ABSTRACT
In those countries where malaria prevails, the tax which this disease levies upon railway systems in all stages of their activities has been noted by many observers. Malaria may not only delay for many years the initiation of great schemes of transport, with associated development of natural resources, but may also have a very marked effect in hindering the construction of railways and in increasing the cost of such work. Even after they have been constructed, malaria may add largely to their operation costs, from its effects in reducing the number and the quality of the available labour force. The latter may also require a higher wage and greater privileges on account of its exposure to sickness. This leads to an increase in transport charges, and so an inhibition of the proper development of the natural resources of the area served by the railroad. These factors give rise to a vicious cycle whereby not only is the interest obtained from the capital outlay small, or negligible, but also the high transport charges lead to a diminished traffic, which has little encouragement to increase and so to swell the profits of the line.
