December 8, 1900.]
all previous landing stages constructed here, but it is certainly hardly worthy, in its present condition, of this great port. Sir HENRY BLAKE has evidently recognised this fact, for in the course of his speech at the opening ceremony he promised to have provision made for the accommodation- shelter and rest-of the passengers using it. He said he thought the pier should have a roof, in order to give shelter in wet weather; and he might have added also from the fierce rays of the sun in summer. The public landing stages at Colombo, Penang, and Singapore are all roofed over to their full extent, and certainly Blake Pier should afford protection from sun and rain to those using it.
We are quite ready to admit that here we have to consider the typhoons which periodically play havoc with all structures that oppose resistance to the wind, especial- ly when situated near the water. It is possible that it may be found inadvisable to roof the whole structure or even to cover it with anything more substantial than a mat roof. If this should prove to be the case, however, we hope that something more tasteful than the ragged-looking mat-sheds which usually disfigure our wharves may be erected on Blake Pier, and that the central city landing-stage may be made a credit and not a reproach to the port.
46
<<
<<
"
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
years-a boon to the residents and to the shipping alike. It would be a great pity to set up anything that was not both useful and ornamental on such a site. We have not much to boast of architecturally, and a splendid opportunity now occurs to mark the centre of Victoria by a really imposing and beautiful Tower, which would point the way and give the time to all arriving on our shores. The Government were never in so good a position to spend a little money on the adornment and convenience of the city. They will have a largely increased revenue during the current year and the sale of land goes on merrily. Sir HENRY BLAKE is therefore most fully justified in carrying out this much needed improvement, and we trust that he will proceed to inaugurate it without any more delay than is necessary to decide on the plans for the new tower.
44
44
WHAT THE TRANS-SIBERIAN
RAILWAY HAS DONE.
(Daily Press, 3rd December.) English and other critics of the Trans- Siberian Railway Lines are apt to dwell on its faulty and inadequate construction and its insufficiency for the work which it is already called upon to do. They often speak of it as if it were a failure, commercially and The announcement made by the Gov- strategically, and had disappointed the ex- ERNOR of his intentions with regard to the pectations which were entertained about it. Clock Tower was received with general
An excellent corrective for such views and satisfaction. He said:"I am glad to statements will be found in the November hear from the Director of Public Works number of the Monthly Review, which con. that the timely precaution has been takin
tains an article called "The Trans-Siberian- to so arrange the foundations that in time Manchurian Railway," by Mr. A. R. "to come the Clock Tower may be erected COLQUHOUN. The writer alludes to the at the base of the pier. I hope that by cavillers and does not think their criticisms "next year I shall be able to include in will cut Russia to the heart. Russia, he the Estimates a sum to provide for the say8, does not play to the gallery of Eu- "removal of the Clock Tower from its pre-rope; she knows what she wants and usually "sent position, where it is a serious obstruc-gets it, though her way of doing so may be tion to traffic, and its replacement at the unlike ours under similar circumstances." base of this pier." When the Clock Tower He goes on to say of Russia's aims in con- was erected, in 1862, nearly forty years ago, structing the line --" Her chief object was the traffic was not a fifth of what it now is, "not to be able, as many people seem to not a single jinricksha existed in the Colony, imagine, to pour so many thousand men bicycles were unknown, and vehicular traffic across Asia every day.
