Agricultural and Commercial Society. 103 
Landing, and then northwards to Omai following the 
course which the o-resit trunk line would take. Then, 
as the finances of the colony permitted, these lines could 
be constructed. Surveys of this kind, however, should 
be carried on with judgment, and in a systematic manner, 
otherwise a fruitless expenditure may result. It is a 
well-known maxim in engineering that £100 spent on 
good surveys may save from £1,000 to £10,000 in the 
construction of either roads or railways, which should 
be borne in mind. I was surprised in reading Mr. 
Hill's paper that while at the outset he deplored the 
fact of a break of gauge in the colony, he should 
recommend at the end of his paper the adoption of the 
" Lartique " system, which entails not only a break of 
gauge, but what is still worse, an entirely new type of 
railway, A double-rail line, however narrow the gauge, 
can always be adapted, as circumstances require, to the 
standard-gauge, and although laid with light rails could 
carry the rolling stock of a main line, if light locomo- 
tives are used on the branch line. 
We have a type of locomotives now on the Bridge- 
town and St. Andrew's railway in Barbados capable of 
hauling 200 tons on a gradient of 1 in 60, which is not 
too heavy for even 30 lb. rails. These are 8 wheels 
coupled, built by Messrs. Baldwin & Co., Philadelphia. 
The '^ Lartique " system does not afford the 
advantages which a light double rail line does, as it 
cannot be converted to the standard- ofauofe were it 
necessary to do so, and would cost a great deal more 
than a light line of equal capacity. Its estimated cost 
is put down by the owners of tlie system at £3,000 a 
mile under ordinary circumstances, and it is a remark- 
