Railway Pamphlets (Volume 66)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated.1846 Excerpt: ... SEVENTH ARTICLE. THE DIRECT BOMBAY AND MADRAS RAILWAY Comfan I. We have to express our thanks to the members of the Provisional Committee who have undertaken this great enterprise, for the map explanatory of the scheme which they propose to carry out. It appears that this project is well founded, and that a respectable and influential body of men have been entrusted with its management, and that a large proportion of the shares has already been subscribed for. The line will intersect the most wealthy and industrious provinces of the continent of India, the Carnatic and the Mysore, which abound in natural productions, in manufacturing industry, and in agricultural wealth. The two great presidencies of Madras and Bombay will be brought within a few hours' instead of months' journey of each other; and instead of vessels sailing round the coast some hundreds of miles, as heretofore, with their costly cargoes, the latter can be easily transported to Bombay for shipment, and at infinitely less cost--a matter of first-rate importance. The district traversed by the Direct Bombay and Madras Railway contains upwards of twenty millions of inhabitants; and the wants and industry of this large body already yield a considerable tonnage, although in a comparative state of barbarous communication. In the report of the Bombay Chamber of Commerce we find that the traffic to and from that city amounts to 187,343 tons annually, consisting chiefly of cotton and salt. These two items form merely a fraction of the requirements of the Indians. Bombay is unapproachable except by a dangerous and expensive sea-board, and a cheap and safe communication can alone render available her internal resources. Cotton has now to be transported 500 miles to the coast, to reach Bombay for shipme...