LIGHT COUNTRY RAILWAYS AND STREET TRAMWAYS.—(Compiled by Mr. F. C. Rowan).

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5475, 14 October 1878, Page 3

LIGHT COUNTRY RAILWAYS AND STREET TRAMWAYS. —(CompiIed by Mr. F. C. Rowan).

As this question is one of great importance to New Zealand, and includes the formation of secondary lines of railway, to act as feeders to the main lines, wo propose to extract the most salient features from the brochure before us. The form of engine recommended by Mr. Rowan is one in which the engine is fitted inside the car, as this conduces greatly to economy in working. He considers that the traction power of tho engine should not bo less than that ot 15 horses. By combining tho engine and in one vehicle, owing to tho diminunition of dead weight and the greater proportionate weight upon the driving wheels, the load can be started upon a very steep gradient. The cat recommended by the writer, the suitability of which, ho says, has been amply proved by thoroughly exhaustive trials in Germany, is constructed upon the American principle, with tho body resting upon two $t bogies" or under-carriages. Springs are placed between the bogie-plate and the car-riage-body, so as to wholly prevent the vibration caused by the engine from being communicated to the body of tho car itself. Haring accepted steam aa the moat suitable motive power, on account of its cheapness, handinetf, and security, tho writer next declares that as to “ noise of machinery, this can easily bo got rid of by a proper mode of construction and careful workmanship in tho details, Tho inconvenience arising from tho smoko can be avoided by tho use of one of the many recog. nisod smoko consumers, or by burning only first-class coke in a form of boiler which secures perfect combustion It must be assumed that tho total absence of escape steam in any form is an unavoidable condition for u steam engine on a tram-car, as it will otherwise be , looked upon as a highly objectionable nuisance by the inhabitants of tho houses situated on the roads or streets through which it may have to pass, and will have to contend against great * opposition from such persons, especially if they, should happen to bo owners of horses. Tho principle which I have adopted is exceeding!/ simple, consisting of the use of a small

noiseless fan, which supplies the blast to the furnace, and at the same time effectually condenses the surplus and exhaust steam.** Wellington readers will no doubt sympathise with the ideas expressed in the above extract, as the escape steam is almost the only objection to the engines in use here. Wo believe that it can be condensed in Merryweafcher’a engines. In regard to tho introduction of steamhaulage forgoods-trnffic it is asserted that—- “ There can be no doubt that steam haulage on iroif tracks is cheaper than horsing on au ordinary macadamized road. One steam goods truck will transport sixty tons of goods twelve miles daily for fcwenty-fr'o shillings. This include# driver, fuel, cleaning, oil, waste, and repairs and renewals. With horses on tho macadamized road, five tons at the most could be transported tho same distance for the same money." Mr. Rowan recommends the introduction of light steam tramways instead of railways in thinly settled districts as, although the speed would be lower (about ten miles an hour), many of the expenses of a railway would bs avoided. The capital required would be about one-fifth, the working expenses probably not more than one-half, and the rolling stock and equipment abo about one-half. Having entered into a comparison of the profits to be derived from strain tramways as compared horses as a motive power, ho says:—“ It thus appears that the saving by the substitution of steam power for horse power on tramways would afford a dividend of 71 per cent, on the actual capital expenditure. The prospect is even better than this, for the tramways to be constructed in the future will be made at a much more moderate outlay than tho pioneer tramways, which, like many of tho earlier railways, were constructed mainly for tho promotion of private interests.*' » Tho reports of trials made by the Prusdan and Danish Governments are appended, and the results appear to have been satisfactory. Drawings of Rowan's street car are attached to tho treatise. We expressly refrain from offering any comment on the merits of this as compared with any other form of steam tramcar, and only give the above summary for the consideration of tho Wellington public and of the shareholders in the W O. T.