| ༄། ཟ། ། |
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
6
Reference :-
C.O. 882
4PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO
76
The total mileage expressed in the number of tons carried one mile was 359,365, of which 283,443 was up and 75,922 down, the proportions thus being 3-73 up to 1 down.
The average
distance over the Náuu-oya railway to which each ton of goods was carried is thus 20.3 miles, and the total receipts from goods and live stock being Rs. 106,674-92, it follows that the average receipts from each ton of goods carried were Rs. 602, and the average receipts per ton per mile were Rs. 0-283, while the average receipts per mile per annum upon the mean mileage (13·07 miles) of the Nánu-oya railway worked during 1884 were Rs. 8,162.
16. The total receipts from goods traffic of all descriptions in 1884 upon the whole of the Ceylon railways were Rs. 1,592,496.
The total receipts from carriage of live stock were Rs. 5,222, thus raising the total for goods and live stock to Rs. 1,597,718.
The goods traffic and receipts therefrom upon the Ceylon railways generally are thus further classified :-
General and railway merchandise
Receipts from general and railway merchandise
Average receipts per ton for up traffic
Do.
Do.
Do.
per ton per mile for up traffic
per ton for down traffic
per ton per mile for down traffic
Breakwater and waterworks material
Receipts from breakwater and waterworks material Average receipts per ton from do., for up traffic
Do.
Do.
Do.
per ton per mile from do., for up traffic per ton from do., for down traffic per ton
mile from do., for down traffic
per
-
Tons 144,541
Rs. 1,565,175
11:02
0-18
-
*
""
39
31
10 31 0:15
Tons 42,819
Rs. 27,321
"
0.66 0.09
0.64
"2
0.05
From the above-mentioned figures, I have deduced the following general results :-
Average rate for goods, excluding special rates on
the main line in 1884 Including the special rate
·
-
On the Nanu-oya railway, average rate for lat,
2nd, and 3rd class goods in 1884 Including the special rates for coffee and cinchona Average receipts from the carriage of each ton of
goods of all descriptions on the Ceylon railways generally
Average distance to which each ton was carried
for this sum
-
Average rate charged per ton per mile
For each ton of general and railway merchandise carried on the Ceylon railway system generally, average receipts per ton
Average distance each ton was carried for this
sum was
For each ton of breakwater and waterworks
material carried average receipts
Average distance each ton was carried for this
sum
Number of tons of goods carried in 1884 on each
mile open of the Ceylon railway generally Gross receipts from goods and live stock traffic
during 1884 on each mile of railway open
Rs. 0.1667 per ton per mile.
0.15833
do.
"
0.3833
do.
"
0-33
do.
"
8.50
Miles 52-16 Rs. 0.16
흡흡
10.82
35
Miles 64:16
Rs. 0.64
-
Miles 11.64
"
-
Tons 1,231
Rs. 10,497
17. I will limit my consideration of these confessedly very intricate figures relating to the goods traffic on the Ceylon railways to those bearing on the Nanu-oya railway, given in paragraph 15 of this report, and will endeavour to compare these latter, so
As
far as data are available, with the similar figures relating to the Darjeeling railway.
The principal poiut demanding remark is, that the number of tons carried over each mile of the mean mileage open of the Nánu-oya railway was in 1884 more than four times as many as that carried over each mile of the Darjeeling railway, but that, not- withstanding this, the receipts from goods and live stock per mean mile open during the year on the Nanu-oya railway were only about 1.52 times those per mile open upon the Darjeeling line, pointing most clearly to the higher rates for goods charged by the latter
77
railway. That this is actually the fact, is evident from the average receipts from goods traffic of all descriptions per ton per mile on the Náou-oya railway during 1884, being Řs. 0-283; whereas the average rate per ton per mile for goods of all classes, including those carried at special rates, on the Darjeeling line is Rs. 0:44, or 55 per cent. higher than the average receipts per ton per mile on the Nanu-oya railway and for first, second, or third class goods only Rs. 0.567 the latter rate being exactly double the average receipts for goods per ton per mile ou the Nánu-oya railway.
