Albuquerque evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1911-1914, 1913-10-23
An Aerial CabIewoy Into
the ":Vale Of KGshmir'

(By Consul Henry ~ Baker, on
special commercial service IN India;
written from simla. the Imperial
summer caphoL)
Il ~ anticipated that during tha
spring ~ next year. 1914, work VIII
be begun on what will be- one uf the
most novel undertakings Of the world,
a great Aerial galloway about 7b miles
tong across the Bimalaya mountain
barriers which separate the BEAUTIFUL
and famous "Valo OF Kashmir." IN
the native state Of Rashmir. from the
pinins Of the punlab In northern In
dio. This VIII bee by far the long
est galloway ia the world, the long.
est az present being one Of twenty
two miles In length IN Argentina. ~
IL expected that this galloway viii
solve for the kushmlr state the very
serious present problem Of transpor-
tation into tho rest Of the Empire or
indin. The excessive expense and long
time required for transport communi-
cation across the mountains has oil
ways been a great obstacle to the de-
velopment Of the resources and the
growth IN prosperity of the people OF
this state nestled amongst the lima
layas.
owing To the loose conRlomerate
nature OF the soil In this part OF the
Himalayas, which causes disastrous
slips and falling of huge powders
Whenever there IS any unusual rain
fan. engineers who have studied the
situation deem that Il Is impractical
bic to build n railway into Knshmir
and that not even llght electric
railway would prove feasible After
the invention of Brcnnan'e monorail
system uf transport the government
of Kashmlr entertained strong hopes
that this system would bc we'll adapt
ed 20 meeting tho special difficulties
Of communication across the noun
tains. and Mr.. Brennan. IN his cxper-
imcnts with the monorail. wns lib
orally assisted by subsidies from the
kashmir government. However u
was found that the monorail system
would also be impracticabie chiefly
hecau'a Of the sharp turning angles
which would be required and also
tho danger from slips
Al the suggestion, then. Of Lieut.
Col. a. j. Dc Lotbinlere. a Canadian
iCilitary engineer. whose services had
been lent 90 tho Kashmir government
aH statc engineer. Il was decided 10
cause investigation of tho feasibility
of nm aerial galloway, ana. n pos
sihlc. 10 encourage private enter
prise 20 enter on this project The
London firm OF Forbes. Forhes.
Campbell a Co. Choad office King
William street, London, with branch
office az Karachi fndia). bankers and
engineering agents (nlso agents of the
American Express Co. OF the United
states, in Indinl. were Induced TO an
dcrtakc survey To ascertain the pos
sibility OF erecting a cabioway This
survey has been completed ana has
demonstrated 20 the satisfaction OF
this firm and Of tho Knshmr gov
ornmont. that the scheme Is practica-
bic ana VIII not he unduly expensive.
Accordingly AN arrangement has been
1adc wherthy this firm viii organ
he company To undertake tho work
under a concession from the Kashmir
government. which Will subscribe for
ono-third of the capital stock II Is
anticipated that the cost viii amount
to about 81 500. 900 The sanction at
tho Imperial Government ~ india "
required for tho scheme but Il is
not presumed that there WIN he any
difficulty In obtaining this Tho firm
has just notified tho Kashmr gov-
eminent that % expects ot Doe able
to begin rs construction operations IN
tho spring of 1915
In discussing with Lieut. COL dc
Lothiriore. at mis- home IN Kashmir.
the features Of this great scheme, q