790 
THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. [June l, 1895. 
important labour supply is trenched on by coolies 
having to be employed to carry bags <>f rice 
and boxes of tea considerable distances. SV r e do 
not, in the least, dissent from the Engineer on 
the point raised in its article as to the diffi- 
culties which would probably have to be oxer- 
come in constructing Tramways upon the moun- 
tain roads of Ceylon. To effect this construction, 
will probably involve the solution of an almost 
entirely new problem. Our hill roads arc for 
the most part narrow. The necessity tor >carping 
them along the hill-sides has often enforced 
their being so constructed. Hut it should 
not be overlooked when considering this 
item of difficulty, that Tramways are now- 
a-days so laid as to admit of the passage 
of ordinary road traffic over them, the 
rails being in all cases laid Hush with tin; metal- 
ling of the road surfaces. It does not seem, 
therefore, that much inconvenience would be 
caused by the presence of a Tramway, save, per- 
haps, at a few points where sudden curves in 
the road might make it difficult to see ap- 
proaching traffic. At such points the width of 
the scarping we have referred to would probably 
have to be somewhat increased. For these reasons 
we agree in thinking that the difficulties enu- 
merated would not be found to be insuperable. 
Probably the suggestion put forward by the 
writer of the Engincir art icle that Colonial Go- 
vernments should obtain designs and estimates 
for a trial road of the kind discussed is the best 
that could be at present ottered. We know it 
to be a question, however, as to whether the 
(Government of Ceylon would be willing to act 
upon it, or even to allow Private Enterprise the 
needful encouragement to take up the work. All 
depends now on whether the conservatism of 
the past in the matter of Railway Extension is 
to make way for a more liberal, and, as we 
deem, wiser and more far-seeing policy. Proposals 
for extension must continue at a deadlock, because 
we do not know how far the authorities here 
and at home may be willing to meet the views 
that we believe to be gradually spreading 
.among local residents. If a definite pronouncement 
can be obtained through the medium of question- 
ing in the House of Commons, as to the official 
policy in Ceylon, we should be in possession of 
some basis whereon to found future action. 
In respect of utilising water-power for Electric- 
motor Tramways in our hill-country, we have 
been lately advised that considerable improve- 
ments have to be effected in this department 
of Engineering, before a practical success can 
be anticipated. Cases have been mentioned to 
ns, where, under extremely favourable circum- 
stances, Electric Tramways dependent on water- 
power have not proved a financial success ; and 
the conclusion that Engineers of experience have 
come to, is that to make such plant profitable, 
lighting must be combined with traction, so as 
to secure utilisation during the night as well 
as the day. 
We may now sum up the deductions which 
may be made from the article in the London 
Engineer, as follows in a concise form : — 
(1) It is a notable bit of evidence that English 
Railway Engineers are following tardily and one by 
one in the direction taken 15 years ago by their con- 
tinental confreres, and are abandoning their con- 
servative clinging to the traditions of Stephenson and 
Brunei. They no longer insist on the alternative of 
taking standard gauge railways built to Board of 
trade requirements or going without. They are 
beginning to realise that biff railways need little rail- 
ways to feed them. They are beginning to realise, 
too, that every country must be engineered according 
to its needs and peculiarities, and not a* heietofoic 
according to Westminster traditions. 
(2) Some radical departure from the current types 
of rail-track and methods of traction is necessary to 
meet the case of small groups of bill country estates 
lying five miles and upwards from existing railways. 
What departure exactly is a question which the several 
Governments might profitably refer at once to Com- 
missions authorised to invite paid-for plans and to 
take expert evidence. Each country thus acting for 
itself might profit by the sifted experience of other 
countries. \Y hy should not Ceylon show the way 
instead of limiting itBelf to single-mail wisdom. 
Waring is a good man, but not ommiscient ! 
(S.j Electricity : Science has to learn a great deal 
yet before it is in a position to supply a motor for 
the case put by the London Ewginetf — small remote 
groups of estates in precipitous country. Cheap water 
power is by no means the only pre-requisite required 
for cheap and reliable electric traction. We are not 
prepared to indicate a means of meeting the needs 
of these handicapped estates, but for immediate 
purposes we begin to feel sure it is not to be found in 
the direction suggested bv the Evyiiicer. 
Am regard* " Steam Tramways in Italy, ' the 
salient facts we gather from the paper sent by 
our London Correspondent may be summarized u» 
follows : — 
(L) They are not primarily main line feeders, 
not, as a glance at the map will show, branch 
lines. Bather they radiate from the large towns 
into the country for the purpose of bringing in to 
the town market, farm and garden produce. By 
thus stimulating the growth of wealth and popula- 
tion in and about the large towns they do as a 
matter of fact greatly benefit the main lines ; but 
this is a secondary and indirect effect; it is not 
(an important consideration thisi their originating 
purpose. 
(2.) Owing to a variety of causes, some of which 
can be seen in operation in the Bank scandals, the 
financial aspect of the Italian Light Uailways is dis- 
couraging, and show how not to do things. Yet 
(3.) Notwithstanding the aforesaid fact they have 
been a veritable manure to North Italy. As the 
Prussian Minister of Commerce said in lBy.S in 
moving the third reading of the Kleinbahnen-Gesetz 
in the Prussian Parliament :— "A traveller todav 
through Loinbardy, through Belgium, through Hol- 
land, can see for himself now beneficent have been 
these ' little railways.' It is as if irrigation canals 
had been carried through the fields, and every- 
thing was growing and flourishing under their ferti- 
lizing streams. In North Italy in special, the bless- 
sing they bring with them are so obvious that they 
can be seen by the casual tourist even as he hurries 
across the country." 
(4.) In construction and equipment they often show 
a wise disregard of professional vp#t dints. 
We are very loath to appear to throw cold water 
on the scheme shortly to be laid by petition, 
before His Excellency the Governor, in favour of 
utilising the Blackpool Falls tor an Electric 
Tramway between Nanuoya and Nuwara Eliya. 
But we are simply giving the experience that 
has been brought within our knowdedge. When 
in London, we warned the promoters of the 
Madras Electric Tramways, as to the risks they 
ran in pioneering in the East, before such Tram- 
ways could be said to be a success in the 
mother country. Where, in fact, can we point 
to financial as well as engineering successes in 
Electric Tramways ? In passing through America 
in 1884, we were much struck by the fact, that 
while we found the Electric Light nearly every- 
where — Denver with its 28.000 people fully lit 
up, while London could only boast of a few odd 
lamps — all the Tramways we saw in San Fran- 
cisco, Chicago, &c, were "cable," worked by 
steam engines. The combination of Electric 
Lighting for Nuwara Eliya along with the Tram- 
way is, we fear, scarcely to be thought of as a 
