THE SUAKIN BERBER RAILWAY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 7223, 11 April 1885, Page 1 (Supplement)

THE SUAKIN BERBER RAILWAY.

The following particulars »re taken from th« Lundun Standitid ot February 17. It will b» seen from the decoripiiun that this military railway is likely to be constructed with groat expedition if cot effectually hindered by tfaff Arabs:—Thu Goverummt uiiving determined - uu m.king n railway tr..m Suakin to Berber", ti- e nttred iuroarr<njerneais with the well* Kn • d con rautoie, JUuuwrs Irticau and Aird, t t Uih cnbu uuui uo, tje liau. The Jine wul Db of uio otdiUdiv luugitUKßof 4e. Sj'o, and ua total length i» 280 uu.ca. la a woik uf such maguiLUdo and uiQiuuliy, to bo accomplished m ino liica ot an en my, nothing liku >u actual contract could have buen entered into, aud tb« position occupied' by Mensrß Lucas and Aird is ' that ot cgouta of the Government. The advance into the country and the plotting cut of the course of the Hub will be accomplished by ths Ruyal Engineers aud a military foica under an officer of the highent rank. The country rises gradually from the eed coast to Ariab, whore a fortified post of some magnitude is likely to be established. As the military force advances the agents' navvies, having under them hired native men of tho district, will make the - needful cuttings and clearances, and will lay the line in a substantial manner at the rate o( . from 20 to 25 miles a week, if all goei favourably and wail. As ttSa line is laid the constructors' locomotives will traveiso it, bringing up stored aud materials. At this rate the entire line woeld occupy rather over 14 weeks, or, taking into consideration very probable' delays, we may expesi that the railway from Suakin to Berber will occupy in its completion about four or five months, arid that troops and stores will be passed over it iB the autumn, or about July or August. .The plant and materials for the construction will be defit but by Government transports in teß-mile sections/ each perfectly complete with sleepers, rails, points/ and crossings; aud the flrot twd sections and the contractors' engines have been already prepared for shipment, and will be despatched to Snakin during the present week. A couple of hundred picked anvsias and platelayers will also Bail, and in the course ot another fortnight the first sod will have been cut, and ths railway begun. The landing stages, which have already been for some time erected by the Royal Engineers at Suakin, will now bo of grest service, and will help immensely to' advance the work of landing, Utber sections - will speedily ba1 made' up to follow; and, as the Royal Kngiaears prepare the way, orders will be given by ths officer in command on tho spot for the agents and their men to proceed with the laying down of the sections. The route determined upon follows tho sites of numerous wells, and in thin respect appears to have been excellently chosen, whilst a stronghold at Ariab, about midway of the distance between the t o towns, will render it very well secured. The line after the termination of the war should possess very considerable commercial cjualiric.uionK, and will doubtless lead to a trade of some magnitude and vaiua. Indeed, ■ - the fear of such tin interference with the trade of Alexandria and Cairo wag one o; the causes of the abandonment of this route at the earlier stage of the Suudau hostilities. The Admiralty have been instructed to find tonnage for the eonveyance cf all the stock— locomotives, geaf, rails, and sleepers, beside* the stiff of men J and Mr Baughau, of the Transport Departing ni, of the Admiralty, ha* been busily tngtig(jd in hiring transports for that service, The Turic has bean engaged, and will ba despatched from the East India Docks with plant this week, and negotiations are in . progress for another Vessel to load with a like freight at Hull. Ou Friday a Blaff of Mdasra Luous and Aird's engineers and clerks will leave London for Suakin, via Brindisi, and 200 navvies will be deapatched duririg this week, It is believ'ail that a large number of nativi labourers can ba engaged at Suakin for tha rougher and unskilled work. The route havinp: . been already surveyed, the actual constructing of the Una can ba commenced without delay.