CO882-(6-8) — Page 244

100

Brought forward

(5) Earthwork, ballast, laying permanent way, sidings, road

crossings, road diversions and fencing...

(6) Construction of bridges and culverts (7) Construction of station and platforms (8) Land compensation

4..

(9) Contingencies, including engineering and supervision, 10 per

cent.

Say Rs. 220,000 in round figures.

Rs. 113,100

55,600

10,000

10,000

10,000

Rs. 198,700

19,870

Rs. 218,570

4. The annual charge on the Treasury that line would cause will not exceed of 5 per cent., or Rs. 11,000 per annum. Viewing the question from the least favour- able point of view, and supposing that the traffic only covers the working expenses, I consider that the construction of that line would be a justifiable public work. Mountain Long is the healthiest part of the district of Pamplemousses. A railway would make of it the sanatorium of the district. As time rolls on the line will surely pay the interest and sinking fund on the cost of its construction. Now, under the special circumstances created by the surra, the inhabitants of Mountain Long are fully justified, apart from other considerations, in asking that the line be constructed without delay. In starting the works say in March and in ordering the materials also in March the line could be opened to traffic by the end of September next.

No. 3.

G. DE CORIOLIS,

Surveyor-General.

MINUTES of the Proceedings of the Meeting of the Long Mountain Railway Commission, held at the Police Station of Long Mountain, on Saturday, 7th March, 1903.

PRESENT:-

1. The Honourable Emile Sauzier, Esq., Chairman.

R. W. Dowson, Esq., Acting General Manager of Railways.

R. Parsons, Esq., representing the Honourable the Surveyor-General

3.

1.

A. Amic, Esq.

6. J. A. Blackburn, Esq.

5. Robert Melotte, Esq.

101

Enclosure 4 in No. 78.

GENERAL MANAGER OF RAILWays to CoLONIAL SECRETARY.

(G.M. 377/160.)

April 6, 1903. In answer to your letter, No. 2521/03, of 31st March, 1903, I beg to report that, according to information obtained from several proprietors and Mr. Martin, owner of Industrie Estate, the only sugar estate lying at Long Mountain, the population in Mountain Long Valley and its neighbourhood is estimated at about 10,000.

Admitting that each of these persons travels to and from town twice a year (as an average), and taking the length of the trip as the distance from Central to a point half way distant between Terre Rouge station and the terminal station of the proposed line, we get 20,000 trips of six miles and back, or 240,000 passenger miles at .04 cents per mile

Rs. 9,600 The sugar traffic, to be derived entirely from Industrie Estate, is estimated to be 1,500 tons this year. This would have to be transported a distance of nine miles to Central. At existing rates the revenue to be thence derived would be 1,500 tons by Rs. 2.15 =

General merchandize, say 300 tons a year, @ Rs. 1.50, would yield Canes, say 10,000 tons at 10 cents per mile for ten miles Engrais, 1,000 tons @ Rs. 1.46 per ton for nine miles

3,225

450 10,000

1,480

Rs. 24,735

Say Rs. 25,000

The working expenses would probably be 40 per cent. approximately of the revenue, say

Leaving as net revenue

10,000

Rs. 15,000

At 9 per cent. this is the interest of a capital of Rs. 166,666. It should be noted that Industrie Estate will agree to give its transport to the railway on condition that a siding is made, Government supplying the materials and Mr. Martin paying for labour. I understand this siding will be about two miles.

R. W. DOWSON,

Acting General Manager of Railways.

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Aeference :-

TLC.O. 882

لسل سائلا

8

ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC-

COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

ABSENT:-

7. The Honourable H. Leclézio, C.M.G.

8.

9.

"

10. Dr. Atcham.

Leopold Antelme, Esq.

J. A. Duclos, Esq.

11. Antoine Ulcoq, Esq.

Mr. Parsons, who represented the Honourable the Surveyor-General, prevented from attending the meeting, indicated to the members on the spot the plan before them where it was intended the line should pass.

The minutes of the proceedings of the meeting held at the Surveyor-General's Office on the 5th March, 1903, were then read and confirmed.

The Commission adjourn to Tuesday, the 10th instant, at 2 p.m., for the considera- tion of the report to be addressed to His Excellency the Governor.

Confirmed:-

EMILE SAUZIER,

JH. PILOT,

Secretary.

(No. A. 150.)

Enclosure 5 in No. 78.

SURVEYOR-GENERAL to COLONIAL SECRETARY.

April 16, 1903. I have consulted the Acting General Manager of Railways and his assistants, the Locomotive Superintendent, and the Inspector of Permanent Way.

The new pro- posals can be carried out. The permanent way materials and the locomotives being supplied by the Railway Department, the cost of the line will, therefore, be as follows:-

(1) Points, crossings and signal post fittings ...

(2) Earthwork, ballast, laying permanent way, station sidings, road

crossings, road diversions and fencing

Rs. 3,600

62,000

(3) Bridges and culverts...

14,500

(4) Station and platforms

10,000

10,000

Rs. 100,100

(6) Contingencies, including engineering and supervision, 10 per cent.

10,010

Rs. 110,110

(5) Land compensation

Say Rs. 110,000.