June 7, 1902]
early date
further advances,
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
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He strongly deprecates the idea that Hongkong can be furnished, by the new works, with a " practically unlimited supply of water." All the supply obtainable within the island is finite. Mr. CHADWICK Says:— Speaking somewhat at random, I doubt the possibility of much more than doubling the present supply, from all sources, by works within the island of practicable character. There are certain remaining gathering-grounds, notably "that draining to Saiwan, whose waters
might be utilised.
The island "of Hongkong can only provide water for a finite population, the exact number of which I am not prepared to state. The population, therefore, must be kept within "bounds. Now there is no serious difficul. ty in so doing. In Hongkong the popula- "tion does not increase by the excess of " births over deaths. It grows in propor- "tion to the number of dwellings. Each new house is promptly filled to over- crowding.
As the land belongs to the Crown, it is easy to restrict the "number of leases granted.
All "future industrial establishments involving "the use of large quantities of water, such "as sugar-refineries, paper-works, dye- works, and the like, should only be permitted on the mainland." In short, as far he says, Hongkong should be as possible reserved for commerce properly so-called, whilst Kowloon and the New Territory should be the industrial centre.
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he is convinced will effect at an | dealing with the Peak water-supply, which material * improvement and, is of course an independent plan. Mr. most probably, will be a first step toward | CHADWICK's estimate for the preliminary expenditure on surveys, gauging of streams, The gist of what Mr. CHADWICK recom-etc., is $20,000; further than this he does mends was given in the minute submitted not go, very rightly considering the sub to the Sanitary Board by Dr. CLARK last mission of estimates based on insufficient week, but we may briefly restate from the data as most objectionable practice. report before us what that advice is. Mr. Still, he is convinced, as we have said, that CHADWICK is in favour of developing the the expenditure recommended will effect at Tytam gathering-ground, the best existing an early date a material improvement in area, from which moreover there is already Hongkong's water-supp'y and most pro a conduit, which is capable of conveying a bably be a first step toward further alvan- far larger quantity of water than it is now called upon to deliver. Other gathering- 1 grounds may well be examined, but operations in the Tytam-tuk Valley should be carried out at once. Tytam reservoir, as constructed after Mr. COOPER'S scheme, never filled in the rainy season of 1901, and it is necessary therefore that both the gathering-ground and reservoir-capacity should be increased. This can only be done, says Mr. CHADWICK, by going further down the valley and resorting to pumping-which should be done at once. Another great advantage of this arrangement is that the supply could be materially increased at an early date. During the exceptional drought of 1901-02, the stream below Tytam yielded at least 45 millions of gallons in September and October, which would have been a valu- able addition to the general water-supply. The pumping-station, according to the scheme, will be on the shore, well below the site of any future reservoir, and in such a position that coals may be easily carried to it, it being more economical to take the water down to the coal-supply than to bring the coal up to the pumping- station. Mr. CHADWICK proposes that one engine be erected now, but ultimately two or three, each capable of lifting 1,250,000 gallons in twenty-four hours. A few details as to the type of engine are added in the report. The low-level reservoir or reservoirs are to hold, singly or jointly, about 400,000,000 gallons of water. The exact location can only be settled after due surveys. For the present, continues the report, suffice it to say that one reservoir, of the greatest capacity, possible, should be constructed, with its dam as near to sea-level as possible. This should be the first constructed. With regard to the quantity of water obtainable from the Tytam-tuk valley, Mr. CHADWICK says that it may be safely asserted that a ræservoir or reservoirs equal in capacity to the present Tytam: Reservoir (as it is calculated that the new works "will be) will add at least as much water as Tytam affords, "or, in other words, double the supply, which is now, during a drought about two millions of gallons per diem." In all probability," Mr. CHADWICK remarks, “by providing more storage, the supply could be materially increased. There is good reason to believe that the “estimates of yield will be materially in practice, for the following "reasons. The proposed low-level reservoir “will receive“a” larger proportion of its "water_direct from its gathering-ground 痛” than Tytam does, and will, moreover, “ Collect) anys „water that escapes from "Tytam, or from the catches which feed it. “ It will also receive any water percolating down through the soil, which now gets away, "umperceived, to the sea. Lastly, - means of catch water channels, water ted om the slopes of the m bay, from Cape to near Stanley
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o into further details scheme, nor do we pro- the part of the report
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This need of keeping a watch over the growth of Hongkong and the necessity of strictly preventing waste of water are the deductions drawn by Mr. CHADWICK from his consideration of the finite character of Hongkong's water-supply. The practical part of his scheme aims at doubling the Tytam supply, while hopes are held out that ultimately the total supply of the island may be doubled. Beyond this, says the expert, we probably cannot go, and we must there see that the island popula tion is not allowed to outgrow the water. storage capacity. It will be seen that the report provides plenty of food for thought. Whether we agree with all the arguments or not, the document must be held to be very suggestive. This is its high recommendation.
