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===[[Rail_gauge#Gauge_Question|Rail Gauge]]. Paragraphs 11-14; Pages 4-6===

11. I may here mention that the important question of gauge has occupied much attention during the past year. The present width of 5 feet 6 inches was fixed upon by the home authorities, when Indian railways were first commenced, in the year 1859. Lord Dalhousie was in favour of 6 feet; but after much consideration 5 feet 6 inches was decided upon as preferable. Since that time the introduction of a lighter system of railways into India has more than once been proposed. Colonel H. Yule, R.E., C.B., strongly advocated it some years ago, and the Indian Branch Railway Company constructed two short lines of this description, both on the broad and narrow gauge, Mr. Wilson being their engineer. The recommendation that a much narrower gauge than 5 feet 6 inches should at once be applied to future lines of railway in India was made by the present Viceroy last year. The chief ground upon which Lord Mayo came to this conclusion was economy. He and the members of his Council considered that the railway system of India was really in its infancy; that its extension to any great length upon the existing mode of construction would be greatly retarded by the necessary outlay; that saving of cost in every direction was imperatively called for, and that such saving could be most satisfactorily secured by adopting a narrow gauge. The Government of India regarded 3 feet 6 inches as the maximum that should be used but begged that this point should be determined in England.