RAILROAD ACROSS THE SAHARA.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1573, 5 March 1879, Page 3

RAILROAD ACROSS THE SAHARA.

M. Duponchcl, engineer-in-chief of the Pontz-efc-Chausses, was lately sent out to Algeria to examine the geological formation of the land to the south of the colony, with a View to the establishment of a trans-Saharan railway, and to explore as far as practicable the borders of the great desert. Ho has now made his report, from w* ich it appears that the projected railway would run from Algiers to 'limbuctco, a distance of about 1500 miles. M. Duponchcl states that the principal portion of the lino—that which would pass hy Laghouat and Taguin, crossing the oa«is of Jouat, and terminating at Ximhuctoo on the Niger—would rest during nearly its whole extent, on quarternary deposits, layers of sand, and towards the end on primitive volcanic rocks, granite, gneiss, &o. No mountainous obstructions would have to he encountered. The Sahara has always had the reputation of b iag an exceptionally hot region. Such is really the case, although the thermometries! observations of late, particularly MM. Duveyrier and Yattone, reduce to reasonable figures the exaggerated statements of former travellers. The average heat dor s not appear to exceed about 73d<g, to Todeg. Fahrenheit, hut account must must bo taken of the great variations which occur in the twenty-four hours. For instance, occasionally, a very cold night succeeds a temperature of KMdeg. Fahrenheit in the daytime. That, however, is not considered any obstacle. The great difficulty to be overcome would be the want of the water. M. Duponchel considers that this even can be surmounted. He calculates that, for three trains daily, the amount of water required would be 4000 cubic metres, and believes that the engineering science of the day is quite sufficient to supply even a much greater quantity at the requisite points.