Railways.

37. All the Railways in Victoria are the property of the State. At the end of 1879 1125¼ miles were open for traffic, 174¼ miles of which were laid with double lines. The cost of construction, exclusive of preliminary surveys, rolling-stock, and building a bridge over the Murray to connect with the New South Wales lines, was £15,350,859, or an average of £13,645 per mile. About 4,000,000 miles were travelled during the year. The total receipts amounted to £1,500,000, and the working expenses to £750,000. The railway system is being rapidly extended.