oct.— dec. 1857.] Madras Railway. 



75 



other lines are formed, it indirectly serves those of Mysore, Bel- 

 lary, and Cuddapah on the one hand ; Trichinopoly and Madura 

 on the other. 



The first- point to be aimed at, therefore, is to get a good main 

 line through these districts. If considerable towns are found in 

 the way (Colonel Cotton says there is but one), the Railroad should 

 be taken to them if it can be done, without disproportionate sa- 

 crifice of expense, either in increasing the length or the difficulties 

 of construction. 



What amount of sacrifice should be made with this object will 

 depend upon circumstances now to be noted. 



The size of the Town. 



The probable duration of its existence. 



The probable effect of its distance from the rail on the traffic of 

 the line. 



I shall first consider the last point, viz., the probable effect of the 

 distance at which a line passes a town upon the traffic. This de- 

 pends mainly on the passenger fares. It depends also on the cha- 

 racter of the country and condition of the people, by which the ave- 

 rage distance travelled by the inhabitants is affected. 



Thus, if the fare by rail is J the expense of travelling by road, 

 it will cost a man, living three miles from a station the same in go- 

 ing to a point on the line 5 miles off in a direct line, whether he goes 

 by high road or by rail. If the place be more than 5 miles off, it 

 will be cheaper to go by rail if less, dearer. 



Now the average distance travelled by rail by passengers in Eng- 

 land is shown to be 15 miles. Colonel Cotton has stated it erroneous- 

 ly at 13, and has unreasonably, I think, taken this as a data for 

 Railways generally all over the world, but nothing can be more 

 clear than that in this, as in all other respects, but in this respect, 

 preeminently, the traffic in this country must differ from that in 

 England. 



There, we have a large wealthy population dwelling within nar- 

 row limits, and a land thickly studded with populous Towns and 



