Manawatu Herald. TUESDAY, AUGUST 24, 1880. THE SANDON TRAMWAY SCHEME.

Manawatu Herald, Volume II, Issue 104, 24 August 1880, Page 2

Manawatu Herald. TUESDAY, AUGUST 24, 1880. THE SANDON TRAMWAY SCHEME.

In last Tuesday's issue we showed the possibility of good communication being obtained between Foxton and Sandon by means of a tramway from Carnarvon junction to the town of Sanson. The cost of making the line we estimated at about £4000, and pointed out that by a special rate of three-halfpence ia the £ upon rateable property in the Foxton, Carnarvon, and Sandon districts interest at 5 per cent, on the cost of construction could le guaranteed to a company undertaking the work under I "The Counties Act Amendment Bill" now before the Legislature. The matter has been freely canvassed since our article appeared, and the question is generally asked, " Why not go in for iron rails ?" To this the reply is very simple. First, the scheme we propose is economical in every way, to meet the times ; second, the wooden rails will last, with 4air usage, for four years, thus developing the traffic along the line, and by the time the wood is worn out the company will be in a far better position to lay down iron than it would be now ; third, if iron rails were laid, a division of opinion would be at once created— one party would advocate a railway, the other party a tramway, and the inevitable consequence would be that the wrangling which would ensue would effectually quash the whole affair. The course we advocate is stern economy throughout, in order to keep within our means. If we can get a serviceable tramway which will afford an outlet for Sandon produce, and will enable that district to import its stores either through or from Foxton, for the sum of £4000, it will be better policy on

our part to accept such a scheme — though the communication may be rough and comparatively slow — than allow the trade to be undeveloped. A farmer who said, " Because I can't h.ive a reaping machine, or a steam t' r>sher, I'll not crop my ground," would be regarded as a likely candidate for a Lunatic Asylum. Yet we fcbiuk that any settler would be equally foolish who said, " Because we cannot have a tramway with iron rails we will have none." Further enquiries show that our approximate estimate of the cost of the wooden tramway at £4000 is well inside the mark. In order t> ascertain the exact cost we waited upon Mr George Nye, who had a great deal to do with the Palmerston-Fox-ton tramway, and asked him to furnish us with an estimate of the cost of a wooden tramway from Carnarvon junction to Sandon. His estimate, for which we heartily thank him, is as follows : — COST OP WOODEN TRAMWAY PEE MILE,

Total cost of tramway £3,922 7 3J The cost of maintenance of line Mr Nye estimates at about £500 per annum, including two men regularly employed, ballasting, timber, &c. Of course in addition to the above there would be required say 6 horses at say £20 each, and stable accommodation at Carnarvon and Sandon, but the stables could be built on to the goods sheds, thus decreasing the cost considerably. It will therefore be seen that the whole concern could be put in working order for less than £4500. The next question is, " Would it pay ?" To this we reply that it has been repeatedly argued from figures that a district railway, to cost £30,000 would pay, and if that were the case surely a tramway, costing about onessvenlh of the railway could be made to pay splendidly. We assume that interest on construction would be covered by a special rate in the three districts interested, and that rate, we repeat, would need to be only threehalfpence in the £ on the rateable property. Would the line pay working expenses ? That is the question which remains to be answered. The total cost of working the line would probably be about £27 per week, as follows : — 2 drivers at £110 per annum . . £'220 2 storemen (ue.fcinsj as stntionraas'ers) 240 6 horses, at .£SO each per annum . . 3"(j i 'ost of line maintenance, &c . . 600 Office expenses ... 100 £1360 It will therefore be seen that a daily receipt of the ridiculously small sum of £4: 10s would fully cover the whole cost of working the line, while it is extremely probable that during the first two years at least the cost of maintenance would be considerably under £500. To prove that there would be sufficient traffic on the tramway to pay the sum mentioned, we will quote the following passage from the statement made by Mr H. Sanson before the Eailway Commission : — I have compiled a few facts with regard to the Sandun District whioh will perhaps guide the Commissioners. Sandon and Carnarvon districts comprise an area of more than 120,000 acres of good agricultural land, and contaiu a population of 1.500 soul* There was under cereal crops this year 3,000 acres, and the average yield wi s 25 bushels per acre : total. 150,000 bushels, or about 2,40' > tone There are about. 500 tons of root crops. Over 1,000 !!0O feet of sawn timber are sent away annually from one mill alone. There are two saw mills in full work at present, and the erec tion of two others is contemplated. A very large number of cattle and sheep are tin nnally sent away from these districts. The yield of produce is considerably on the increase every ypar, and this increase will *>c at a more rapid rate now that the Doug las special settlement is making such progress This would yield a considerable traffic to the railway if the West Coast line were brought to Foxton. The Palmerston line comes out from Foxton for a distance of 6 miles in a direct line for Sanson. In addition to the above-nremioned farm an I timber produce, there is an import tr-iffio amounting to about 300 tons. The fore going estimates will be ut least doubled ;is soon as the £ausou- Carnarvon Junction branch line is completed, which we hope to sne accomplished within a reaßonablo time. At tho present time the Sandon District draws some of its supplies from Pnlmerston, and some through Bulls from Wnnganw. I cannot say from which end it draws most of its supplies. lam a resident of Sandou District. J may say that between Sanson and Foxton there ii a very l*»rge area of undeveloped country, which will remain for ever in its present state unless tho line is brought to Foxton, bo as to give us an outlet, and encourage the completion of the proposed branch line from Sanson to Carnarvon Junction. Thero are •housands of acres of really good land— second, I think, to none in New Zealand — languishing for want of a proper outlet. Part* of the country possessing railway transit have a great advantage over other ploces without railways ; and we feel heavily handicapped for want of a railway. The above is conclusive evidence that the tramway Hue would pay, and pay well. Settlement in Carnarvon is at present in its infancy, and we believe that were the tramway we are advocating formed that district would soon double its population. A tramway to Carnarvon station from the township of San-

sou would give the whole tliree districts interested a wondrous impetus, and even if the concern did did not pay the indirect benefits the settlers would receive would be so great, that it would pay them to Avork the tramway at a loss, rather than have no tramway at all. "Wa do not, however, anticipate that contingency, as the most cursory glance will couvince any unbiassed person that the line must pay handsomely.

£ sd. 1 ,7 "0 sleepers per mi I*,1 *, at ls each 88 o<> 15.840 feet timber <»l 8« 100 ft. . . 63 8 0 3,520 wedjres, at ld each .. 913 4 Notching. leepers at 8* per 100.. 7 10 C_ttinirrailsatßsper 100 .. 7 1" Formation, laying, aud ballasting, 25. porchuiu .. .. 101 Of. Contingencies . . . . . . 20 0 0 Cost per mile . . £295 34. COST OF TRAMWAY. 1 1 miles tramway, at 295/3/4 3,246 16 8 5 B.chainsidings,at3»/2/iS .. 155 10 7 J 3 goods sheds — Carnarvon, Campbelltown, & Sandon 300 0 0 Purchase of old rolling stock at Carnarvon, and repairs to same 220 0 0 '