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WATER CONSERVANCY IN CHINA
Distribution Of Functions
As part of a national program- me for food and drought preven- Lion, a number pi reforms have been made in the water conser vancy adinin stration
1
Water conservancy in China is in the firs 'nstance administer- ed by regiona commissions and other ad hos" bodles. Some have hitherto been subordinate to the. Central Government: others to the Provincial authorities. More- over those responsible to the Cen- tral Government were responsible to no sing e organ. Thus the Min- istry of the Interior had control of institutions carrying on river surveying end flood prevention; matters of arm irrigation came under the Ministry of Industry; the Ministry of Communications had charge of the conservancy of navigable channels, and the Min- stry of Industry: the Ministry of Communications had charge of the conservanty of navigable channels and the Ministry of Navy of the surveying of naviga- tion routes.
some ex en
Such a distribution of functions did not make for effetency, and confusion und the shifting of res ponsibility from one organ to an- oher were he inevitable results. For while, in a country as large as China, it is desirable that conser- vancy administration should to be entrusted to local bod.ex there should be a central body which supervises them and co-ordina.es their activities. No small part of the ineffectiveness in, conservancy matters has been due to the administration of rivers or four d erent Com- by three missions, wh ch were willing to co-operain, which disputed one and over another's funcions.
common
which there, was 10 authority to compel united action.
FINANCIAL ARRANGEMENTS
Financial arrangements were alsc unsatisfactory. Some of the Commissions drew their incomes. the Customs. from river from dues, or from the Boxer Indem- Others were à most nity Funds. without resources; and there was ne organ to which they could ap- peal for assistance in carry'ng out urgent projects.
1
That this stale of affairs need- ed reform, b.d long been recog- nised. And when, last summer, the Central Government decided, ip ils programme of reconstruc- tion, to spend a much increased sum on conservancy matters, re- form could no longer be delayed. Therefore, on July 14th, at its 394th meeting, the Central Pol!- cal Council dee ded to unify the water conservancy administration of the country, and the National Economic Council was designated as the central organ.
To place all major conservancy institutions under the National Economic Council was the neces sary first step to reform; but un- til the Commissions themselves were reorganized, and their res- ponsibilities clearly demarcated, the task of the N.E.C. was an im- possible one. The National Econo- mic Council, entering on its' new functions, therefore submitted a plan by which is control could be made a reality, The plan amount- ed to rationalizing the local con- ervancy administration, the me- thod being firstly to abolish all redundant institutions, and in the second place to merge a num- ber of small organisations into a few larger ones. In February the Central Political Council sanc- ̈ tioned the scheme, and by April 16th the reorganisation had been completed.
CONSERVANCY ADMINIS-
TRATION
Is effect was to place the grea- ter part of conservancy adminis-" tration in China in the hands of dive large Commissions. These were the Kwangtung Conservancy Board the North China River Yellow River Commission, the Commerion, the Hwai River Com mission, and the Yangtze River Commission. New regu ations given to these Commissiors re- quired them to submit all their projects; and their schemes of ex- penditure, for the approval of the National Economic Council. Pro- vincial and Helen organ'sations in- terested in water conservancy hav ing by another law been placed under the control of the NE.C., the centralization had proceeded. as far as was desirable,
the muschile, to equip Itself for its new functions, the Nation
'F
made
al Economic Counell had certain" changes in its own ar ganisation. The staff of its Bur- eau of Hydraulic Engineering was enlarged; and, for dec'ding on the general lines of water conservancy policy."a committee was set up Including high government off- clals and representatives of the different parties interested.
The National Economic Council will dispose of substantial funds, which it will use for the most part as grants-in-aid to these projects the river commissions and of provincial authorities which it considers most urgent and most profitable. On these principles, a"
drawn up programme has been for the current year. I fal's into four parts.
RURAL REHABILITATION The first part has to do with "rural rehabitation, especially ir- rigation in the arid North West. The following projects are either under execution or have been al- ready completed:
(1 Repair and completion of the Welpe Irrigation Sys- tern in Shensi
(2) Construction of the Loho
Irrigation System, Shens. (3) Construction of a series of
smaller irrigat'on systems in Kansu and Ninghsia.
(4) Construction of the irriga- ton experimental station of T'su Shing Ku. Hopel
(5) Construc.ion of a "grass adam in the outlet of the Hungtze Lake near Chiang- ja. The purpose is to keep the level of the Lake high erough for krigation pur
An- (K'angsu and poses. hwel).
regulated (6) Construction of
overflows in the canal from the Hungtze Lake to the sea, and Yang Chwang near Chow Men, for supply of i- rigution wager to middle Klangsu.
FLOOD PREVENTION
The second part deals with flood prevention, and especially, in view of the recent mood menace, with the age-old problems of the Yel- low River. A flood, which might have involved a huge area, was prevented in April by emergency work on the Kwantal dyke, mäde Doss ble by the financial and tech- cal support given by the N.E.C. Subsidies were given to the dyke Cureaus in Honan, Shantung and Hope!, through which provinces The Yellow River passes; The Golden Dyke (Chin T), which is the key to the protection of North China, is being thoroughly repair- ed; and a number of dykes are being constructed in Shantung n the river estuary.
