96 
The Journal of the Royal 
The annexed paper by Mr. G. V. de la Bastide on 
Railway Development in British Guiana was read by the 
President : — 
Following Mr. Dorman's example, I will deal firstly 
with the gauge question. 
This question is one which has given rise to a great 
deal of discussion. It is, however, pretty generally 
conceded by British engineers that a break of gauge is 
inadvisable where it can possibty be avoided, and no 
engineer would hesitate to lay a standard-gauge line, 
if he were given a free hand as to finances. Yet it has 
been proved conclusively, on the Continent and in 
India, that light railways with a break of gauge can be 
made sucessfully both from a technical and traffic point 
of view. 
Experience has taught that in sparsely populated and 
purely agricultural districts, or where it is desirable to 
open up a line of country by connecting it with a 
seaport where the traffic receipts will not warrant a 
standard-gauge line, it is better to lay a light narrow- 
gauge Railway, with its consequent inconveniences, 
than postpone perhaps indefinitely if not entirely the 
development of a country or an industry until such time 
as the receipts per mile would justify a standard -gauge 
line. The American method of construction in unin- 
habited districts, or where the traffic is light, which has 
been adopted in India, the Cape, and elsewhere, is 
correct in principle, and is the one which should be 
followed in British Guiana. 
Briefly, it is to lay down the line as cheapl}'^ aa 
possible with sharp curves and steep gradients so as to 
