The Argus at KellyGang 25/5/1866 (4)
Now, £60,000 would pay the interest on the proposed scheme; but that sum did not represent anything like the saving that would be effected by a railway, as they had to calculate the passenger traffic, and the carriage of live stock, and reductions in various other ways, besides the gain in quickness of transit. This was without taking into consideration, also, the advantage of the supply being spread over the whole year, instead of their having, as at present, to supply themselves with heavy stocks in the autumn. The actual saving alone by a railway to the Ovens district would be considerably over £80,000 per annum. Was it, then, just or fair that, after having assisted in reducing the price of carriage to other portions of the colony, they were still obliged to submit to have its price continue so high here? It would no doubt be urged by the Government that the price of money was higher now than it was when the other loans were contracted; but the Ovens people had put forward no such plea when called upon to make those roads and railways which had now been enjoyed for many years- a period which more than counterbalanced any difference in the value of money.
Mr GRIFFIN, in supporting the motion, showed that the engineer-in-chief had demonstrated that, even supposing a railway to cost the exorbitant sum of £9,000 a mile, the annual interest on the first cost, and the maintenance of one mile of such railway, only exceeded that of a macadamised road by £77 10s; while, without taking into consideration the enormous advantages of railway over road traffic, if the former paid only one per cent, on the outlay above the working expenses, the latter would cost the colony £12 10s. per mile per annum more than the railway. It was evident therefore that they ought not to "dilly-dally" any longer patching up their insufficient and expensive roads.
Mr DIXON thought they were all unanimously in favour of a railway. He had no doubt himself it was the very thing, and nothing else; and the only thing they had to do was to bring it forcibly before the Government. A railway not only developed the resources of the country, but was a benefit to society, by bringing men together, and to the general prosperity, by bringing trades together. It was also of the greatest benefit to people in business, as where men had to keep £3,000 or £4,000 worth of goods now they need only have £150 worth, if they liked, with a railway. In this way, also, it was above all a benefit to the Melbourne merchant, as he would not have to give so much or such long credit, and would get cash instead of bills. He had lived where there were railways, and he did not think metal ways necessary. He had seen greater speed attained elsewhere without them. Where the Mount Alexander Railway now existed millions of money had previously been expended to make a road, on which the grass was now growing. That was what he called dead capital. Even if a railway did not clear its expenses, it was worth ten per cent, to the country; and if they could borrow money at six per cent., there was still a clear gain. The money might be brought into the country; but a good deal of it was fooled away in Melbourne, while a railway to the Ovens would open up a golden district, and the best agricultural land, taking all the year round, in the whole colony. They wanted to make the country; but, above all, the merchants of Melbourne understood that a railway to the Ovens was for their benefit even more than that of the people of the district. The resolution was carried unanimously.
Mr FLETCHER then moved the third resolution, as follows:- "That the want of easy and speedy communication with the sea-board most seriously retards the development of the vast and varied resources of this portion of the colony." The resolution embraced such a variety of subjects that the mover wished it had fallen into abler hands. The agricultural interest would be greatly benefited by being brought into easy communication with the sea board, as the being able to obtain artificial manures would in a great measure counteract the effect of the uncertain seasons, which were so detrimental to the crops. One-half the quantity of rain would answer the farmers if the lands were kept in good heart, instead of their being worn out and exhausted. A railway also would open up other tracts of country, so that they would soon be exporting breadstuffs from the district, instead of importing them.
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