The Sun.
London, England, 1862-11-27 00:00:00

INDIAN TRAMWAY.

The directors of this company state in their report that
Mr. Forde has visited Bombay, Madras, and Bengal, and
has personally received the strongest assurances on the part
of the several Governments of the deep interest with which
they regard the introduction of tramways into India. The
terms which the directors had applied for were readily con-
ceded by the Governments of Madras and Bombay, but
those suggested by the Government of India, although con-
ceding what has been asked, contain clauses which the
directors consider to require modification. The following
is the substance of these 'concessions :—The Government
grant the free use of part of the existing road for 99 years,
provide additional land for stations and sidings, give an-
nual subvention equal to the cost of maintaining half the
roadway until the line pays 5 per cent., exempt permanent
way materials from duty, consent to audit tho accounts, re-
frain from all interference with traffic until after the profits
reach 10 per cent., give reasonable protection from compe-
tition, and render all other possible assistance, reserving to
themselves the right to purchase the house on agreed terms,
and to transport the mails free and troops and stores at re-
duced rates. The terms offer considerable advantages,with
the additional benefit of the Government supervision being
limited to the audit of accounts, and such other points as can
in no way obstruct, but will protect and assist the opera-
tions of the company. The lines proposed for earliest con-
struction, subject to confirmation by the Government of
India, are—ln Bombay, from Palej station of the Bombay
and Baroda Railway to Jumbooseer, 20 miles, through a
densely peopled cotton country. In Madras, from the Ar-
conum Junction of the Madras Railway to Conjeveram, 17
miles—a line much required. In Bengal, from the Luckee
Serai station of the East Indian Railway to the Kurrhee-
bailee coal mines, 83 miles, subject to arrangements with
the East Indian Railway Company, whose acting chief en-
gineer states that these coal fields " yield the best steam
coal yet discovered in India," and that " the freight on the
minimum quantity of coal required by the East Indian
Railway Company only will pay the interest on the ca-
pital necessary for the construction of a cheap branch
line." And in the north-west provinces, from Cawn-
pore to Lucknow, subject also to arrangements with
the East Indian Railway Company, and upon the
presumption that the Oude Railway Company, who
made the surveys in 1857-58, do not construct it. The
directors have decided, unless in special and exceptional
cases, to adopt the narrow gauge, sufficient for all the pur-
poses of locomotive engine power. The board recommend
the shareholders to proceed, without loss of time, with one
or more of the lines above referred to. These works, in the
whole, will amount to about 170 miles, requiring an expen-
diture of about £600,000, or, including rolling stock and all
charges, uneer £3,500 per mile. The capital of the company
is £1,000,000, of which the first issue was £250,000, upon
which the directors propose to make a call to satisfy the
Government of the bona fide character of the undertaking.
No portion of this call will be expended until the directors
have obtained from the Government of India the further
modifications which they consider absolutely requisite.