90
4. It is not suggested that the programme mapped out above is necessary in its entirety within the next year or two. The works under list B, depend on the existing line of railway and therefore form part of a permanent transport system and might be started at once, although in many cases I believe that a light tramway might with advantage be substituted for a metalled road. The best of the country so developed is, however, in private hands, and it is the large Government areas up north that in particular need development. It cannot be too strongly insisted upon that the works under list A. are either (a) useless until the Lake Railway is completed, or (b) most expensive temporary substitutes for this railway. The two cases cannot be combined as the route chosen must obviously depend upon which consideration is to weigh. Nor can a fine natural water-way such as Lake Nyasa, serving a large area of country, be left untapped by rail for many years-motor transport is not capable of developing it.
5. The Sub-Committee of the Colonial Economic Development Committee in paragraph 4 of their report put forward two suggestions-both of which they turn down:-
(1) A pioneer line.
(2) Construction of earthworks only.
They base their objections to the immediate full construction of the Lake Railway on two facts: -- (a) The expense in connection with the issue of a loan at the present high rates of interest. (b) The present high price of steel and materials.
I submit that in objection (a) due weight may not have been given to the cost of labour in this. country, which is increasing by leaps and bounds, and within the next five years, or probably less, is almost certain to double itself. This should counterbalance the unfavourable conditions of an immediate loan. I venture to suggest that a combination of their two alternatives would also overcome objection (b).
6. The estimated cost of the full line is now £2,000,000, of which £1,500,000 might be made available. I suggest that the Sub Committee be asked to consider the advisability of taking advantage of the present comparatively cheap labour to construct the earthworks for the full gauge line as laid down in the plans, including all drainage works and culverts, and also all bridge abutments and piers, to the full 3'6" standard. Upon this would be laid a tram- way of 22 or 24 gauge-possibly procurable at low cost from military salvage sales at home, but in any case involving less than a third of the estimated cost of permanent way material for the full gauge line.
7. The estimate on page 69 of the Committee's Memorandum would then be roughly amended as follows:-
Remarks.
91
8. With this sum a permanent line would be built awaiting only a fall in the price of steel to complete to full gauge, and meanwhile capable of handling far more traffic than would be dealt with by motor transport, and of at once starting the development of the Lake shores and northern districts. As soon as circumstances were favourable, and the full gauge rails laid, the tramway would be utilized either on the Fort Jameson-Domira Bay route, or on one or other of several routes further south which would derive great benefit therefrom.
9. Against the interest on this loan must be set the direct saving to Government in the transport of food from the Lake, and of timber and other goods from Luchenza to Zomba. It is probable that the expensive Packhard service could be largely done away with, or utilized in other directions as feeder roads were made. Indirectly, large numbers of carriers, both Government and private, would be released for productive work. It has already been proved that light motors would not effect this object, since they cannot compete in cheapness with carrier transport, while it is somewhat doubtful if even heavy cars are in a position to do so, until the price of labour takes a further rise. Further, cheap food from the Lake will solve a question which has caused friction between the Government and the planters and will enable them to increase their acreage under exportable produce. The influx of new settlers will be encouraged to continue, by the opening up of new Government land en route and the Lake shore areas, which will bring in revenue in the shape of rent, but the development of which cannot precede the provision of transport. North-Eastern Rhodesia and the South-Western part of Tanganyika Territory will also add to the traffic in increasing proportious.
10. From the point of view of my own department, the impossibility of laying down a satisfactory programme of permanent road construction without reference to this railway, leads me to urge that the Committee be asked to reconsider the matter in the light of the above facts.
A ROUGH ESTIMATE
Rail distances: --
F. G. PRATT,
Director of Public Works.
Enclosure 5 in No. 17.
OF PROBABLE TRANSPORT FOR THE RAILWAY EXTENSION-LUCHENZA TO
LAKE NYASA.
Luchenza to Magomero
"
to Zomba
to Chikala
to Liwonde
to Lake
25 miles.
45 11
70 "
241
Allow for increased cost of labour since date of estimates. Earthworks to be provided for full gauge.
Full gauge piers and abutments only. Light steel
girders or timber beams.
Arches of local brick could be largely used. Roughly cost, but might possibly be obtained very
much cheaper from Military Salvage Sales.
Grass buts, with a few galvanized iron sheds at Luchonsa and the Lake, would be all that is needed to begin with.
I. PRODUCE FOR EXPORT.
80
125
11
For this calculation I assume that, by the time the railway is running, about one-third of the new estates taken up since the war may be under cultivation. In addition, it may be presumed that there will be an extension in new estates as soon as railway construction is determined on and an expansion of cultivation on old estates which will have recourse to the railway for transport.
As to new estates opened up since the war, the accompanying map is intended to indicate roughly where they are situated in relation to the railway system.
Area 1.—Lower Shire basin (Ruo and Lower Shire Districts) West Shire and bflanje-
59 estates, 34,852 acres, and 13 applications pending for 6,382 acres.
The produce
of this area will not go on to the Lake extension except perhaps from the Polombwe area of Mlanji district.
Area B.-Tapped by the railway. This may be divided up into Sections having relation
to the distances to be carried over the line.
Full gauge Estimate.
Tramway Estimate,
£
£
A. Earthwork
►
69,268
75,000
B. Bridges...
127,5C3
50,000
C. Onlverts ...
50,014
50,000
D. Permanent way...
685,170
230,000
E. Switches and crossings
8,276
500
F. Level crossings
281
G. Metalling roads...
1,462
200
H. Telegraph
***
17,477
I. Stations...
53,786
3,000
J. Demarcation of land
450
400
K. Pier at lake
***
8,750
L
L. Maintenance for one year
12,492
1,500
1,034,929
410,600
Contingencies, 10 per cent.
103,493
41,060
Land and compensation Rolling stock
460
450
184,960
20,000
Engineering and Administration...
61,017
6,000
Contingencies on above
**
24,643
2,645
1,409,45 2
480,755
Section 1.
But paragraph 3 of the Report pst: the increase in cost since the date of the Memorandum at £2,000,000 as against £1,400,000, a rise of, say, 40 per cent. On the same basis, the proposed tramway estimate rises from £480,755 to £673,000. I am of opinion, however, that the work as proposed above could be done for about £500,000.
This estimate could be further reduced by cutting down the earthworks to a mere surface line, but to do so would be to defeat one of its main objects-that of completing the local work while labour is cheap, besides increasing the haulage difficulties owing to the recklessness of native drivers in the matter of speed, and more important still, reducing greatly the number of timber which could be hauled by one light engine.
Estates in or about Magomero and Zomba.
Most of the land is held under old titles, but the owners are extending their cultivation. The actual output of these estates for 1919 was
as follows:-
(a) Served by Magomero Station (25 miles):
18 Estates-cotton 97 tons, tobacco 303 tons = 460.
cent. 690 × 25
(b) Served by Zomba Station (45 miles):
26790
17 Estates-cotton 18 tons, tobacco 421 tons — 489.
cent, 658 × 45
Ton miles to
Add 50 per
be carried.
17,250
Add 50 per
29,610
G4
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co
Reference :-
885/26
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