Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-07-26

while passengers also, at each border
with one exception, viz, between Adelaide
and Melbourne, where a through line ex-
ISIS, nave to leave one carriage to enter
ahotner belonging to the sister colony.
Question Of Motors.
A great deal Of consideration has becn
gwen to the question as to which is tho
cheapest system for working tramways-
steam, cables or electricity. The matter
had attention more particularly In connec-
ton with the proposal to construct a line
OF tramway from Sydney to the eastern
suburbs The proposal to make the trail
way was first submitted as is usual with
an important public works, in New South
wales to the parliamentary public works
committee. local government engineer of
rerute was directed 10 make full inquiry as
TO the systems electric and cable) in The
tflted States. and a mass of evidence WAS
submitted TO them in favor of the rival
schemes. Probably the matter was never
more thoroughly sifted or more carefully
considered, and the outcome of their DELHI
erations was tby a narrow majority in a
committee of tnirteen) to recommend the
government TO lay down the line on the
cable system as being the most suitable to
the requirements OF the city of Sydney and
suburbs, and the line to Woollahra is now
being made, but will not be completed be-
fore the middle of 1894
1t may be Interesting to mention that n
short trial line of enc mile and a half
worked by electricity on the overhead wire
system CThompson-Hbuston) was laid down
at Randwick, but after some months trial
IL was not found economical, and the old
system of working the line by steam motors
was reverted to; the plant has, however
been transferred to North Sydney to work
the line from Ridge street to North Sydney
road.
The longest railway journey that can at
present be made in Australia is from Char
ieville in Queensland. TO Oodnadatta. in
South Australia, via Brisbane. sydney, Mel
bourne and Adelaide, and the through dis
tance is no less than 1883 miles.
The prospects of the railway systems of
the colonies must be considered very sat
isfactory. Already, AS a whole, they pay a
fair return for the capital that has been
expended, while the benefits they confer in
opening a cheap and convenient mode Of
transit, and generally In furthering the
trade and interests OF the colonies, are in
calculabie.
Financial Consideration.
The question Of percentage OF expenses
to receipts 10 one to which great attention
is given in railway management. and 1t
is satisfactory to find. by the latest returns
available, that this item is we'll kept down
on the colonial lines. although not at the
expense of eRciency. The following are
the latest figures. on the subject: New
South Wales. 5.OS per cent December.
1855: Queensland, 62.47 per cent June.
1885: Victoria. S2.7 per cent: Western
AuSNfdlld, w. pei CcHt tDcCeuOeT, lSc<b.
A. present the number of miles of rail-
way under construction by the govern
ment of the colony of Victoria is less
than at any time during the last twenty
or twenty-five years.
The lines are: Natimuck to Goroke.
Boort to Quambutook. Dimboola to Jeparit.
and Wycheproof to kaneira, and the num-
Der of men directly employed on them is
about Goo. including some 400 engaged in
splitting timbers for sleepers. There are
in all about LOCO men employed in conse-
quence of these works.
Taking the average earnings at lbs per
day, the government is now spending on
labor for railway construction S,2jO per
day, or at the rate Of SSO0.2J0 a year. and
unless some new works are undertaken
the number of men employed must soon
be considerably reduced, as the first three
mentioned lines will be compelled within
a months time.
There are 80 men employed on the
Wycheproof to Kaneira line, which is only
practically begun, and will take several
months to complete, but the number of
men required at any time on that line will
not be large.
The railway problem is one that is now
being largely discussed here and one that
has given rise to much dissatisfaction.