[No. 4, 
35S Report on a Route across 
communication across the Isthmus of Krau has brought us to the 
following conclusions. 
1st. That there should be two or three tug steamers with long 
flat-bottomed boats to carry goods and passengers from the five- 
fathom anchorage of the large steamers, 26 miles up the river 
Pakehan, as shown in the sketch map of the Isthmus, by the 
dotted green line, in which distance the river is nowhere less 
than one fathom at dead low water spring tides. There is a rise and 
fall of 8 feet. Time three hours’ towing. 
2nd. At this point (see plan) opposite Namoy river, a railway 
terminus and hotel, whence a railway will proceed, (leaving Krau 
to the north) by Tasan, to Tsoompeon on the shore of the gulf of 
Siam, distance fifty miles. Time three hours. 
3rd. Allow other six hours for discharging in the Pakehan, and 
loading at Tayoung on the Siam side, (where there should be another 
railway terminus and hotel) total time twelve hours, which is more 
than that required by the P. & 0. Co. at Suez, on whose arrangements 
we will suggest further improvements. 
4th. There need be only one station in the centre of the line 
where the rail should be double on either side, for the distance of 
about one mile, to allow of trains passing, the remainder of the line 
may be single as the Suez line. 
5th. The boats of eight or ten tons for the river service, should 
form the bodies of the carriages for the railroad service, patent slips 
being formed at the* Krau terminus and if necessary also on the 
gulf of Siam shore, up which the loaded boats may be dragged on 
their own wheels, which could form the slip cradles, and the boats 
could be tacked on to the engine and proceed to the other side with¬ 
out any delay. The arrangement of the boats for goods and passen¬ 
gers is a matter of detail easily managed. There is no reason why 
a carriage should not be in the form of a boat, especially when timo 
is saved in loading and expense in rolling stock. These boats would 
be at the anchorage, ready for the steamers as they come in from 
the mouth, when loaded, would be towed up to the railway terminus, 
dragged up the slips, and taken off at once per rail to Tayoung, where 
there should be a wharf for the China steamers, to lie along side, if 
there be water enough, if not, the carriage should be launched at 
once on to the sea, and sent to the steamers. 
