80 



On Improving Internal 



[Jan. 



of the country— the genius of ils inhabitants, or the stage of civilizatidn 

 at which they have arrived. India is essentially an agricultural country 

 —but carrying on a considerable traffic between the coast and the in- 

 terior, and which is in a state of great depression from the impediments 

 to free intercourse; nothing therefore will conduce so effectually to 

 raise it from its low estate as a cheaper mode of conveyance for its mer- 

 chandise and raw produce. That expensive iron railroads would efFec* 

 that change is more than problematical. 



The saving of time is in the estimation of the natives of India a mat- 

 ter of very little importance, and strong indeed must he the prospect of 

 gain, and small the fare to induce ihem to leave their present dilatory 

 proceedings and various occupations to avail themselves of this new 

 means of intercourse. Thus the main source of revenue in England, 

 the conveyance of passengers, will, from the indolence and poverty of 

 the great body of the inhabitants, form an unimportant item in the 

 returns of an Indian railroad. There are other objections to their 

 general introduction of no small magnitude. 



1st. They would rec[uire to be laid down upon an entirely new line 

 of road. 



2ndly. An engineer who has directed his attention especially to this 

 department could alone superintend the construction of iron railroads, 

 and he would require to have a large body of iron workers to assist him 

 in making, and repairing the rails, carriages, &c. 



3rdly. No carriages but those of a peculiar construction could he 

 used upon iron railways. 



4thly. An efficient police establishment would be requisite along the 

 whole line of road to protect such valuable property, and to prevent the 

 rails being injured or the road obstructed. 



5thly. By such a means of conveyance, there is immediate collision 

 with the interests and prejudices of a large body of the natives, now 

 employed as carriers, by entirely removing the means of transport from 

 their hands. 



6thly. The expence of maintenance. This item alone in the ac- 

 counts of the Liverpool and Manchester railroad for blocks, " sleepers,'^ 



chairs" &c. amounts to more than £400 per mile ! 



Instead therefore of using bars of iron in the formation of the 

 " way," it is proposed to substitute slabs of granite, each slab about 5 

 feet long and 1 { in breadth and thickness. These, if laid down perfect- 

 ly level and having their upper surface even with the road, in parallel 

 rows, and at such a distance apart that the wheels of the common cart 

 will run in the centre of each row, will form a road possessing nearly 



