TRANSIT FACILITIES. 99

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1 Transit Facilities. Cork possesses rapid and efficient rail and steamer services which compare favourably with those of any commercial and industrial centre in the United Kingdom or abroad. Its railway communication with all the principal centres in Ireland leaves little to be desired. It has a frequent and up-to-date service of steamers with the other Irish ports and the principal ports of England and Scotland, and direct service with Holland, Germany, Norway, Sweden, Russia, South America, and the United States. RAILWAY COiMMUNICATlON. in 1834 the first Irish railway was opened from Dublin to Kingstown. Before any other line was constructed a Royal Commission advocated State control for Irish railways, owing to the peculiar circumstances of the country the decrease in population, the lack of industries, and the consequent difficulties ol the Irish railways being able to charge nates which would develop industries and at the same time pay a reasonable dividend. The findings of the Royal Commission were confirmed by Parliament, but no action was taken in the matter, and private companies proceeded as in England and Scotland. At first a large number of independent lines were constructed which were subsequently absorbed by the Great Trunk lines, but not to the same extent as in other countries. There are in Ireland about 3,500 miles of railway, controlled by 29 independent companies. The country north of Dublin is served by two large railways, the Great Northern and the Belfast and Northern Counties; the central part of the country from east to west by the Midland Great Western ; the south-eastern counties by the Dublin and South Eastern; and the whole of the country south of Dublin by the Great Southern and Western Railway. All the principal railways in Ireland have adopted the 5 ft. 3 ins. gauge. The gauge in England, Scotland, on the Continent and in America is 4 ft. 8 ins. With the development of Irish industries this broad Irish gauge will be an important advantage. The capital outlay is less relatively in Ireland than in any other country, the average per mile being less than one-fourth of that of Great Britain. Hence, notwithstanding the smaller traffic, the average rate of dividend of railways in Ireland is higher than in England or Scotland, The high capital outlay in the other countries, as compared with Ireland, is due to the heavy purchase price of vested interests. Cork is the terminus of five railways, of four of which it is the head-quarters. The Great Southern and Western Railway, over 1,000 miles long, is the most important railway in Ireland. It establishes a direct railway communication between Cork and all the important centres of trade in the south, west and centre of Ireland, such as Youghal, Mallow, Queenstown, Waterford, Wexford, Rosslare, Clonmel, Tipperary, Limerick, Tralee, Killarney, Ennis, Galway, Sligo, Kilkenny and Athlone. The main line, which was started in 1844, runs from Cork to Dublin, where the loop line connects the termini of the principal railways in Ireland, thus bringing Cork into railway communication with the important northern centres. Branch lines run from Cork to Queenstown and to Youghal, with a motor service to Ballycotton from Midleton on the latter line. There are well appointed railway Hotels at all the principal stations except Kingsbridge. For the tourist Cork is a favourite centre from which cheap trips are given daily to all the important resorts on this system, such as Killarney and the many other beatiful places in Kerry; the famous watering-places, such as Lisdoonvarna and Kilkee on the west; the Shannon Lake district in the centre; Waterford and Tramore on the east; and Youghal and Queenstown on the south.

