, the centre of which is San Francisco, a sum of 
$100,000,000 has been recently spent in shortening portions 
of the line and cutting out heavy grades and sharp curves. 
What has been said with regard to the early extension 
of the main lines is now applicable to some of the branches 
proposed at the present time. The traffic was small, but 
the country had to be opened up. There is this difference 
however, that the branches in question can scarcely be 
expected to develop into main arteries of traffic, and there- 
fore principles of economy, not to speak of cheapness, are 
less open to objection than in the case of original main line 
extensions. Thelate Mr. Eddy was very keen on the subject 
of economy, and it was through his support and recommen- 
dation that the cost of country extensions was reduced and 
the principles of the so called pioneer or earth ballasted lines 
have received so much consideration. There are many 
districts crying out, as it were, for better communication. 
These districts cannot properly develop without a railway 
of some sort, and the question remains what style of con- 
struction should be adopted so that the much desired - 
facilities may be given. There are two typical classes of 