Besides the work on the Yellow River. a number of flood preven- tion operations are under execu- tion on the Yangtze, on the Han River in Hupeh, and on the Yung. Ting Ho and the Lung Feng b in Hopel.
INLAND NAVIGATION
The third part of the prograÏ- me is concerned with inland navi- gation. Steps are being taken to repair the canal system, which formerly played such an import-. ant part in the economic "fe of the country and which still, where " usable, provides the cheapest means of transportation, The fol- lowing work is in execution:
(1) Improvement of the Soo- chow Greek. Operations include the dredging of several sections: making a deeper route through the Tal Hu Lake; and construct- ing shorter channe's near Yu Chi ..Teng.
(2) Improvement of the naviga- tion route from Trinan (8han- tung) to the sea, by dredging and by the building of ship locks in the Hsiao Ching Ho.
(3) An upersilon to connect navigation between the Yellow River and the Grand Canal.
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HONG KONG DAILY PRESS, SATURDAY, AUGUST 17, 1935.
ENGINEERING AND BUILDING
FIRE RESISTANCE MATERIALS
Data Available
15
The past" 4 or 5 years have seen a vary considerable amount of experimental and research work carried out with a view to inves tigating the more extensive uses protection o! asbestos for fre purposes. As a result of this work, there is now available data of extreme interest to builders,
AIR CONDITIONING
Notable Advances During 1934
Mr. Elliott Harrington, engineer, provide the necessary air circula- tion. A particular feature of this of the Air Conditioning Depart ment of the General Electric Com- unit is the air delivery, where in pany, of New York, writes that the the warm, winter-conditioned air is year 1934 witnessed a general ad- delivered over the floor and allow vance in the air conditioning in- ed to rise naturally. The cool" particularly in regard to ceiling dustry, due in large measure to summer-conditioned air is deliver the improved public knowledge of ed overhead and allowed to fal
draughts Thus air-conditioning benefits to com; naturally.
eliminated, a small temperatužu fort and health,
Air-conditioning for profit. diference between floor and cell- wherein. the purchaser obtains In- ing is produced, and improved creased Income, is still to the fore. comfort results.
development Another Drug and department stores began
treatment,
は
are
MARINE AUXILIARIES
Design And Construction
When considering the combina- tion of components for ship's auxillarties it la necessary to give special consideration both to de- sign and construction if the best results are to be obtained. Eur- rled or thoughtless work in this direction will often'cause ineff- ciency and sometime real trouble. m consequence special care is alway given to see that ship's auxilliartes supplies conform to cases. the best practice in all
the How the requirements af Severn & Canal Carrying Com- pany were met with regard to the for their petrol auxiliary set carrying vessel "Severn Tanker.". makes good reading. Electricty for lighting and cooking and com- pressed air for starting and man- were oeuvring the main engine required, and owing to the highly Inflammable nature of the cargo the greatest precaution had to be
Experiments have shown that an ordinary lath and plaster cell- ing, when dry, has a fire resis- tance of not more than 5 minutes. at the end of which time, botk the figor joists and floor boards above: it will be in flames. This the adoption of air-conditioning on which caused considerable interest taken to see that the generator
is the reason for so many bull. dings being gutted when the fire the ground floor. originates on At the Bestobell works at Slough, where a special building has been
erected for such tests, two dummy
product
the
was flame proof.
ning
with
The set as built comprises a 6
at 900 r.p.m., .fitted bhp. Petter Atomie Engine run- marine type water cooled exhaust tive power. The generator is a 3 silencer. which provides, the mo-
on to the silencer where the out- let in situated.
8
To ensure a compact strange- ment, the usual cast iron under- base was removed from the en- gine, and the crankcase all drain tank farms ar integral part of the baseplate. This also ensures
low
line, crankshaft ceritre which allows the generator car- case to be understung. A fabri- cated mild steel baseplate gives & good construction to the varying methods of support for the diffe- rent components, and adds to the advantages of the set by a saving a cast iron one, in weight over
be plates allows this part to The use of fabricated steel base- specially constructed to meet in-
It there. dividual requirements. fore gives considable latitude In design as regards the layout and avolds the use of costly patterns for special jobs.
