Evening Republican, Volume 17, Number 206, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 29 August 1913 — Improving Australian Railroads. [ARTICLE]

Improving Australian Railroads.

Standardizing rail gauge on the railroads in the continental states of Australia is proving costly through delay in pushing the work forward, according to a recent report now in the hands ok the federal government. The report of the engineers in chief recommends the adoption of a uniform gauge of 4 feet 8% inches (the existing New South Wales gauge) on the grounds of the comfort and convenience of passengers, the facility of transfer of troops and merchandise, and the reduction of rolling stock. Owing to the huge cost of bringing about complete uniformity. It is suggested that as a preliminary step the through lines from Fremantle to Brisbane (including the tran-Australian line now under construction) should be converted to 4 feet 8% inches at a cost of $60,710,000. The engineers strongly urge that the work of conversion should be begun without delay, and it is pointed out that in 1897 the estimated cost of converting the 5 feet 3 inch gauge lines in Victoria and South Australia to the 4' feet 8% inch gauge was only $11,800,000 against $36,475,000 at the present time.