If from competition or any other reason the Darjeeling-Himalayan Railway Company were suddenly compelled to lower their average rate of 44 cents per ton per mile for goods of all classes to the average rate of Rs. 0.283 per ton per mile actually realised on the Nanu-oya railway during 1884, the total receipts on that line would sink from Rs. 268,628 to Rs. 172,776, or from Rs. 3'09 to Rs. 1.99 per goods train mile; while if that company were compelled to further lower the rates to the average of 21.7 cents per ton per mile now charged on the Nánu-oya line for goods of all descriptions, the receipts would be only Rs. 132,482, or per goods train mile, Rs. 153. The full effect of this will be noticed hereafter.
18. The very great disproportion between the up and down traffic of the Nanu-oya railway is another point very seriously affecting its economical working, as four laden waggons are drawn up the incline for each laden waggon that descends it. Had the bulk of the traffic been down, instead of up, the conditions would, it is needless to say, have been much more favourable, as the trains descend the incline by gravity without the consumption of fuel, and, in fact, the descending engine is practically only needed as a safeguard against contingencies, and in order to bring the following train up; but under the present circumstances the laden waggons are hauled up only by the con- sumption of much valuable fuel, and the very heavy expense thus entailed is unfortu- nately not balanced by the large proportion of receipts to expenditure which would be derived were the down trains fully laden.
The reports from which my information regarding the Darjeeling-Himalayan railway is derived contain no particulars as to the proportion which the up hears to the down traffic on that line, but from the details of the various articles of goods carried I hardly think there can be much disparity between them, especially if, as in other parts of the slopes of the Himalayas with which I am acquainted, sufficient food grain, &c., for the resident population is grown on the spot.
A comparative statement of the goods traffic of the Darjeeling-Himalayan railway, the Ceylon railway's generally, and the Nanu-oya railway, is given in Table II. appended to this memorandum.
19. The miscellaneous receipts upon the Ceylon railways during 1884 were Rs. 29,989, while upon the Nánu-oya railway section they were Rs. 639.
20. The gross receipts upon the whole of the Ceylon railway system in 1884 were Rs. 2,544,585; and the total number of train miles being 610,198, the gross earnings per train mile were Rs. 4:17. Upon the Nánu-oya section the gross receipts were Rs. 143,096, the number of train miles was 32,535, thus giving the total earnings per train mile Rs. 4:40. The number of train miles per annum per open mile of railway on the mean mileage of the Ceylon railways worked was 4,009 miles, and upon the Nanu- oya section only this number was 2,489 miles, while the gross receipts per mile open per annum were Rs. 16,7187 and Rs. 10,948 4 ou the Ceylon railways generally and on the Nanu-oya railway, respectively.
21. Table No. III. appended to this memorandum shows the working expenses on the Darjeeling railway, the Ceylon railways generally, and the Nánu-oya railway for 1884, classified under the different heads of expenditure. In explanation of the high cost of maintenance on the Nánu-oya railway during 1884, I should mention that during that year the line was maintained by Messrs. Nowell & Co. under their contract at the rate of Rs. 3,000 per mile per annum, the whole of which was then charged against working expenses. This sum being clearly largely in excess of the actual cost of maintenance, recommended to Government, upon the matter being referred to me, that only one-half of it should be charged against that item, the remainder being charged against the construction account. This recommendation was approved by the Government, and half the sum thus expended was accordingly refunded to working expenses account, thus at once reducing the amount appearing under this head to Rs. 19,559, equal per train mile to Rs. 0.60, per mile of railway open to Rs. 1,496-45, and to 13-65 per cent. on the gross receipts; and of course effecting similar reductions on the totals appearing in these columns. Again, with regard to the high cost of locomotive power on the
1 38238.
• See letter to the Hon. the Colonial Secretary, No. 170, of 18th September 1885.
M
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