The evening times., 1900-03-19
RAILWAY IN THE AZORES
A Coed Chance For Enterprising
American Contractors.
The Line to Start From the Custom
Along the C0ast to Furnas-The e
Pians for the Road to Receive
the Approval of the Government.

The State Department has received from
Consul Pickerell, stationed at ST. Michael's
an account of proposed railroad in the
Azores. or the undertaking Mr.. Pickere
says:
THE best and most enterprising citizens
fully believe that the enterprise will be a
success. Under the law by which tnis rail-
road was authorized, ii will be useless to
make a bid for more than that given in
the estimate of cost. This observation is
based on the decision of the original ma
ker of this contract after considerable dis
oussion, and is the opinion of others we'll
versed in Portuguese laws. | believe that
Americans would have an equal chance with
other foreigners in obtaining the contract,
and would be pleased to have an oppOrtu-
nifty To assist any who may desire to make
a bid.
The proposed contract is summarized
below:
The Junta General of the district of
Ponta Delgada is authorized TO grant the
construction of railroad between the cit
les OF Ponta Delgada, Vale das Furnas,
and Villa da Ribeira Grande. If no Offers
can be accepted, the junta is authorized
to construct the road on its own account.
" The contracting company is TO con-
struct a road starting from the vicinity
of the custom house in Ponta Delgada and
running along the coast, past ST. Rogue,
Livramento, Atalhada, Lagoa, Aqua de
Pau, Ribeira Cha, Praia, Villa Franco,
Ribeira das Tainhas, and Ponta Garca, to
Furnas; and a branch line TO Ribeira
Grande from Pranchinha. running near
Rabo de Peixe. The plans are TO be ap-
proved by the Government, and shall in
clude the general plan of the road, with
stations. water courses and roads crossed,
buildings, and other accessories; longi-
tudinal profile giving distances and
grades; cross sections showing the type
of road; detailed plans OF construction;
and an explanatory report.
The company is TO keep the line and
rolling stock in good order-end is to con-
struct a telegraph line, After the road
is completed the company shall within
one year mark out the road in kilometres
and make a cadastral plan, with descrip-
tion of the same and deliver one au
thenticated copy to the Government and
another to the junta general The road is
to have a single line, except at stations
the width at the upper surface of the bal
last shall be 7.2 feet, whether in embank-
lire shall be feet 3.37 inches The max
imum grade shall be 80 millimetres per
metre The radius of the curves shall be
forty-four pounds per metre They must
be made in accordance with the latest i'm
proyements. The sleepers must be of iron
or of some wood that holds spikes secure
ly The road is to be fenced. Platforms
must be provided at stations and via
ducts, bridges, etc, must be OF stone
iron, or brick Gates must be provided
at all level crossings
" The Government coucedes 10 the COM
pany the exploitation of the road for nine
ty-nine years. the charges for transporta-
ton TO be approved by the Government. it
shall then become the property of the jun
Ia general After the expiration of the
the line. the iunta shall have the power TO
redeem the concession, on the basis OF the
net earnings of the road during the pre-
ceding seven years. The junta guaran-
tees 10 the company an annual net return
up TO per cent in relation of the cost Of
each kilometer constructed, including in
terest and amortization Of capital; but the
actual sum paid by the junta shall in no
case exceed per cent of the cost.
When the net proceeds OF the line eX
ceed per cent per auam, half of the eX
.
sums advanced by the said iuuta in respect /
Of the guaranty of interest are repaid as !
we'll as interest at the rate Of per cent. |
The company shall have exemption from !
mposGs. general or municipal for twenty
1ne years after the beginning Of the work,
in this exemption are not included trans |
rortation and stamp taxes imposed on the |
fares for transportation of passengers and !
goods as laid down in existing legislation. |
iii ;pI halI
be levied on the railroad during the con-
,ession The company can import free OF |
duty. for six years. rails and fastenings,
switches material for bridges. locomotives. 1
carriages and cars machinery. tools. etc. |
used in the construction of the line. Lands |
belonging TO the Government which mag |
be necessary for the construction and |
working of the road are conceded gratui- |
.ously The Government is TO assist the |
in making appropriations of land |
hat may be necessary.
=" The company is to deposit in the |
reasury 80. 600 milreis as guaranty of the |
ulfillment of this provision contract. pend
ng its authorization. If the contract is /
approved. the company shall within a |
month increase the deposit TO 1000 mil |
els. short in money or bonds Of the Por- |
uguese public debt. This deposit can be /
withdrawn only when the company has |
lone work to the value of double the de-
,osit The surveys and technical details !
# the project and works OF construction /
hall be prepared and presented for ap-
roval within one year from the date of the
efinite contract. The construction of the
abroad shall begin within sixty days after
he project is approved by the Government,
nd the road must be open for traffic with
q four years.
!" The junta shall appoint engineers to
inspect the construction of the road. The
ompany can. with the approval of the
government transfer its rights to another
ompaDy or individual; but IL the latter is
oreign, there must be a clause in it's stat
ties TO the effect that it renounces privi-
eges of nationality.
q The basis of the liciJation shall be the
um of q 800 milreis. island money. at
'hich is calculated the maximum per kilo-
letre OF the cost of construction
"a report recommending the construction
the railroad attached to the documents
transmitted by Mr.. Pickefell. says that the
otal population served by the road will be
and calculates the gross earnings
d the first year as $4,000 miIreis. of which
0 coo milreis will be for passengers and
0 600 milreis for goods
Army Orders,