EUROPE TO AUSTRALASIA

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 7078, 16 March 1910, Page 8

EUROPE TO AUSTRALASIA

' SHORTER ROUTE VIA TRANSALPINE RAILWAY. By Telegraph—Proas Association—Copyright. MELBOURNE, March 14. The Postal Department is considering a Colonial Office dispatch, dealing with the question of the opening of the Transandine railway, and suggesting a shorter mail route between Australia and England. It is estimated mails from England coujd be landed in Sydney in twenty-seven days.

The Transandine railway scheme will rank among the most remarkable engineering achievements of the world. It ia the first transcontinental line in South America, from, the Atlantic to the Pacific, forming tine of the four outlets of isolated Chile to the rest of the world. The Traasandine will shorten the distance between Western Europe and Australia by about 1000 miles, and effect (it is anticipated) a saving of about nine days in the connection with Europe. The most 6erious engineericG' work has been in that portion of the route leading up to La Cumbre Pass, 12,605 ft in height, where the Cordilleras have had to bo pierced by a series of difficult tunnels, and. the Abt system of cogs and racks employed for the safe and expeditious running: of trains. On one section of thirty-two miles there are 118 bridges, large and 1 small, and in the mountains huge a-vaJanche sheds will protect the line from the enormous masses of snow liable to be precipitated upon it. Near La Cumbre Pass the great spiral tunnel, perhaps one of the longest of its kind, and most difficult to construct in the world, has been made. It is 9941 ft in length, and was built by W. B. Grace and Co., of London) and New York, the contract price being 6,569,775 dollais. This was completed in November last, and it is expected that by June next the last section of the Jane will be finished. Through traffic Trill be inaugurated in March, 1911, by which, time the whole scheme will have taken thirty-seven years to carry out. AUCKLAND TRADERS' VIEWS. FBXBI AsaociAiiow. AUCKLAND, March 15. In reference to the cable message concerning a suggested mail route via the Eransandine railway, incroiries made amongst Auckland commercial people elicited the information that any route which will shorten communication with London will naturally be welcomed, but at the some time it is felt that the route ■via South America will not compare with those via San TTramcißco and Vancouver. At Valparaiso there is no harbour, and ships have to stand out in the open readetead. There aie no trade prospects to he considered, as wheat and minerals axe the main exports from the Chilean port. Erom Wellington to Monte Video, over the present trade route, the distance is 5975 miles, and with an added -train journey of some 1500 miles' across South America, it was not considered itlmt.'the Barring will be very great.