The Sun.
London, England, 1869-07-31 00:00:00

INDIAN .R.AILTV.AYS.

Some important papers on the subject of railway
extension in India have been published, which give an idea
3f the policy likely to be adopted by the Executive Govern•
ment of India with respect to this question. On the
11th of March Lord Mayo and the Executive Council,
in a long despatch to the Duke of Argyll,
discuss the most suitable agency for the construction of
railways. ?hey point out that the, time has arrived for
the Government to take the control of the new extensions
out of the hands of private companies, although this
policy need not be carried out to an exclusive extent.
The experience of India, as well as of other countries,
chews that an extravagantly constructed railway is per-
manently a financial failure ; and to a poor country
this lesson is of exceptional importance. In India the
needful capital can only be obtained at the risk, and under
the guarantee, of the State ; an unsuccessful railway is
therefore a public burden. " If," says the despatch,
" India cannot manage to provide itself with railways
which shall so far pay, at least, to cover the
ordinary rate of interest on the necessary capital,
the progress of construction must very soon be stopped,
or the finances brought into a condition of extreme dis-
order. The actual results of the present arrangement:,
with Indian railway companies have forced upon us the
conviction that this paramount condition has not hitherto
been complied with, and that the Government has prac-
tically been unable to control the expenditure so as
effectually to protect its financial interests ;
and this is among the strongest of the motives
which induce us to desire to avoid the agency
of companies in the future." It appears that
the average cost of Indian railways up to the present time
bas been about £17,000 per mile. The income of the very
best line has hardly paid more than 5 per cent. on the
outlay. The average rate is about 3 per cent. As the
lines already constructed occupy the most fruitful fields,
it follows that in future railways must be made cheaper in
the poorer districts. The Executive Council conclude
by declaring that they regard the direct action of the
Mate as most likely to bring about generally satisfactory
results. They hope, however, that a suggestion recently
made—that the construction of lines of railway not likely
to pay should be made over to the Government, while
those which afford a fair prospect of being remunerative
hould be reserved for companies—may not be carried out
hi practice.

The second despatch deals with the lines necessary to be
undertaken, whilst the third enters into matters of detail
respecting the manner in which the various railways
.hould be conducted in order to return a moderate interest

on the capital expended. The Duke of Argyll replies
on the 15th July, in which he concurs with both
Lord Mayo and Lord Lawrence in the opinion that
the time has arrived when, both in raising and
in spending such additional capital as may be required
for new lines in India, the Government should secure for
itself the full benefit of the credit which it lends, and of
cheaper agencies which ought to be at its command. lie
rionsiders that the arrangements proposed by the Execu-
tive Council are well adapted for providing the country
with a fairly complete national system of railway com-
tmnication. He wishes, however, to be informed in
of the character of the machinery to be created for
she purpose of carrying the object into effect.

The rope of the Aldnarke Main Colliery, near
Rotherham, broke on Thursday afternoon, and the cage, laden
with coals, fell to the bottom. There were above 200 men
and boys in the pit, and though a new rope was obtained as
early as possible, it was ten o'clock before they were rescued,
having been imprisoned six hours.
The Board of Trinity College met on Thursday
for the purpose of considering what course they should
adopt with reference to Mr. Fawcett's motion. They
have arrived at a decision on the subject, and although
we cannot publish the exact terms of the resolution, the
board meeting being strictly private, we (Dublin Ex-
presg) believe we are correct in stating that the purport of
(t is that no opposition will be offered to the measure.
THE PREVENTION OF CRUELTY TO ANIMALS.—
Lord Harrowby presided over the annual meeting of the
Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, which
was held at Willis's Rooms on Friday. It was stated that
the society had successfully prosecuted in 1,200 cases
during the year. The adoption of the report was moved
by the Bishop of Gloucester, and the Earl of Romney was
amongst the speakers.

TUE BELFAST RIOTS.—A communication from
Belfast, dated Friday night, is to the effect that the
magisterial investigation into the riots at Lurgan, on the
13th instant, was concluded on that day. Mr. Hancock,
the chairman, strongly condemned the conduct of the
Orange party, who, he said, caused the riots. Nearly
seventy prisoners—those who attacked Faloon's•row, and
burned the furniture of the Catholic inhabitants—were
sent to Armagh Assizes ; the remainder being fined 40s.
and costs.