2 yg CORK PRESENT. Through booking for passengers, goods, live stock and parcels is in operation from Cork station to all the principal centres in the Kingdom. In the year 1893 the main line station at Cork and the Cork lerminal Station of the yueenstown and Youghal lines were amalgamated, and the present beautiful station on the most modern and up-to-date lines was built. Though practically all the rolling stock required by the Company is built at its Inchicore Works in Dublin, the fitting and repairing shops in Cork for locomotives, carriages and waggons are important and give a great deal of employment. The Cork, Bandon and South Coast Railway, 95 miles long, opened for traffic in 1851, runs from Cork to Bantry with extensions to Kinsale, Courtmacsherry, Clonakilty and Skibbereen, and connects all the important towns in south and west Cork. This Company also maintains a regular steamer service between Bantry and Glengarriff, the well-known health resort. The line serves the im- Ljortant agricultural districts of the south and west Cork, and the well-known fishing ground along the south coast. The tourist traffic to the many seaside and inland pleasure resorts along the system is considerable. A motor service from Bantry to Killarney in Connection with the train service gives a direct route from Cork to this world-famous beauty spot. This was the route followed by the late King Edward VII. when Prince of Wales, in 1858, since when it has been known as "The Prince of Wales' Route to Killarney." A large number of men are employed at the Cork terminus in the extensive repairing shops and in the construction of rolling stock. The Cork, Blackrock and Passage Railway was opened from Cork to Passage in 1850, and extended to Crosshaven in It is 16 miles long and serves the important shipbuilding centre at Passage, the well-known residential district of Monkstown, the rich agricultural area around Carrigaline, and the famous seaside resort of Crosshaven. Throughout the whole railway journey a full view of the Harbour can be obtained. This Company has also a fleet of passenger and goods steamers which maintain a regular service to all the principal stations in the Harbour. ^, AT The Cork and Macrom Direct Railway, 25 miles long, runs from Cork to Macroom, whence a regular motor service is maintained to Glengarriff, Kenmare and Killarney. The line taps the rich agricultural district to the west of the City ot Cork, and travels through a country which is replete with historical ruins of castles, abbeys, and sacred places, abounding with interest to the tourist. The Cork and Muskerry Light Railway, 27 miles long, runs through the famous Shournagh Valley, passing the celebrated Hydropathic establishment at St. Anne s Hill to Blarney, with branches to Coachford and Donoughmore. As the railway runs practically into the grounds of the famous Blarney Castle, the tourist traffic over the line is very important. The goods traffic consists chiefly of farming reqirements and agricultural produce. As in the case of the Great Southern and Western and the Cork, Bandon and South Coast Railways, the shops which have been built by the other three companies for fitting, building, and repairing rolling stock, afford a great deal of employment in Cork. _,. ^ The total goods traffic handled at the Cork Railway Stations during the yea TQI 3 was about 700,000 tons. The Cork City Railways and Works Co. provided a link line, which was opened in iqn, between the City termini of the Cork, Bandon and South Coast Railway and the Great Southern and Western Railway, enabling rolling stock to be run direct from one line to another. Sidings have been provided by the Company to the South Jetties, which link up these jetties with the two railways mentioned. The Cork Harbour Commissioners have undertaken to provide

3 TRANSIT FACILITIES. 99 siding to give like facilities to the Anderson Quay berths. The Cork and Macroom Direct Railway, by a connection with the Cork, Bandon and South Coast Railway, at a point just outside the City where the lines nearly touch each other, could easily secure direct connection with the link lines.* Indeed, this railway at one time ran into the Cork, Bandon and South Coast Railway terminus. STEAMER COMMUNICATION. A rapid and efficient steamer service is maintained between Cork and all the principal ports in Great Britain, and in connection with these services traffic is carried practically to all the interior towns in England, Wales and Scotland. The City of Cork Steam Packet Company, a local company which has its head office in Cork, provides frequent direct services from Cork to the ports of Liverpool, Fishguard, Bristol, London, Southampton, Plymouth, Newport and Cardiff. There are per week three sailings each way between Cork and Fishguard, three each way between Cork and Liverpool, and one sailing each way per week to each of the other ports. Under normal conditions goods and passengers are carried by all these routes. These steamers are built expressly for this service, and are especially fitted for the transport of goods and live stock, in addition to having passenger accommodation on the most modern lines. The steamers of the Clyde Shipping Company, like those of the City of Cork Steam Packet Company, are fitted with electric light, salt water and spray baths, every convenience for the comfort of passengers, and every facility for the safe handling and transit of all classes of goods. They sail twice weekly from Cork to Glasgow, one direct, the other via Limerick. A special steamer, without passenger accommodation, runs weekly from Cork to Waterford and Belfast, on the return journey to Cork she calls at Dublin and Waterford ; thus is afforded special facilities for the cheap transit of goods between Irish ports. The Cork Steam Ship Company, another local Company, whose chief offices are in Cork, provides regular direct goods and passenger services between Cork and Amsterdam, Rotterdam, and Antwerp. The ships of Messrs. Palgrave, Murphy & Co. of Cork, in pre-war times, sailed regularly between Cork and Hamburg, Ghent, Dunkirk, etc. In addition to the above there are in the cross-channel and Irish coastal trade, a number of vessels which are privately owned by Cork firms. It is worthy of note that there are four alternative services between Cork and London. One via Dublin and Holyhead twice daily each way, one via Rosslare and Fishguard twice daily each way, and one direct from Cork to London by sea. There is also a direct steamer service between Cork and Fishguard in connection with the rail service to London. The shortest route, opened in 1906, is via Rosslare and Fishguard, the journey from Cork to London occupying about 2^ hours less than by the old route (via Dublin and Holyhead), which is an important consideration, especially as regards the American mails. The sea journey by this route, occupying about 2f hours, is the shortest between Ireland and England. The facilities for dealing with steamer traffic at the Port of Cork are unique. Vessels of 22 feet draft can load and unload in the heart of the City at low tide. Extensive wharves have been constructed on both sides of the river, along which is the well-appointed and spacious accommodation of the different steamship companies. With the provision of ample crane facilities, the conditions for loading and unloading would be ideal. On one side the trains of the Great Southern and Western Railway, from the goods depot close by, run on to the wharf, and can be loaded and unloaded direct from the steamer. On the other side, the Cork, Bandon and South Coast Railway trains, by means of the quay sidings of the link line, run alongside the steamers. There is an efficient service of motor lorries for rapid delivery in the City. * The connection has now been made.

