The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1913-11-29

Consul Henry D. Baker. on Special
Commercial Service in India: 1t is
anticipated that during the spring Of
next year, 1914, work will be begun on
What will be n of the most novel
undertakings of the world, a great
aerial galloway about seventy-five
miles long across the Himalaya noun
tain barriers which separate the beau
tlful and famous Vale of Kashmir in
the native state of Kashmir, from the
plains of the Punjab in northern India.
This will be by far the longest cable
way in the world, the longest at pres
ent being one of twenty-five miles in
length in Argentina. 1t is expected
that this galloway will solve for the
Kashmir state the very serious prob
lem Of transportation into the rest Of
the empire of India. The excessive ex-
pense and long time required for
transport communication across the
mountains has always been a great
obstacle to the development Of the re-
sources n the growth in prosperity
OF the people Of this state nestled
among the Hfmalyas.
MonoraiI System Not Practicable.
Owing to the loose conglomerate
nature of the soil in this part OF the
Himalayas, which causes disastrous
slips and fallings of huge powders
whenever there is an unusual rainfall,
engineers who have studied the situa-
ton deem that 1t is impractical to
build a railway into Kashmir and that
not even a light electric railway would
prove feasible. After the invention
Of B~rennan's monorail system of
transport the government of Kashmir
entertained strong hopes that this
system would be well adapted to
| ~ ontS-. +L1 -@oosoI .--
municatton across the m~ountains, and
Mr.. Brennan, in his experiments with
the monorail, was literally assisted by
subsidies from the Kashmir govern
ment. However,, it was found that the
monorail system would also be i'm
practicable, chiefly because Of the
shadp turning angles which would be
required, and also the danger from
slips.
At the suggestion, then, Of Lieut..
Co. A. ]. de Lotbiniere, a Canadian
military engineer, whose services had
been lent to the Kashmir government
as state engineer, it was decided to
cause investigation OF the feasibility
Of an aerial galloway, and if possible
to encourage private enterprises to en-
ter on this project. The London firm
Of Forbes, Forbes, Campbell & Co.,
(head office 9 King William street,
London, with a branch office at Ka-
rachi, India), bankers and engineering
agents (also agents Of the American
Express Co., Of the United States, in
1ndia), were induced to undertake a
survey to ascertain the possibility of
erecting a galloway. This survey has
been completed and has demonstrated
to the satisfaction of this firm n of
the Kashmir government that the
scheme is practicable and will not be
unduly expensive. Accordingly an ar
rangement has been made whereby
this firm will organize a company to
undertake the work under a concession
from the Kashmir government, which
will subscribe for one-third Of the
capital stock. It is estimated hat the
cost will amount to about $500, 900.
The sanction of the imperial govern
ment of India is required for the
scheme, but it is not presumed that
there will be any difficulty in obtain
ing this. The firm has just notified
the Kashmir government that it ex-
poets to be able to begin it's construc-
ton operations in the spring Of 1914,