Is IT YOURSELF ?--A rather amusing story
:onus from Stockholm about the Princess Louisa,
laughter of the King of Sweden, who was on Wednes-
day married to the Crown Prince of Denmark. The
Princess's trousseau and wedding presents were laid
out in several rooms of the palace, where
privileged persons were allowed to come and
see them. Of course it was strictly for-
bidden to touch any of the exhibited article➢.
Amongst other visitors came two ladies, one of
whom, quite young, put out her hand and began to
finger the bride's dress, making some remarks on the
material of which it was made. Suddenly she felt herself
tapped rather sharply on the shoulder, and the severe
voice of a countess in charge demanded if she had not
observed the order that nothing was to be touched, " Oh,
yes, I observed it," answered the young lady, turning
round. What was the amazement of the countess to dis-
cover that this was no other than the Princess Louisa
herself ! A good-natured laugh on the part of the
Princess put all to rights.

ARTIFICIAL IIARVIISTING.—The Builder has an
article on the new system of artificial harvesting.
The process which bas just obtained the gold medal of
the Society of Arts consists in the use of a fan which
drives air heated_ to more than 300 degrees Fahrenheit
through the grass as soon as it is cut, rapidly extracting
60 out of the 75 per cent. of water which it contains,
leaving a sweet dry hay. For corn, a perforated cone is
made use of, on which the sheaves are impaled,
and the heated air rushes out from the centre,
carrying off the superfluous water. It is said
that the hay and corn thus rapidly dried are of superior
quality. The adoption of a process of artificial drying is
only an additional step in the progress of steam culture.
The farmer who has a steam engine in use for any agri-
cultural service has only to add a fan to his machinery,
and the same expenditure of fuel that serves to raise the
steam that will drive the fan may be a second time made
use of to heat the blast. When once a cheap, easy,
and efficient means of applying artificial heat to the
drying crops becomes known it is certain to be generally
adopted. The great point which the Builder is anxious
to impress on the farmer is that we can henceforth noun•
teract the misfortune of a wet harvest season. We can-
not, indeed, be independent of the Influence of the sun on
irowth, but when the crops arrive IA tile stage for in-
gathering, science may step in to render the 18rvest Inds.
pendent of the weather. guelisim,n will hem only
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HER MAJESTY.

OSBORNE, July 30.
The Queen, accompanied by her Royal High'
ness Princess Louise, drove out yesterday after"
noon.

Her Majesty, accompanied by Princess Louise,
walked in the grounds this morning.
The other members of the Royal Family Os°
went out.

LATEST INTELL MENO

(REUTER'S TELEGRAMS.)

AMERICA.
NEW YORK, July 30.

COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE.
CLOSING PRICES.

Gold closed at 136 a ; the highest quotation dut•
ing the day was 13Gi ; the lowest, 136 k.

Sterling Exchange on London ll4
5-20 U. S. Bonds, 1882 125.
" " 1885 l23k.
" 1867 122/.
10-40
Illinois 1414.

Erie 29.
Cotton—Miil. upland 33jc•
Petroleum—Standard White 321-c•
Flour, extra state, $6.70e. to $7.30c. Corn, 013
mixed, $1.12e.

According to Mr. Adam Moffatt's report the
week's receipts of cotton have been 2,000 bales, and
since the Ist September, and taken by American
spinners direct, 2,350,000 bales ; shipments t°
England, 1,000 bales ; to France and the Conti-
nent, none ; since the Ist of Sept., 1,426,000 bales'
Stock, 38,000 bales.

AUSTRIA.
VIENNA, July 31.
The New Free Press of this morning asserts OP
Count Beust, consequent upon contradictions give/I
to his statement at Berlin and recently also at
Dresden, intends to complete the number of de'
spatches (published) in the Red Book, in order t°
prove that he was perfectly justified to make
late assertions before the Ilungarian delegati°llc;
and in the.despatches lately published in the Red
Book.