1862.] 
the Isthmus of Krau. 
357 
9th. All the trade between Maulmein and the Straits, for which 
there is no better mode of carriage than junks and kattoos, and 
all the tin found on both sides of the Pakclian, in the Lenya river, 
and indeed all along the coast up to Yeh, and which only requires 
capital and labour to develop to any extent, would be picked up at 
Krau, while the labour for the tin mines of the Pakclian, and possibly 
for the coal mines of Mergui, could be imported direct from China. 
All the 1^ millions of the Bankok trade and that of the Malayan 
Peninsula, on the eastern and western side, would be intercepted 
at Tayoung and Krau, also all adjuncts, which none of the present 
lines of steamers obtain, but which would go far to make them 
pay. Between Maulmein and Krau, where the coast is profusely 
wooded, wood-fuel might be used to increase profits, or decrease 
expenses, should it take any time to develop the trade carried 
on between Maulmein and Singapore. The cost of burning wood 
on this coast, as compared with that of coal, is as 1 to 10, taking 
the wood as 10 Its. per 1000 billets, and coal at 25 Its. 4 ans. per ton, and 
assuming that 250 billets 4 feet long, by 4 inches diameter, equal 
one hour’s steam, or one ton of coal. 
. 18. It would answer no useful purpose, to go into all the 
figures necessary to establish even an approximate idea of the greater 
profit that would be assured to commerce and to Steam Companies, 
by adopting the new lines herein proposed instead of the present 
lines. It was only necessary to take three items, fuel, establish¬ 
ment, and time of actual running steamers , to prove our position, 
and if we can show, that by the saving of the two first of these items, 
we can establish communication across the Isthmus of Krau, 
which shall also beat all present lines in point of the third, and most 
valuable item, time , we think it unnecessary to examine into the 
contingent saving which, to any one who will give intelligent 
consideration to them, will manifestly appear enormous. 
19. In the 3rd clause of the 17th para, we have shown the 
saving in fuel and establishment, of running steamers , to be 5 lakhs 
per annum, representing a capital of one million sterling. Can the 
communication by Krau be established within this sum ? If so, all 
the contingent savings and gain in time, go to the profit of trade, 
as well as any difference between the cost of the said communication, 
and the keeping of it up. Our consideration of the subject of the 
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