388 Secondary or Nai-row Gauge Railways 
This Lille Company receives no subsidy from either the 
Government, the Department (county), or the town ; but the 
town has granted a concession of twenty-five years' duration, for 
which the Company pays a fixed annual royalty of 12Z. per 
waggon. 
The rails, known as Hamilton's system, are laid upon sleepers 
3 feet 3| inches apart. The iron rail weighs 28 lbs. to the 
running yard ; the iron guard rail weighs 22-34 lbs. to the 
running yard. The steel rail weighs 26'401bs. to the running 
yard ; the steel guard rail 20'30 lbs. to the running yard. 
The authorization to lay the rails on the high- and bye-roads 
is granted by the Administration of Bridges and Roads (Fonts 
et Chaussees), after the plans have been duly submitted and 
accepted. 
The privilege of using the public roads is compensated by 
the Company taking over the maintenance and repairs of 
G feet 8|r inches breadth of roadway. 
The terms of these concessions are given later on. 
It must be noted that the Bridges and Roads Commissioners 
will not allow the camber of the public roads to be altered ; as 
they are, so must the rails be, with all the gradients and 
sinuosities unchanged. 
Sidings or branch lines can be laid into any farm or factory, 
In which cases the cost of laying, including that of plant, plus 
a bonus of 20 per cent, on the total, must be paid by the 
users. 
Special rates are asked for cumbersome goods, like timber, 
or for materials of value, and the ordinary rates are tabulated as 
for a railway. 
The trucks are stationed for loading and unloading, as 
required, and fetched by an up or down train. 
The cost of laying the line on the stone-pitched roads was 
IZ. 4s. per yard run ; on macadam, \l. Is. 2d. to 1/. 2s. 2d. 
The trucks and waggons cost 60Z. to 120Z. ; the passenger- 
cars, 160Z. ; and the engines, 600Z. and 840Z. each. 
At Lille there have been no difficulties with the authorities. 
Free passes necessary for the public service have been issued, 
and others granted as a favour. 
The maximum speed attained in the open country must not 
exceed 13"75 miles per hour, and 3"75 when passing through 
towns. 
Horses soon become accustomed to the passing of the engines, 
the working parts of which are cased-in with sheet-iron. 
The ordinary hand and steam brake is used. 
It is possible that the farmers about Lille, who are not inter- 
ested in the Lille narrow gauge railway, may object to the rails 
