The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1901-06-02

have 10 pay an enormous amount Tor incm.
" could buy them by assessing them at
their commercial value according 20 the
dividends paid. This could De largely done
py changing government bonds for rairoad
bonds, and the interest on the railroad debt
should come from the roads II they were
properly handled.
"One Of the great objections 10 such
scheme" continued this government rail
way commissioner, would be that OF polt
ical management The roads would have
to be divorced from politics aud railroad
TEN might be more economically managed
than now, You could cut down your m
profitable lines. Parallel roads would be 20
some extent abolished and you might save
In many ways The problem Is big one
aud one which II would take years 10 settle.
you would need for your commissioners
men Of the highest integrity Of great ablli.
~ and OF practical experience
Railroads in Queensland
Another prominent railroad man with
whom talked - this subject Is Mr.. j.
f. Thallon, who has the control OF the
1900 miles Of Queensland railroads. lie Is
the superintendent and general manager OF
the Queensland system, and as such is
always building new lines. Said he;
"As far as | can see, the government
control OF our railways Inns been an excel
lent thing for the country. IL has given
us profitable railways, which would never
have been built 10y private parties. Take
our Rockhampton line FOR lnstnnce 1t be
westward through O country thlnly pppu
lated. There are places on that line where
you can ride loo miles without. seeing
town. SIN. the land on both sides OF the
road ls available for sheep. II Is now taken
up for pastures, and there are hundreds
Of thousands Of sheep feeding upon "
Formerly 1t was devoted 10 cattle, but
now that there Is an outlet for the wool
these big fiocks have been introduced.
and n fF time ro5d up P pP pay y@G
Three Per Cent Dividends.
How about the profit OF your roads, Mr.
Thalon2' said l.
"They are Just beginning to pay. The
most of them now net per cent on the
capital Invested we don't want big
pront, for It Is our principle to put the
rates OF freight and passage as low as we
can to the people. AS we make more we
shall lower fares and Increase wages. We
have about $HO0O0,000 already Invested
for every family 10 the STATE. We have
several Improbable lines but you see
we are a new country and we have to
knowing that the roads viii pay In the
end
Suppose You want new railroad, said
!. 90 how DO you 20 about itf'
The PROPOSE tion has first to be brought
before the state parliament, replied Mr.
Ihalon, FOR that Us the only body inst
can appropriate money or decide matters
Of suCh Importance. our commission pro
poses the matter to the parliamentary rail
way committee, and ilils committee dis
cusses the sltnatlon and sends out its
agents TO Investigate the cost ana probable
profits. At the same time we make
separate Investigation ~ our own, We 20
over the proposed territory. surveying the
route and taking testimony rs TO the al
Visibility of building the road. We make
Our report ~ the railway committee and
through j. "a parliament II " approves
| hands We buy all tho materials, lay out
the line and manage It when II Is com.
plcted.'
American Engines in Australia.
Where do you get your materlalsY
asked.
! Wherever We can buy them the cheap
est. SO far most Of our supplies have come
| from England, hut we are now using quite
n number OF American engines and other
rolling stock. Many OF the ties are Of Aus.
tranan hardwoodi variety called iron bark
"a usu0iiy considered tho VEST This wood
Us 80 hard that ii will last from twenty
10 thirty years or longer We are not
troubled much Nith tlp wHte ants, they
VIII cet other Kinds Of woods, but viii
Eenetally lei tho ties alone"
De You md the marrow gnugo profit
Eyes II pays us bottor than the broad
I gauge, Cur roads cost only about half as
| much per milo as those ~ New South
| Wales aud hey do all tho business re.
/ NNlfNu.
STOW about tramwaysg"
eve have The entire control OF them IN
I Queensland" said Mr. Thaiou "aud we
| innke thcm pay, but they cause us more
! ON the average n two milo ride for cepts.
/ which Is much cheaper than your a.cent
ride In the United states, We have
| number 81 electric tramways and are pur.
| chasing our supplies for them from your
| country"
Railroad Fares and tho Commercial
Travellers.
The Australian railways make good time.
From Melbourne TO sydney the distance la
6Td miles and the trip requires seventeen
hours, including the change of cars At the
frontier. The ordinary fares for this Jour.
ney are $50 nrst class and about Sas sec,
ond class, being respectively equal TO about
| 2h cents, aud less than . cents per. mile.
! All tho railroads make reduction on
| passenger tickets sold In connection with
| steamship tickets, SO that people coming
| Into and going out OF Australia by sen
should buy their tickets OF the steamship
There is also 20 per cent reduction "a
/ commercial travellers on account Of the
large number who are always on the road
The trade here Is done BY drumming, the
| oommefClal travellers going from town to
| town with their samples The distances
| are SO great that such men ARE often out
! Tor SIX months at time. They go to tho
|
| station TO station aud town to town on
| horsehack or 10y stage. Some OF them tnke
! 1snts along and camp out on tho way.
| lherc are hotels az all tho small towns a
| saloon and hotel often being combined. ME
| 9"tels Sharge commercial travellers 81 a
| dnS' they have sample rooms for them
ana give them every assistance.
| From Brisbane to Sydney.
One Of the most interesting rides have
had IN Australia IS from Brisbane 10 syd.
ney, This takes you through the better
parts OF the States II Queensland and New
South Wales. The road Is good ana me
cars are about like those OF the united
States, Pullman cars being joiued to the
train NJ the New South wales boundary.
There Is no checking system such as witn
as, although you are given recent for
your baggage, Ono hundred and twelve
pounds are allowed ON nrst-claSs tickets
and oil above this must be Mid Tor XIV
rate, l rode drst.class. The care were
divided mp Into compartments with cnsh.
toned benches running under the windows
curious feature is the drinking Mater
supply lt is Impossible to get leo In most
parts OF Australia. and the ears do moi
carry Ice water tanks as In the United
states In place Of them oaeh eur mas n
water bag two feet Wide and "A foot ana !
hait long, made Of canvas This k RilcN
with water and hung 70 the roof ~ The
rear end of the car. There Is a snIsot Il,
I an h.. -