The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1881-04-22
The Niger Terminus

A most casual glance at the map will
show at once that there can be no question
as to the northern section Of the Niger, where
it runs east and west between Timbuctoo AMI
Bourroum, being the natural objective point
Of the railway. The navigation of this part
of the river is apparently obstructed by
shoals and rapids, and as the left bank is de-.
scribed by Barlh as being eminently we'll
adapted to such works line of rails will
probably have to connect these two towns
with each other and with the main line, as
they will certainly become the entrepot, o
Western and Eastern Soulsn respectively.
1t may, therefore, be most advantageous to
strike the river at some intermediate point,
such as Banda.
Without going into the details of the cost
OF the different sections Of the road. the vary
ing characteristics of which will naturally
increase or diminish the expense table
borrowed from NJ. Duponchel's report, is
here given of the probable total cost of es-
tsblshing railway between Affrevle and
the Niger, with branches to Timbuctoo end
Bourroum.
TABLE OF COSTS
Francs.
Embank menls, cuts and all artin.
-, cial works. ....................... l6O $40 600
wafer tupply....... 80. ..., -: 90, 2li 900
ballast ,..;;,:;...;.";....; -. 1920, 900
trek, switches, etc,............. 7,72s, 900
Ssnu sheus, forty kllomstfes. 49,. 1900, 600
telegraph, etc, at 4, OOOf per kilo-
metre ....... :..........,.....,... 10, 900, 900
Stauons, engine houses, sheds. etc.. 10, 90, 100
Interest on capital for a mean oftwo 20, 600, goo
Rolling stock, at l5,OOOl. per kilo-
m,tre Observation-Disclosures. 80, 6lO, 900
Divers Unforeseen expenses. 47,34S, 100
Iotal. Observation-Disclosures 400, COO, 900
(ss0, O00, C0O)
''About sixteen hundred miles. A kilome.
ctr is 0 81 statute miles. The metrical sys.
tenn is used for its many obvious advan-
tages.
COST OF TRAINS.
In estimating the expenses of trains over
this road account must be taken of tho fact
that while the maximum grade in the Ss-
hara, throughout 1000 kilometres, will be
three to tour-tenths per cent, that Of the
remaining 500 kilometres in the mountains
will be frequently from seven.tenths to
eignt-ten'hs per cent. AS basis of cacula.
ton it is reasonable to premise that the trains
will be divided into two in the latter section,
which Will amount to total distance of
1000 Kilometres under the more favorable
Conditions. The total expense of freight
train weighing 1000 tons, going at the rate
oil 20 kilometres an hour for 40 hours, in
GLIDING the water supply, is estimated at
81 20O. Such train would carry abost GOO
tons of freight. Allowing only 400, so as to
compensate for empty return cars, etc., the
cost per ton carried would be 49, The run
ming expenses of six such trains day all the
year round would be about $1,000 per
kiomeIre for the whole road.
ELEMENTS OF TRAFFIC.
1t remains to be seen il the business done
would be sufficient to cover expenses and
yield reasonable profit to the stockholders.
And this will remain to certain extent q
matter Of speculation until actually tested.
Among the certain elements, however, of a
local traffic along the northern portion of
the railway must be mentioned the alta
grass. The present demand hardly exceeds
400 900 tons yearly, although ten times that
amount can be easily gathered in Algeria.
Inc price In the ports Is about SIS ton.
Putting the cost of harvesting at So and the
t'Nuso VI uEohols uculcis, w. nv ~ iiuTe,
there would be SIG u ton left for the carriers
at the present rates. Of tho three branch
roads it has been decided TO construct in
Algeria for this trade the one ia the pro-
vince of Algiers could not be along better
Route than that running through Boghari to
Lighoust. Granting an annual harvest
along that line of 100, 900 tons, freight of
Two cents ton per klometre for a mean
distance Of 800 kilometres would bring $780,.
9sO, or 81 900 a kilometre.
A DESERT GRAIN MARKER.
Another noticeable fact must be considered
hspeculating on the financial success of the
enterprise. The GASES Of Touat and 0ourara
are almost wholly dependent on Algeria for
their grain. Caravans numbering some
Times 20 900 csmels leave Oran yearly for
these districts, receiving three measures Of
dates fer one Of barley on arriving at the
GASES, and vice versa on their return 10 the
plateau. Calculating from the average price
OF the articles and the distance they are
carried, the cost Of such transportation Is
only ten cents a ton per kilometre. That 10,
OF course, wonderful, but the introduction
OF steam power should enable the carriers TO
reduce the rate very much. Surprising =
reduction Of four.tlfths, an annual local
uatiic Of 100 0C0 tcns-which is not excessive
considering the population of these oases-
would yield 81 900 per kilometre, . profit Of
Itself nearly sufficient to cover all expenses
OF The line rs far as Toust, whether II be ex-
Ia I., Nt.-..A