LIGHT RAILWAYS FOR NEW SOUTH WALES. 69 
_ Another item which might be reduced is the fastenings of rail 
to sleeper, and this is one of those parts which can be readily 
increased in strength to meet possible enlargement of traffic. 
For such a load and speed as that now contemplated four half 
pound dog spikes per sleeper alone without screws, even in soft 
wood sleepers, have been used successfully, but as heavier rails 
are in question it would be better to provide screws at the joints. 
This would reduce the present weight of all the fastenings from 
eight tons three hundred weight, to six tons fifteen hundred 
weight, per mile. 
Taking these reductions into consideration, and at rates taken 
from estimates, on a fair system of averages not including extreme 
or exceptional cases, of lines aggregating over two thousand miles, 
we may arrive at the following limits of cost, the first column 
shewing results under the most favourable circumstances, and the 
second those where the reverse is the case. As itis most unlikely 
that either of these conditions will apply to all items, the probable 
cost will generally le between the two. 
The price of steel rails and the freight from sea-board to destina- 
tion, which are both variable items, are taken together at £7 per 
ton in both columns; it is obvious that if the outside probable 
limits of these were taken the range between the lower and higher 
estimate might be separated still more by £400 or £500 per mile. 
As to these estimates, it may be said that, owing to the absorption 
of practically all public works by the Government in this colony, 
the experience as to cost of railway work here is almost exclusively 
in the possession of the Public Works Department, and that 
experience may be fairly said to be especially trustworthy, being 
based on the lowest tenders of numerously competing practical 
contractors for many years back. 
Estimated cost per mile exclusive of land and rolling stock :— 
& £ 
Earthwork ... ms aN Me aise sie 300 to 1,500 
Culverts hls oe 5c Bah oh ee: 25 to 260 
Timber Bridges Sa #0 sie 4a i33 80 to 700 
Road Diversions noe eh ahd feok ite 20 to 100 
