ACROSS AUSTRALIA.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LX, Issue 143767, 16 April 1912, Page 7

ACROSS AUSTRALIA.

Some very interesting information is being published about the construction of the trans-Australian lino from Kalgoorlio to Port Augusta, which will be put in hand in a few weeks. It will be some months, however, before tho firstrails and sleepers will he to hand, and the laying of the Hue will then be started and pushed ahead quickly by the most up-to-date methods. By moans of track-laying machines, which will move along the line as it is laid, the chief engineer expects to lay at least two miles of railway a day. Tho camps will be, moved on to the rail-hepds after each few days’ work, and Gradually the two sets of men will be pushing towards each other across Australia, to meet in tho desert in three or four years. Oneeighth of a mile on each side of the line, in South Australia will be the Commonwealth’s under tho agreement with the State Government, and on tho West Australian side the Comniwitvealth is to possess as much as its Minister thinks necessary. The thousand-odd miles of line will cost £4,000,000. Of this only £84,000 will be spent ; in bridges and culverts, which shows how few rivers and watercourses have to be crossed. Indeed, tho lino presents few engineering difficulties, and none so great as the water problem. Engineers are now engaged along the lino boring for water for tho construction camps. The engineer has little doubt that oil engines will bo used instead of steam locomotives in the transcontinental service. By their use he hopes to save £200,000 on waterworks, Adiicli would be otherwise necessary for steam locomotives. He is a complete convert to the oil engine. Oil, he says, gives greater development ill tho cylinders than steam, and there is, therefore, less loss and greater efficiency. One effect of the railway will be to lessen very materially tho time taken in carrying English and other mails from Fremantle to Adelaide. The sea journey takes five days, but by rail the mail will arrive in Adelaide 48 hours after bqing landed.