WEST AUSTRALIA'S DESERT RAILWAY.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1941, 26 December 1913, Page 10

WEST AUSTRALIA'S DESERT RAILWAY.

HEAVY/COST OF WATER SUPPLY:' 'J'lio water supply on tho West 3.iisttalian railway promises to bo a heavy item of the total' expenditure.' In a report t(s liio Assistant Minister for Home Affairs, tho-Federal JSiigineer-in-ehici': points out that the rainfall over tho whole area served by tiro lino.dqes : not average, probably, more than Tin. There are occasionally long intervals, of two. to live years,- during which tho falls'of rain are too scanty for collection. To obtain water, from tiro Kalgoorlio reservoir would, cost £600,000. .Subsequently it- was found that, by using wood stave-pipes, substituted for tin- very eorrnsiblo steel pipes'oil-tEe Kalgoor'lie water supply, and utilising water from the i\iiu..nmr j i;.n , tho' estimate could ho reduced to £-156,000, in view of tho fact that .tho use of locomotives of the internal combustion type, instead of steam, will lead to a great reduction in water requirements. Mr. Beano says, tho scheme has not yet been fully entered upon, although preparatory work has been done. For the present steam locomotives 20 watertank wagons, each of 2400 gallons capacity, are being built. It is proposed to add to these a number of water-tank wajreus of 8-500 gallons capacity, to be filled at either end. and taken along with tiro train. These tank wagons are estimated • to cost £11,040. Hock catchments ara now being surveyed in several places. Bores are beiiiß smik. and sites for-reservoirs boin<; invosticiated. At 53 miles from' Port Augusta a scheme for a reservoir to bold 4,000.000 to 6,000,000 gallons is being worked out. Tho cost of tlicso" works, it is estimated, will not- exceed £450,000; but. should difficulties occur, which miejif incrnaso the expenditure by £200.000. there will still bo a _ savins of £250,000, due to the use of locomotives of the internal combustion type. "The rose is red, the violet's blue; ■■ But goodness, mercy, how are you ? Yon don't look well; just tel! me, do, What is the matter, ilarlinjr Sue?" "To toll the truth, I've got a cold, f cannot it longer well endure." "You poor, dear, sweet, why don't you got "Some Woods' tlreat Peppermint Cure?" ■ -Advt.