regarded as the principal source of Peak water-supply. It is true that s2 hydraulic motor and pumps 'have recently been erected in connection with the Bowen Road filter-beds and reservoir, so constructed that a reduced quantity of water can be pumped to the Peak or a larger quantity "It was originally to the 700 feet level.
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designed to pump to a proposed reservoir on Mount Gough," says Mr. CHADWICK, "at a level of 1,550. As, however, the Mount Gough Reservoir is not yet constructed, reduced high-lift pump-rams have been provided, so that it can pump a lesser quantity of water to a height of 1,800 feet. Therefore No. 4 Motor at Bowen Road can now pump 15,000 gallons por day; if not actually into the highest re- servoir, on the summit of the Peak, it will, no doubt, pump into the large service. reservoir, which is 70 feet lower, and it will certainly pump into the general system of mains, when the pressure is "reduced by the draw-off." Now the sum mer water-consumption of the Peak amounts to 70,000 gallons a day, so that the15,000 gal- lons from the Bowen Road motor cannot of course be regarded as forming the principal or even an alternative spurce of supply to the Peak. The Bonham Road engine must be the principal source of supply. More. over, as there is a tendency to build above the conduit up to the level of above 700 feet and the consumption of water in this zone is therefore likely to increase, the Bonham Road motor will probably before long be fully occupied in pumping to the These considera- 700 feet reservoirs, tions," Mr. CHADWICK deduces," show that 'steam-power, at Bonham Road Station, "must always be regarded as the principal "source of the Peak supply. If the existing
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engine were to break down, it is clear that "the Peak supply would be reduced to the
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small amount that the Bonham Road "motor can pump, a quantity again limited by the consumption of water in the "district supplied by gravity from Bonham Road Station. There must therefore be "a reserve pumping-engine at Bonham Road Station. In laying down & new engine it will be well to have one which "will provide for future contingencies. I therefore recommend the prompt erection of a steam-engine, boiler, and pumps capable of rising 100 gallons per minute to the summit of the Peak. The pumps, like those of the Bowen Road motor, should be so arranged that they can, if required, raise a much larger quantity of "water to the lower level (700 feet zone), thus utilising the full power and develop. ing the best efficiency of the engine, under both conditions." The effect of the pro- posed Bonham Road works will be that the new engine will lift 100 gallons a minute to the Peak and, working twelve ” hours. daily, will give a supply of 72,000 gallons, about the present summer supply" of the Peak. When the ruined No. 2 tank is re-constructed, the existing motor will be able to work day and might, raising 57,600 gallons of water in addition to that raised by the steam-engine. Lastly, the Bower Koad motor will raise 15,000 gallon day with the existing, reduced 26,000 with those of the originally propos
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¦ (Daily Press, 6th June.) We did not discuss in our issue of yesterday that portion of Mr. CHADWICK'S recent report which dealt with the question of the Peak water-supply. In the Peak district there is an increasing demand, as must be obvious from the sight of the building operations constantly going on, and to meet this Mr. CHADWICK Calls for additional reserve steam-plant at the Bonham Road pumping station, where there are at present only one hydraulic motor and one steam engine, the latter having been originally provided as a reserve but now in almost continuous use. No. 12 tank is in a ruinous condition and cannot be filled, and its prompt reconstruction is advised. Mr. the CHADWICK: insists that steam-power at Bonham Road Station must always be - year
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