such a line. In 1895, the Queensland government passed the "Railway Construction Guarantee Act", the main provision of this act being that the government and local authorities would guarantee to meed half the loss incurred of share the profits. Though there was some local opposition in such use of taxpayers' money, the Burrum Divisional Board, who were keen to see the railway built, agreed to act as the other guarantor. New plans and construction During 1895–1896, trial and working surveys were undertaken, and in March 1896, the plans for the new railway line were approved by the government, the first railway in Queensland to be constructed under the new guarantee act. On 14 April 1896, the contract for the construction of the Colton-Pialba railway line, 16 miles 47 chains in length, was let to McArdle & Thompson, who had tendered for the contract with a price of £25,250. The line was to be completed by 1 March 1897. The contractors commenced work, and with the relatively flat terrain, construction proceeded steadily. The tourist potential of the line had already been realised and there were possibilities of the coal mining industry developing, as well as an upturn in the agriculture and timber industries. Danish and German families played an important part in the development of the surrounding areas, and were principally involved in sugar-cane and timber-getting. The sugar cane flourished on the fertile land near the coast, and Boyle Martin opened a crushing mill at Pialba in 1883 to cater for cane growers. By 1887, there were three mills in the area, but after the railway opened the cane was sent further afield, and these mills closed. Construction had advanced sufficiently enough for McArdle and Thompson to open the railway to Aalberg (sometimes spelt Aarlberg, now known as Nikenbah) in October, 1896. Using their own engines, transport of the first sugar cane to be railed from the district to the Maryborough Sugar Factory. The railway was completed to Pialba and opened for traffic on 18 December 1896, however the official opening occurred two days later. During the first three years of operation, the line sustained a loss, but as this had decreased over the same period, it was optimistically felt that the revenue would improve as settlement expanded now that an efficient means of communication had been provided. Urangan extension Though the line to Pialba was now completed, a deep water