MAGAZINE OF SCIENCE AND ART. 
151 
was originally defective. The arrangements for the 
future inspection of Railway materials ordered from 
England, submitted to you by rnv letter of the 7th 
instant, will, if carried out, render such an occurrenco 
again impossible. 
From, Houevsuckle Point, near Newcastle, to East 
Maitland, a distance of 16£ miles, is the commence¬ 
ment of the Great Northern Line. It has double-way 
works with a single line laid with the II rail, 75lbs. 
to the yard, It was only opened for traffic on the 30th 
of last March, and is in good order:* the Rolling 
Stock is nearly new, and the supply ample. 
This Railway, which labors under the disadvantage of 
competing with the steamers on the River Hunter^ has 
another drawback in not possessing any large amount 
of population at either terminus, and must depend for 
success upon the traffic arising from the opening up of 
the coal and mineral resources in its neighbourhood, 
and its further extension into the country. 
The cost or the line from Honeysuckle Point to East 
Maitland was £258,037 Is. lOd. ; the gross receipts 
for the three months ending 30 Juno last, were £1,426 
10s. 8d„ and the expenditure £958 15s. 2d. 
Upon the Sydney and Liverpool Line the gross 
receipts for the six months ending 30th June last, were 
£17,980 9s. 2d., and the expenditure £11,005 13s. 9d. 
The cost of the rolling stock upon both lines, includ¬ 
ing a part of the permanent way of the Great Northern 
Railway, is stated at £104,400 13s., and the total 
capital expended, upon them at £1,049,104 8s, 5d.,+ 
the excess of interest over net receipts being £38,439 
Is. 7d, yearly. 
There will yet be an addition to the costs of these 
lines from claims still outstanding for land taken for 
Railway purposes, or injury done by severance 
It is most desirable these should be settled, and I 
propose to give them my attention as early as possible. 
While in England the cost of the maintenance of 
permanent way and other working expenses average 
48 per cent, and in America from 56 to 60 per cent, 
of the receipts here they are 662 per cent, upon the 
Great Southern Line, exclusive of the maintenance of 
the way between Parramatta and Liverpool; and 67'2 
per cent, upon the Great Northern Line for working 
expenses only; and at the same rate they would pro¬ 
bably amount next year to 85*4 per cent of the earn¬ 
ings. These charges must, however, be reduced. 
Aly estimators for the ensuing year, though neces¬ 
sarily calculated upon the data afforded by past ex¬ 
perience here, have been, framed with a view to this. 
The principle has been introduced of paying into the 
Treasury the gross in place of the net receipts only 
derived from Railway traffic, and of taking distinct 
votes of the House for all expenditure chargeable to 
revenue during the year, independent of the votes 
authorising the raising of capital for further extensions* 
.At the same time such alterations have been sub¬ 
mitted in the staff of my Department as will, by 
ensuring its greater efficiency, tend to promote economy. 
Among the appointments thus recommended are. a 
General Traffic Manager, two Inspectors of Permanent 
Way, and an Inspector of Works and Workshops. 
* Since writing the above I have learnt, with regret, 
that the recent unprecedented floods have done consider¬ 
able damage to this line, and shewn that parts of it cannot 
be considered as above the highest flood level 
2 7 August, 1857. 
£ s, d. 
+ Interest of £1,019,194 8s. 5d ., at 5 per 
cent .:. 52,459 14 5 
Receipts of Railway over Working Ex¬ 
penses . 14,020 12 10 
£38,439 1 7 
But the expenditure will In future be increased by the 
maintenance of the permanent way where now main¬ 
tained by contractor. 
If suitable persons to fijl these appointments cannot 
be obtaiued in the Colony, I consider they should bo 
procured, without delay, from England. 
By these means, and by the enforcement of that eco¬ 
nomy and individual responsibility in every branch of 
the Department, which the public have a right to de¬ 
mand, 1 have no hesitation in saying considerable 
savings may bo made, and the work better done. 
Thus, for instance, cranes may take the place of nu¬ 
merous porters, and the employment of men as gate¬ 
keepers at level crossings be abolished. In America it 
appears that the public take care of themselves, with 
no better warning than the bell of the engine, and 
notice boards, inscribed with the words H look out for 
the cars when the bell rings,” and no doubt they would 
do so equally well here; and simple arrangements 
prevent cattle from straying on the lines, or "remove 
them without injury to the train should they do so. 
But if such a system be thought objectionable, the ut¬ 
most that should be done would be to build small lodges 
at each crossing, to be occupied by married men em¬ 
ployed uppn the permanent way, whose wives should 
attend to the gates without wages, in consideration of 
living rent free. 
Such undertakings as Railways are for the most part 
commercially successful or not, ca'teris paribus , ac¬ 
cording as attention is paid to economy in the details of 
expenditure, which many consider too trifling for notice. 
3. tht2 extensions ordered. 
.From Liverpool to Cambelltown the Great Southern 
Line will pass through a favourable country: the dis¬ 
tance is twelve mile?, and the road formation of the 
first four miles will be completed in September next; 
the earth-work on “this portion averages 13,000 cubic 
yards to the mile, and the total cost will not exceed 
£7,500 per mile; tho worst gradient being 1 in 100, 
and the smallest radius of a curve 30 chains" 
Tenders have been accepted for the construction of 
the remaining eight miles to the formation level, and 
the works will be commenced immediately, and will 
be completed early next year. The earth-works are 
light, averaging 5.000 cubic yards to the mile, and the 
total.cost will not exceed £7,000 per mile; the steepest 
gradient being 1 in 100, and the sharpest curve having 
a radius of 50 chains. 
The. numerous creeks or gullies intersecting the lines 
materially increase the expense. 
The permanent way will bo a single line throughout, 
laid with the double-headed rail, 75 lbs. to the "yard, 
on cross sleepers, with chairs, and fish jointed. 
I.anticipate the first four miles will be opened for 
traffic towards the close of this year, and the remainder 
in the following February or’ March, if the weather 
prove favourable for work. 
From Honeysuckle Point into Newcastle—a distance 
of G7 chains—the lino is generally level; the steepest 
gradient being 1 in 900. 
Tenders have been received for its formation, and 
the cost of this addition will not exceed £10,000, 
of which the permanent way and works will require 
about £6,000, and the remainder be for sidings, turn¬ 
tables, and buildings. 
Tenders have also been accepted for the extension 
from East to West Maitland,—2 miles 67 chains in 
length. The earth-works will average 15,000 cubic 
yards per mile, and the total cost will be about £8,000 
per mile ; the steepest gradienPbeing 1 in 100, and the , 
radius of the sharpest curve 50"chains. 
Tbe.permanent way will be similar to that on the 
extension to Cambelltown, and will be laid down as 
earl f y as thy progress of the earth-works permits. The 
line into Is ewcastle will, I trust, be available for traffic 
in December next, and that to West Maitland by the 
beginning of next year. 
In die above-named amounts nothing has been al¬ 
lowed for the purchase of land, or injury done bv 
severance. 
When these extensions are completed and opened, 
! fifty-four miles of Railway will be in operation ; and 
