The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-06-29
TIE BMRA RAILWAY.
Origin and Prosress of . Much Dis.
cussed Line.
CFrom the Pail Mall G.zette.)


(Fron the Pail Mall Gszette)
The Beira Railway. which IL now attract.
ing public attention. was the outcome of
an agresneat made between Great Britain
and Portugal on Juno II, 1891 mainly
for the purpose CT fixing the respective
frontiers. following on the taking over Of
Lobengula's territories By the British
South Africa Company. though the final
arrangements respecting these frontier
questions vere not made until a later
date. Under tho agreement in question.
says The Times to which we are in.
debted for these particulars. the PortuA
suese Government undertook. among other
things. the construction of a line Of rail.
way which would connect Rhodssia with
the sea, at Beira. and they further guar
anteed not to impose any transit duty on
goods higher than per cent. The origi.
nal concession was granted to the Mo-
zambique Company, but eventually it was
transferred. through Mr.. II. T. Van Lauu,
to the BeiFa Railway Company, which was
registered in London in July 1892. with
debenture capital only. The line from
Beira to the Portuguese frontier-was con-
structed in section. and when. in July,
1856 the Mashoraland fed force passed.
this way they were able to use the sec
lions lying between Fontesvilla, which is
forty-five miles up the River Pungwe, to
Bora. The complete line to New Umtalf.
the frontier as then fixed on, was finished
by July. 1898. The total length of the
Beira line is 293 miles, greater distance
than YVES originally contemplated. partly
because the boundary between the British
and the Portuguese spheres of infiu nee
had in the mean time been moved seven
teen miles westward, and partly be ause
OF the fetours which had to be made ow-
;n1 he afttra Of he
Thus between Fcn:esvilla and Chimoio
the distance as the crow flies is seventy
five miles. but the line winds 120. while
it rises steadily from Beira until at Um-
tall it reaches an elevation OF $3.50 feet.
In the circumstances it is not surprising
that the average rate of speed for pas
senger trains is only twelve miles an hour
AMI for goods trains ten miles an hour.
The complete journey from Beira to Um-
tall generally takes two days. a night
being spent at a stopping place en- route.
At Umtali the lire connects with that OF
the Mashonaland Railway Company. which
runs thence to Salisbury. the capital OF
Rhoissia, a distance Of about ITO miles.
This Umtali-Saiisbury line was constructs
ed under contract with the British South
Africa Company, which guaranteed the
payment Of interest on the de5eutures.
The rzison. d'etre of the whole Ine from
velopment Of Rhodesia- which thus gets a
S73 rIile railway Journey to the sea on
the cast coast as an alternative to the
$50 miles from Buiuwayo to Cape Town
on the south. Eventually the Cape Rail-
way which now has it's terminus az BuIu-
wayo, will be extended via Gwelo to meet
the line at Salisbury. and Cape Town viii
then be in direct railway communication
with Beira. a total length OF 2.0e0 miles
.f1Er los
this purpose. At the present moment.
however there is no railway between
Salisbury ard Buluwayo. distance Of $50
miles. and the ordinary traveller proceed
ing fror, the one place to the other does
so either by coach, which accomplishes
the journey in five days and costs e12,
or by bullock wagon. which is both slower
and cheaper. The Beira-Umtali line was
originally constructed OF a two foot
gauge. the carriages oyerhanging the
wheels to about the same extent on each
side. The Umtali- Salisbury line. however.
was made ON the three-foot six-inch
OF the Cape Railway system. and
the Beira Railway Is now being reiaid,
so thar it row corresponds with the same
standard, with the exception OF some sixty
miles. thus avoicing the delay. inconve-
nience and expense OF trarsshipment. Coco
progres SIS has already been maie with this
service the only difference, until the
trlrsforn ma ton has been completed. being
that the change from the one system 10
the other is now made before Umtah Is
reached.
The influx into Beira of the consider
,bIa hody of troops who will form Sir
uT-ssarick Carriugton's force will natural-
'v tax the resources OF a comparatively
,ew line. which has hitherto been used
Mainly for the conveyance of goods. But
he Beira company has f1rty-eight engines
AVAILABLE. the rolling stock is constantly
,eing increased. and though the present
iupply of ordinary railway carriages ID
United. there is an abundance OF trucks.
which with covering to protest against
he sun. seem to be preferred by the aver
.ge soldier in his journeys across coil-
nv. to the ordinary railway carriage. anu
would. no doubt. be especially preferred
q the diminutive carriages still run on
he two foot section OF the Beira line. The
,nJv difficulty that is anticipated is IN re-
meet To the conveyance OF horses. but there
n certain number of horse boxes avatl-
HE and there are also some covered in
,oods trucks which might be adapted Tor
he purpose. Happily, too. the line Is I'M
er the charge of an agent, Mr.. A. l.. Law
ey who possesses ndom;table energy and
and it is regarded as certain that
rom his headquarters at Beira he will do
verifying that Is physically possible 10
acilitate the transport of the troops and
heir belongings.
There il no one article in the line OF medicines
hat gives so large a return for the money as .
God porous strengthening plaster. such as ,ar-