6
4. With reference to paragraph 4 of the despatch under reply, the question of establishing a mechanical transport system will have to be considered on the com- pletion of the Coomassic-Tamale Road now under construction, and I note, with satisfaction, that the Committee will be glad to advise in the matter in due course.
30151
No. 6. JAMAICA.
I have, &c..
H. BRYAN,
Acting Governor.
THE ACTING GOVERNOR to THE SECRETARY OF STATE.
(No. 416.)
MY LORD,
(Received 9 September, 1909.)
King's House, Jamaica, 24 August, 1909.
I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your Lordship's Circular despatch, dated the 25th of May last,* transmitting copies of Parliamentary Papers containing despatches relating to mechanical transport in various Colonies and Protectorates, including this Colony, together with copies of a table drawn up by the Mechanical Transport Committee, showing the approximate cost of the running and upkeep of mechanical transport vehicles.
should
2. In reply, I have the honour to transmit to your Lordship the accompanying copy of a memorandum by the Director of Public Works on the subject. be glad if you would be so good as to cause a copy of this memorandum to be communicated to the Mechanical Transport Committee with an expression of my appreciation of their offer conveyed in the fourth paragraph of your Lordship's despatch, to give any advice they can in connection with any proposal this Govern- ment may in future make for the establishment of any system of mechanical transport. Your Lordship will observe that the Director of Public Works has noted your instructions as to the furnishing of further information on this subject.
3. I may mention that the Crown Agents for the Colonies will be asked to obtain for this Government full particulars of the mono-rail tramway referred to at page 64 of the Parliamentary Papers, and also of the motors used in mechanical transport of mails referred to at pages 105 and 109.
I have, &c.,
P. C. CORK,
Acting Governor.
Enclosure in No. 6.
7
item is included therein for interest or depreciation of original capital oost (£10,000 odd), rentals, replacing or purchasing of mules and carts, all of which are charged to Main Roads Account. apart from other details are of not much value for comparative purposes, and do Therefore the official returns of Is. Old. per ton mile not actually represent the cost of the Department.
3. On page 64 a most interesting memorandum is submitted by the Commis- sioner for the Public Works for the East Africa Protectorate relating to a mono- rail tramway, of which I have heard, but never seen. to me to be initial cheapness, if the figures given are reliable, and also that it is adaptable to mechanical, animal, or manual haulage. I have in my mind my Its great advantage appears recent report re Trinity Ville Tramway as well as other situations as railway feeders throughout the island, and perhaps His Excellency might think it worth while to obtain full particulars from the Crown Agents.
1.
I would also draw your attention to pages 105-109, which deal with mechanical transport of mails, and which might also be worth consideration.
5. Generally it appears that absence of proper metalled roads and also of bridges seriously militates against the introduction of mechanical haulage; these conditions not being existent to any great extent in Jamaica, hence the conclusion of Special Commission referred to in paragraph 1.
16 July, 1909.
P. R. A. W.
The loose schedule of costs is embodied in Parliamentary Papers copy of which was sent to me for retention.
31687
No. 7. UGANDA.
THE ACTING GOVERNOR to THE SECRETARY OF STATE. (Received 24 September, 1909.)
(No. 228.) MY LORD,
I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your Lordship's circular letter of the 28th May last,* relative to mechanical transport in the various Colonies and Protectorates, and, in reply, to enclose the accompanying report on the subject in so far as it affects this Protectorate, as compiled by the Acting Director of Uganda Transport.
Government House, Uganda, 26th August, 1909.
I have, &c.,
ALEXANDER BOYLE,
Acting Governor.
'" य
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
TIT
C.O.885
Reference :-
21 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO
HONOURABLE COLONIAL SECRETARY,
I RETURN herewith the papers relating to mechanical transport. I have duly noted the instructions of the Secretary of State and am retaining the printed matter as per minute. following observations as requested :—
I have read reports, &c., with interest and beg to make the
1. It is a curious coincidence that at the very time this subject is being considered by the Privy Council as a feature incidental to maintenance of roads that the Special Commission, after considering the returns of particulars from numerous Colonies, should select Jamaica, Bermuda, Gold Coast, and Uganda as Colonies where, in their opinion, mechanical transport would be advantageous: see pages 106-7.
2. The schedule of working costs of "Light Tractor," column 2, is of special interest, which, after making, in my opinion, excessive allowances for depreciation (the cost of labour and fuel being fair), still shows a gross cost of 54d. per ton mile. This is for a five-ton tractor, but my experience has been with five-ton lorries, and, as pointed out in paragraph 14 of my letter to you, No. 417/1909, dated 28/4/09. your No. 5658, the ratio of useful load to dead load would be 10 to 19 instead of 5 to 13 for tractor, as shown in column 2 of table. This would, taking the rest of the figures as correct, reduce the cost per ton mile considerably. When com- paring costs with official mule account returns it must be borne in mind that no
No. 44 in [Cd. 4589].
Enclosure in No.
Motor transport has been experimented with during the last fifteen months, and
Transport Lines, Entebbe, Uganda, August 18th, 1909. has proved successful. Hitherto the only means of land transport have been hunan labour, bullock carts, and pack donkeys. The demand for labour has been so great latterly that porters are hard to obtain; disease has also been rife amongst transport animals. At the present time about 240 miles of road are open for motor traffic:-
Entebbe-Kampala, 23 miles. Kampala-Bombo, 24 miles.. Kampala-Mubendi, 105 miles. Kampala Port, 7 miles.
Kampala-Jinja, 55 miles in dry season. Jinja-Iganga, 26 miles in dry season.
The roads are broad and well graded, the foundations usually being quartz or ironstone, and the surface laterite, an abundance of these materials being usually found in close proximity to the line of road. The so-called rivers are the great obstacle to motor traction. These rivers are really huge papyrus swamps often over a mile wide; these have to be crossed by embankments and short lengths of * No. 44 in [Cd. 4589],