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which enhanced the first cost to something considerable over thatof wood sleepers.
Of late years the price of iron has been more'steady andmoderate, and, looking to the fact that new sources of iron orehave been recently discovered and brought into operation, itmay reasonably be expected that very high prices will not againoccur. By far the larger portion of the cost of wood sleepers isfor foreign timber, and if this expenditure can be turned into thechannel of British production, it will be a national benefit. Thesupply of timber is limited, and yearly decreasing; that of ironis virtually unlimited.
In India and tropical climates generally, the rapidity withwhich wood decays, or is destroyed by insects, is such as torender iron peculiarly applicable.
Offices of the Permanent Way Company,
26 Great George Street, Westminster:Feb. 28, 1857.
1857 .