TRAMWAY TO CHARLESTON.

Westport Times, Volume II, Issue 163, 7 February 1868, Page 3

TRAMWAY TO CHARLESTON.

{To the Editor of the Westport Times and Charleston Argus.) Sib, —The prospectus of the tramway hetween "Westport and Charleston, which was brought forward by Mr Campbell and others some time ago, and failed then because the people of Charleston were jealous of the younger town starting the movement. If reproduced at the present time, the shares would be eagerly taken up. Both Charleston and "Westport are places that will last many years, and of the paying of the tramway there cannot be two opinions. The cost of the line, aay, eighteen .miles, at £320, under £6000: cost of stations and incidentals, .£2OOO, that would make. A company starting with a capital of £IO,OOO could have a surplus at the finish of the line. The income derivable from the tramway would be at least sixty per cent. To say 100 tons of goods direct from "Westport to Charleston at £2 per ton ; passengers, 25 each week, at £l, that amounts to £225 per week

direct to Charleston ; this is underrated. Now, from Westport to Waite's Pakihis, 100 tons of goods weekly, at £1 5s per ton, £125 per week; passenger traffic, £3O per week ; gross receipts, £3BO per week. Now, allow £IBO per week working expenses, and this allowance far exceeds the expenses that would or could be used ; it would then leave a clear profit of £2OO per week, or in other words cent per cent upon the outlay. _ Any body of gentlemen that would interest themselves in this movements, let them well calculate the expenditure, and I think the amount I have stated, namely—£lo,ooo—would cover the cost of line ; and then take the next question—working expenses —into their consideration, this I think I have over-rated! and the last question, the most important one—the returns derivable—and I think I have under-rated the returns. We have several coasters engaged between here and Charleston; these coasters on an average carry more than 100 tons of goods per week, the coasters charging £2 10s per ton ; the drays on the road —five of them—carry twenty tons per w.eek. Waite's Pakihis will consume more than I have calculated, and other items I cannot calculate, would make this company pay fully 100 per cent. Now, Mr Campbell or any body else start, the tramway company will not fall to the ground this time. By starting it, the tramway would be a boon to both places, and the interest upon the outlay would be enormous. • I am, &c, S. Ellis.