a distance of 50 miles.  William Roberts was the Engineer of the Highland Railway of Scotland, a capable, energetic, practical man, and a canny Scot.  This line was promoted by the Londonderry and Lough Swilly Railway Company.  Roberts and I gladly undertook the work.  We held public meetings, which were largely attended (for it was an event in Donegal) in Letterkenny, Falcarragh and Burtonport, examined nearly fifty witnesses, and heard a great variety of evidence.

But the hearing of evidence was by no means all we did.  It was our duty to examine the route, and determine if it were the best practicable route (keeping steadily in view that the available funds were limited in amount), scrutinise and criticise the estimates, consider the stations to be provided, inquire as to the probable traffic and working expenses, and inform ourselves thoroughly on all the aspects and merits of the case.  We drove some 240 miles, not of course by motor car (motors were not common then) but with stout Irish horses, and inspected the country well.  After we presented our report, certain procedure followed; the Baronies guaranteed interest on 5,000 pounds of the capital; the government gave the rest (some 313,000 pounds) as a free grant; an Order in Council was passed, and the line was made and opened for traffic in 1903.  It has more than verified all predictions as to its usefulness, and has proved a blessing to north-west Donegal.  My relations with the line by no means ended with the inquiry, and more about it will later on appear in this authentic history.

In the same year, 1897, with G. P. Culverwell, the engineer of my old railway, the Belfast and County Down, as co-adjutor, I was entrusted by Robertson with a similar inquiry concerning the Buncrana to Carndonagh line (18 miles in length) also in Donegal, and also promoted by the Londonderry and Lough Swilly Company.  It was a smaller affair than the Burtonport line, but involved similar pleasant and interesting work.  This line was also constructed and was opened in 1901.

Pleasant times, Joseph Tatlow, you seem to have had, and much variety and diversion; but what of your own railway and your duties to it?  Well, these Parliamentary proceedings, arbitration cases, and light railway adventures were, after all, only interludes, and I can conscientiously say that the Midland line and its needs and interests were never neglected.  I am one of those who always believed that everything which served to enlarge experience and mature judgment made a man more competent for his daily work.

In July a Departmental Committee was appointed by the Board of Agriculture “To inquire into and Report upon the Inland Transit of Cattle.”  The Committee numbered ten, Sir Wm. Hart Dyke, M.P., being chairman.  Three other M.P.s were members of the Committee, one being that redoubtable champion of the cattle trade and chairman of the Irish Cattle Trades Association, Mr. William Field.  Two railway