§ SIR ALFRED HICKMAN (Wolverhampton, W.)I beg to ask the 938 Secretary of State for India whether he is aware that the Senior Government Inspector of Burma Railways has reported that the American locomotives which are in use there show want of strength, and that parts supposed to be of cast steel proved to be of inferior metal and workmanship; that alterations and repairs have been required much in excess of what is necessary with locomotives received from British makers; that Mr. J. S. Johnson, of the locomotive department, reported that the American locomotives consume upwards of 35 per cent. more fuel per train mile than English locomotives doing the same work; and whether he is aware that the report of the Chief Mechanical Engineer of the Egyptian Railway Administration upon American and Belgian locomotives as compared with those of English make has been published in the Board of Trade Journal for April; and whether, having regard to the fact that orders are being given for American locomotives by other Government departments, he will publish in full the reports of the Burma Railway Inspectors.
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR INDIA (Lord G. HAMILTON, Middlesex, Ealing)The senior Government Inspector of Burma Railways, in his report dated 5th August, 1900, has noticed certain defects in the American locomotives supplied to the Burma Railways Company. The report said to have been made by Mr. Johnson, of the locomotive department of that company, is not in the possession of this office. The information which I have received does not lead me to think that the American locomotives on Indian railways have been found generally unsatisfactory; but I will communicate to the editor of the Board of Trade Journal the report on the Burma railway locomotives and any other reports bearing on the subject which appear to me likely to give useful information.