The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1879-02-13
Enormous Public Works in France.

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While England is grooming under the
effects of a commercial depression which
promises to be of long continuance,
France, though it has its share in the
general stagnation of trade, is occupied
with gigantic projects for public i'm.
provements. The republic, scarcely
less than the empire, adopts the pater-
nal theory of government, and is setting
itself to work to add intellectually to the
means of internal intercourse and the
facilities for commerce while providing
employment for its laborers.
M. de Freycinet, the Minister of Pub,
lie Works, has outlined scheme OF
railway, canal, and harbor extension,
for 1879, which will cost the enormous
sum of $500, 900, and will probably
have legislative sanction for it in its en-
tirety, if we accept the authority of the
London Economist. The money for
these unparalleled works he proposes to
raise by an issue of three per cent.
bonds, redeemable in IS years; and that
he can get the whole amount without
trouble, the experience of all recent
French loans affords abundant proof.
The new chance for investment is eager
ly awaited by capitalists, large and
small for enormous sums are now ~
ing idle in bankers hands.
One of the main features of the plan,
and that which will consume the
greater part of the vast appro-
priation, is the extension of the
railroad system of France. The rest
of the money will mainly 60 to the con-
struction of new harDors and the i'm
provement of the old ones. Another
great public work which is urgently de-
manded by several of the departments
is.a canal from Creil sur Disc to Beau
vais, Amiens, and Albert, with two i'm
portant branches. 1t is averred that
this extensive canal would be of the
greatest value to the north of France :;
and it would certainly be the most con-
siderable of all the navigable French
waterways, and would have the effect of
reducing by one-half the present freight
charges from English ports to Amiens,
Paris, and beyond.
A scheme for the construction of a
network of metropolitan railways in
Paris was hardly perfected before M. de
Freycinet stepped in and claimed the
projected lines as belonging to the cate
CORY of lines of general interest. Their
concession has therefore been transfer
red from the Municipal Council to the
general Government. The cost of their
construction is estimated at hard on a
million dollars mile. The Minister of
Public Works has also obtained the ap-
pointment of supreme commission on
the treatment and utilization of French
rivers, composed in equal thirds of leg
islators, officials, and manufacturers or
agriculturists. 1t will consider irriga-
ton, motive power, inundation, water
supply, sewage, and similar questions.
Add to all this his vast project of har-
Dor improvement, and we see that M de
Freycinet has laid out scheme of pub
lie works for France which will occupy
the republic for many years to come,
constituting system of internal i'm
provements of extraordinary magnitude,
which, if it is successfully completed,
will itself make the new republic
memorable for generations.
One of the most interesting features
of the plan is the construction of what
are known as light railways, or narrow
gauge railways, largely as feeders to the
main lines, on the most extensive scale.
A commission was appointed last Janu-
airy to examine into this class of rail-
ways, both at home and abroad, and re-
port on its value and feasibility; and
the result of their inquiries has determin-
ed M. de Freycinet to build the narrow
gauge railways throughout France. The
English engineering journals find fault
with the conclusions of this commission,
but they are very interesting.
They recommend a reduction of the |
gauge to feet 81 inches, and in some
instances even to 2 feet inches; where
as in England 3-foot gauge is prefer
red. They advise the dispensing with
fences except at especially danger
Gus points and near dwellings,;
that the stations should consist
merely of a waiting room, ticket
office and station masters lodgings;
that the cars should be of two classes,
with possibly an upper story; that they
should be without useless ornaments
ton; and that the rolling stock should
be at minimum-in fact, that everv
hing should be arranged with a view
TO strict economy. Under these condi-
ions they estimate the cost of the roads,
per mile, at an average of about $22,-
200. They put the average speed at
rom 9.3 to 12.4 miles an hour. The
English engineers, basing their esti-
mates on 3-foot gauge, and a speed of
rom 4 to miles an hour, according to
The weight of the load, cipher the cost
If the road at $4,000 mile.
The subject OF narrow-gauge railways
5 now one OF the most interesting in
me whole range of railway questions,
is well worth Ecareful thought and
'tudy. During the last few years they
ave been built more or less extern
lively here and abroad, and they are
likely to come into still greater use, as