The Portland daily press., 1896-10-31
How They Compare With the Iron
Roads Of America.
AN EXPERT HERE TO STUDY OUR
WAYS OF DOING BUSINESS.
His Visit May Lead to an Increased De-
mand for American Railway Machinery
Things of Interest about the Aus
tralian System,

Queensland, Australia, Is In America,
making semi-official study of methods
OF railway construction and operation in
He is the second Ambassador from the
other side of the world who has visited
this country on the same errand within
month. Prince Michael Hilkoff, Rus.
sian Minister of Transportation, having
being the first.
Engineer Stanley's observations, like
those of Prince Hilkoff, are likely to re-
suit in the spread Of American ideas, and
Incidentally an increased demand for
American railway products. Australia
is on the eve of n period of railway ex-
tension and Improvement. With the
accomplishment of federation of the
provinces the problem of securing a uni
form system of railways becomes of ths
first Importance. Queensland was the
last to vote on the proposition, and, like
the remaining provinces, agreed to the
preliminary step of passing an enabling
bill. Now, in order to mako federation
matter of commercial advantage, the
means of INSTRUMENTATION between.
the provinces must be amplifed and i'm
proved according to the best modern sys-
tenn.
There is no uniform gauge in railway
construction in Australia at present.
said Mr.. Stanley to reporter for The
New York Times. "In Queens.
land the gauge is 8 feet, inches. In
New South Wales 1t is feet Ia inches.
In Victoria 1t is feet inches. There
are two gauges in South Australia, one
s feet inches, where the roads connect
with those of Victoria, and one feet 6
inches. In West Australia the roads are
built to the three-feet-six-inch gauge.
These differences do not affect the
railway business SO injuriously as they
would later, for the reason that inter
colonial freight is carried almost wholly
by coast steamers. 1t is simply matter
of Inconvenience tic passengers, who have
to change cars at every change of gauge.
We would, however, be very much better
off for the future If our railways con-
formed to the standard gauge, as they
do in the United States and Canada. AS
you know, ths railways of Australia
are owned aud operated by the Govern
ment.
"The first Queeneland road was opened
for traffic in 1865 Since that time a,5OO
miles have been built and equipped at
cost of about II. 900, COZ pounds The cost
Of the different lines has varied greatly,
The first section of the Cairns Railway,
for instance, cost $4,000 pounds mile,
while the last contract let on the west
branch CT the Southern and Western Rail-
way cost but 9, 600 pounds mile. On
the main line of the Southern and West
elm there is section that cost 90, 900
pounds mile. Roughly estimated, the
railway debt of Queensland is II, 600, 600
pounds. For this debt, Government de-
bentures have been ioated in England.
In the early days these debentures bore
as high as per cent interest; now they
average 1-2 per cent. The roads earn
over operating expenses little over 5
per cent Of the amont of their debt. The
Governments tax for maintenance is
therefore, but tri1e over per cent.
"Both passenger and freight rates are
considerably higher than in the United
States and Canada. That is accounted
for in part by the sparse population.
there being less than half million |
people in Queensland. The Governments
passes upon all questions Of rates. They |
fuotuate somewhat in different parts Of
the province, according to the amount
of buiness done and service furnished. |
There are no commercial rivalries to
oomp1icate the question, az the roads all
have their own separated territories, run
ming hack into the interior from Bris-
bane, ThrokLampton, and other sea-
board towns.
American machinery already cuts a
considerable figure on the Australian
railways. Wersgard the American built
as better adapted than the
English for our use. They are less Erigid
than the English stype. Many of them
are nov in use. and more are in course
of construction. AS for the rest Of the |
equipment. 1t is mostly Of Australian
make, though We are still obliged to buy
our rails in England. We are striving |
for greater economy in construction. and
the object of myspresent visit is to gath
or information which may be useful in |
that direction.
DO You find Government, control of |
railways source of corruption in poll
ties?'
Not In the slightest degree" replied
MI. Stanley. "The whole railway bust |
ness of Australia is done under a strict |
system of the civil service that makes
corruption next to impossible We have
Q Minister of Railways, hut the working |
management Is vested by Parliament in !
q Commissioner appointed by the Gov |
ernor in Council. The Commissioners is |
secure in his tenure Of office, because he
can be only removed by the vote Of both |
houses of Parliament. He has full pow