Agricultural and C(3Mmercial Society. 
miles extension of the West Coast Railway around 
Parika and up the right bank of the Essecjuebo to a 
point opposite Bartica, whence passengers and goods 
would be transported across the Essequebo by steam 
ferry, or a wire rope way elevated high abov^e the river. 
These wire rope ways are now largely used in 
many countries for short distances ranging up to say 
three miles, an<l are capable of spanning considerable 
distances, such as rec^uired for crossing the Essequebo 
by a single span. 
The chief objection to this scheme of reacliing Bar- 
tica, however, lies in the additional handling involved : 
there being five loadings and dischargings, as compared 
with one by the steamer route, all of which, as I have 
already pointed out, add considerably to the cost of 
transport. 
Leaving Bartica, the route of the proposed central 
trunk line would take an ascending curve round by the 
back of Bartica Point towards the high land at the back 
of Kalicoon and thence along the ridge of the watershed 
between the Esset^uebo and Mazaruni Rivers ; crossing 
the Potaro River just below the mouth of the Courie- 
brong close to Potaro Landing, thence in a southeriy 
direction crossing the Siparuni below the mouth of the 
Takoutu, on across the Purro-birro and the Rupununi 
Rivers and their tributary streams, tapping the great 
Rupununi savannahs, along the watershed of the Rewa 
Riser, crossing the Quitaro and Cassikitu Rivers to the 
upper reaches of the Essequebo, close to the Brazilian 
boundary, a total distance of about 420 miles. 
This would form the great Central Trunk Line, with 
branches right and left as found necessary in the future 