4 GREAT SOUTHERN AND WESTERN RAILWAY. THE SUNNY SOUTH OF IRELAND.. IDEAL HOLIDAY RESORTS. KILLARNEY, KENMARE, CARAGH LAKE, PARKNASILLA, WATERVILLE, GLENGARRIFF. Charming Scenery, Outdoor Amusements of all kinds, including Boating, Bathing, Fishing, Shooting. Golfing, etc. Write for Descriptive Booklets to Tourist Office, Kingsbridge, Dublin. 1 Cork, BandonS South Coast Railway Popular Holiday Resorts ^ KINSALE, C0U8TMACSHEBBY, BALTIMORE, BANTRY and GLENGARfilFF. Embracing the Finest fountain, Lake and Coast Scenery in the British Isles. For full particulars apply to TRAFFIC MANAGER, ALBERT QUAY. CORK. IOC

5 Cork, Blackrock and Passage Raiiiuap and Steamers. THE PLEASURE LINE OF T HE SOUTH OF IRELAND. Steamer Excursions and Harbour Trips. CORK HARBOUR at its Best by this Route. Cheap Railway Fares to CROSSHAVEN. ^he Seaside T^esort of the South. Train passes the HISTORIC DRAKE'S POOL on the run to Crosshaven. SITES FOR WORKS ALONG THIS LINE ENQUIRIES INVITED. Jlpply for full particulars to 7^. H. GOOD, General -Manager, Albert Street, Cork- City of Cork Steam Facket Co. LIIVIITED. BETWEEN Cork ^ Soutft of Ireland AND Cowns in england and Wales, VIA LIVERPOOL, FISHGUARD AND BRISTOL. Rates and all information on application to the Company, Penrose Quay, Cork. TELEPHONE No ( 4 lines). TELEGRAMS: "PACKET, CORK."

6 Clpae Sbippina Companp m. PATRICK S QUAY, CORK. Regular Steamship Services B E T W E E N CORK AND GLASGOW. BELFAST. WATERFORD. DUBLIN. LIMERICK. IMPORTERS of LANARKSHIRE ELL, A WOODHALL, BLACKBAND, &c. Telephones General & Coal Offices, 118 Cork. Telegrams "Cumbrae, Cork." Stores & Cartage Dept., 970 Cork. THE CORK STEAM SHIP CO. LTD. Direct Services between ROTTERDAM. AMSTERDAM, ANTWERP, GHENT, DUNKIRK, Etc., and CORK, as required by trade. Offices: 4 SOUTH MALL, CORK. Stores: ALBERT QUAY, CORK. LIVERPOOL MANCHESTER BARROW WHITEHAVEN FLEETWOOD, &c. GLASGOW SOUTHAMPTON BELFAST Also DIRECT STEAM COMMUNICATION BETWEEN ^ & & & 'ROTTERDAM, AMSTERDAM, ANTWERP, GHENT, TERNEUZEN, BRUGES. BRUSSELS, DUNKIRK, BOULOGNE. & c. ANTWERP, GHENT and BRUSSELS. ROTTERDAM, ANTWERP, Etc. GHENT. A G E N T S LIVERPOOL WILSON, SON & CO., s Chapel Street. J, T. FLETCHER & CO., 6 Dale Street. MANCHESTER-WILSON, SON & CO., and J. T. FLETCHER & CO., Temple Chambers, Brazennose Street. GLASGOW CLYDE SHIPPING CO. LTD., 2i Carlton Place. SOUTHAMPTON DAWSON BROTHERS, 23, Canute Road. BELFAST JAMES LITTLE & CO., 1 Albert Square. ROTTERDAM P. A. VAN ES & CO. & PHS. VAN OMMEREN. AMSTERDAM-VAN ES & VAN OMMEREN. ANTWERP, GHENT, BRUGES & BRUSSELS-JOHN P. BEST & CO. DUNKIRK L. DEBAECKER. 102