THE GREAT QUEENSLAND RAILWAY.

Globe, Volume III, Issue 226, 1 March 1875, Page 3

THE GREAT QUEENSLAND RAILWAY.

“ We have received from Brisbane,” says the Argus, “ a map shewing the proposed line of railway to the Gulf of Carpentaria, with the blocks of land marked on it which the contractors propose to receive in lieu of payment. These amount in the aggregate to something considerable ; but as marked in red chequeis on the map before us, they bear an altogether insignificant proportion to the vast territory out of which they will be taken. From Dalby, the line follows the valley of the Condamine to a point near the junction of that river with the Balonne, and thence follows a westerly course until it crosses the Maranoa at 148 deg. Bast. Here it begins to trend in a north-westerly course, until it enters the only mountain range which is defined upon its track. This is near Tambo. It is among these highlands that the waters of the Barcoo take their rise. And the railway runs parallel with that stream until the latter makes a sudden deflection to the south-west, where it is joined by the Alice. The country hereabouts appears to be all taken up as high as the twenty-second parallel of south latitude. From the head waters of Landsborough Creek, a degree lower down, the proposed line runs almost due north until it reaches the sources of the Flinders, where sheep and cattle stations begin to reappear, and from this point it curves away to the north-west, until it enters the valley through wLich the River Norman descends to the sea. I'he railway runs side by side with this to its terminus in the gulf. In every sense of the word the undertaking is a magnificent one, and its execution will exercise an important influence on the future of all these colonies. It appears to be warmly espoused by the Government and people of Queensland, which is the only colony perhaps which could afford to make so large a grant of its territory without missing it. We have no doubt the Legislature will see the necessity of acting with promptitude if it determines on accepting Mr Collier’s offer ; for if the matter should be allowed to stand over, and European complications should occur, of which there is every prospect, the difficulties which would then .arise in ‘ financing’ such an enterprise might prove to be insuperable.”