She flung was confined to the few traps and carriages
the line, in advance of the settlers, across in which the residents were wout in the Siberia as rapidly as possible--with in- evening to tool out on the Shaukiwan Road. cred ble rapidity--on much the same prin- The tower then as now filled up the greater ciples that lines have been pushed across half of the space at the junction of the great sections of the United States. And her thoroughfare with Queen's Road, but there "action was justified. As soon as the line was never much chance of collisions in those "could stand traffic at all it was crowded, days, when the only noise of traffic arose settlers poured in and townships sprang up from the thud of the chair-coolies' feet as onevery side. Large districts were portioned they carried the taipans down to their offices. "out, irrigation and draining on a large Since the introduction of jinricksbas and scale were begun, and along the route, bicycles and the enormous increase of perles-
before so desolate, life and energy caine trian traffic, collisions have become constaut "into being. One of the greatest difficulties in this busy portion of the city, and the of the Trans-Siberinu Railway solved itself, time has indeed fully arrived when the and is still in process of solution, as it Clock Tower should be moved forward. goes along. The line has no longer, except It was originally erected by public sub- "in a few tracts, to run through empty scription, and the clock was presented desert." The extent to which settling in by Messrs. DOUGLAS LAPRAIK & Co. The Siberia has been affected is shown by the Tower never was exactly a "thing of immigration figures, which in 1893 were beauty," though it is not an ugly structure, 61,435 and in 1899 233.981. During the and it is so hemmed in by lofty buildings seven years nineteen million acres of State as to be more or less obscured from view. lands have become immigration lots, five- On the new site prepared for it at the foot sevenths already in occupation. Since 1887 of Blake Pier, it will stand out in relief, for a million men have entered Siberia; last it will project in front of the Praya, and May 10,000 were awaiting transport at be visible for miles along the water face. Cheliabinsk, and large numbers are being We trust, however, that the new Clock brought by sea monthly from Odessa to Tower will be better proportioned than the Vladivostok. These, Mr. COLQUHOUN says, original, more imposing, and more in keep- are no unworthy results for a strategical ing with the new surroundings. It should railway scarce nine years old. The great be not less than 175 feet in height and should object being to get the line working as soon be built of granite from base to summit. The as possible, careful comstruction has been so faces of the clock should also be larger, and far neglected in favour of speed. But it will, we trust, be illuminated by electri- a large proportion of the line is be-
เ
自我
44
46
€4
C
"
|
|
447
sive one, but Russia can point to results gained by a rapid laying of the single track, As Mr. COLQUHOUN points out, the Canadian Pacific Railway is still in course of perfect- ing, and in the United States lines are being made permanent in the same way. During three months last year there were carried on the Western azd Central sections of the
and 40,759,000 pouds of goods. The cor- line passengers to the number of 1,075,000
responding figures for three months in 1895 were 211,000 passengers and 3,560,000 pouds of goods. It must of course be ad- mitted that commercially the line will not pay probably for a long time, and that its possibilities cannot be fulfilled until the track is not only finished, but to a large extent relaid. But, says the writer whom we have quoted, "the Russians probably consider the settling up of Siberia as a sufficient return for their outlay without any great immediate commercial return; for it must be remembered that Siberia is no barren desert, but is full of natural resources.' " There are not wanting prophets to foretell the days when Siberia will rival the Rund, and the gold export already, in spite of deterrent regulations, unscientific methods, and ab- sence of appliances, exceeds £5,000,000 per annum. Other metals and precious stones are plentiful. Forests abound and vast areas of virgin soil. The advantages of getting immigrants to move into so promis- ing a land are undeniable. Russia there- fore in hastening the progress of the line even at a much increased ultimate cost of construction is showing great thought for the future-provided that she can bear the heavy outlay now and for some years to come. There are those who doubt this, but Russia is not yet at the end of her resources. Looking at the great railway enterprise dis- passionately apart from any questions of international policy involved, Englishmen cannot but be struck with admiration for the minds which planned it and put it into such rapid execution.
THE CASE OF KING LIEN-
SHAN.
(Daily Press, 4th December.) The letter from our correspondent "X," which appears in another columu, calls at-- tention once more to the case of KING LIEN- SHAN, which excited considerable interest here last February and March. It will be remembered that several letters and articles appeared in the local Press, commenting on the action of the Portuguese authorities at Mecao, and that in consequence the Portu- guese Consul-General, Senhor A. G. Ro- MANO, made a statement to a representative of this paper. Senhor ROMANO then point- ed out that KING LIEN-SHAN was only de- tained at Moute Fort, not in jail; that he had only to await the arrival of instructions from Lisbon and the arrival of documents from the Chinese authorities supporting the charge of embezzlement; and that if it should appear that the charge was trumped up to enable the Chinese Government to get possession of the person of a Reformer, KING would be liberated. But as our cor- respondent says, the ordinary period of detention passed; months passed, and the prisoner still remained. Governor GAL- HARDO went away and left him in prison. In the interval between his departure and the arrival of the now Governor at Macao, the case got out of the court, and the tri- bunal's report was submitted to the Council temporarily governing, which did not see fit to release KING and so referred the case and
HORTA E COSTA arrived in Macao; but KING
city. The clock will then be what it was ing relaid, ballasted, and improved. all the documents to Lisbon. Then Senhor originally designed to be, and was for many The method is doubtless
an expen-