BLAST FURNACE GAS CLEANING
In connection with the erection of steel works in China it is of interest to read about similar en-
been
steel works have recently Stamford Electrical tured by
started up at Pretoria by the South Company. An extension of the
African Iron and Steel Industrial armature shaft at the commuta-
claimed Corporation, which is tor end takes a sprocket for the circulating
a rather broad scaie during 1934. during 1934 was the air circulator. a simple and 'relatively inexpensive and a substantial number of off- 'ces and apartments were air-con- "device which is based on ditioned during the year. A serious premise that out-of-door air is beginning of hotel air-condition- cooler than indoor air during about ing as applied to guest-rooms, re-half of each 24-hour day. This first-cor rooms have been built, sulted in installations of large air circulator is a portable device,
of match-boarding, capacity and a substantial number usually mounted in the attic before kw 110 volt machine manufac.. terprises in South Africa where
ordinary of smaller installations. Prior to an open window, with
connection to the 1934, there were only a few com- electrical
convenience outlet. It pletely air-conditioned homes in rearest the United States. During the operates to bring in a large volume appreciable of outside air, through any win- year, number of homes were air-con, dows which are open, whenever air temperature is for year-round service, the outside and it may be truthfully said that lower than the inside temperatrue. the complete air-conditioning of It must operate very quietly and air without vibration, since its greatest homes has begun. Railway conditioning expanded to the point utility is realised at night. where travellers now demand space Public recognition of air-con- ditioning will undoubtedly COM- In air-conditioned cars
tinue to grow. Railroads will in- crease the number of completely
In
both made but one having a lath and plas- ter ceiling below it and the other one of the various forms of ceil- ings developed by this firm. every case where Are has been applied underneath both rooms with the room simultaneously, the lath and plaster ceiling below it has been gutted within a very short time and the other has re- mained intact.
As
ditioned
however. an
BROADER RECOGNITION One of the marked trends de- air-conditioned
Cars. The con-
in veloping during the year was a ditioning of hotel guest-rooms will broader recognition of the central grow rapidly. The air-condition- system method for air-condition- ing of various other commercial ing. Usually the lowest cost and establishments will continue the most effective system is of the cen- present healthy expansion. More trai type, where more than one homes will be completely air-con- room is conditioned, and usually "ditioned, and, generally speaking, a where even a single room is con further substantial step will be ditioned, provided it is possible to taken toward the day when air- enclosures install the distribution ducts or conditioning of "the
FIRST RESISTANCE "It is not always fully realised that the addition of even the thinnest asbestos paper to flammable material enormously increases its fire resistance. an example, fire resistance of three-ply wood is not more than 21 minutes, but if any one ply of asbestos paper, no more than 7011 in. thick is applied to its surface. its fire resistance is increased to nearly 4 minutes, and it has been shown that even such thickness asbestos paper by itself i suitably supported, will actually fame condition for resist any several hours.
OL
It is hot difficult, therefore, to visualise, a greatly increasing use of asbestos materials for building purposes as the trade itself be- the familiar with comes more. various forms in which this mine- ral fibre is avaliable as manufac- tured products.
area, on the Yellow River, Yang- tsze River, Hwal River, and in Ha- peh Province.
(2) An increase in the number of hydrological stations through- out the country.
(3) The making of new topo graphic surveys, special atten- lor being paid to the possibil't- les of air-surveying. The surveys, during the current year, are being carried out on the middle Yang- sze 'n Hupeh (by air; in the Hotoú region in Su'yuan; on the Chang Ho in Hope; on the VP per Yang Ting Ho in Shensi and Chabar and at the mouth of the Yellow River in Shantung.
H
(4) The completion of the Hyd- raue Laboratory at Nanking. The laboratory, as its first task, will conduct experiments on the re- gula ion of the Yangtze River at Ma Tang and the port of Chin- klang.
of the
North
(5) Extension China Observatory.
The National Economic Council attaches great importance to this part of its programme.. So many must be are the factors which considered in projects of water. conservancy, so heavy is the capi- tal inves.ments usually involved, that they should be underaken only if based on the most ample: data. Otherwise they may prove total or partial failures, causing the waste of resources which can 1 be spared. The Government re- cognises that arrangements .for research have not hitherto been adequate. The collection of data Finally, there is a programme by institutions having no contact for surveying, inspection and re- "with one another; the lack of search. The work of the different standard instruments and stan- Commissions is being co-ordinat-dard methods of calculation, the ed, and under instruction of the NE.C. newnvestigations will be undertaken. The programme 'n- cludes:
SURVEYING
(1) The organisation at five hydrological survey groups to be the North China stationed
piping. These rentral systemis take wherein we live and work becomes two forms depending upon local a universally, recognised necessity conditions. In other words. the for enjoying the full beneâts of central systelu .may
completely comfort and health, condition the air at one location In the building, delivering the ron ditioned air through a duct system. "to the various points of use, ne water many be used as a transfer mediurn between the central plant and various units located in the space to be conditioned. Notable. Installations of both types · were made during the year.
COD-
Until recently, summer ditioning, or simply cooling, con stituted the public's conception of the art. However, it is now 'be- coming recognised that definite benefits accrue from winter con- ditioning, through the control of humidity, circulation and clean- liness of the air.
Con-
In the fundamental art of "arr- conditioning there was increasca research activity. A number of additional hospitals, and medical schools undertook further ident- fication of the benefits of air-con ditioning to health and the thera- peutic effects upon patients. aiderable factual data was added to the working knowledge of the air-conditioning engineer, particu- larly in the form of improved sum. mer conditioning standards. The great importance of even air dis- tribution. elimination of draughts, and reduction of temperature gradient between floor and ceiling was fully recognised for the first time, and means developed to sut- cessfully handle these problems. The matter of noise became more fully understood, and it is possible to-day to install a complete alt- conditioning system to meet any reasonable noise level, provided the exact requirements are known in advance.
The year witnessed considerable refinement of detail in air-con- ditioning apparatus, improved manufacturing methods, and cer- tain destrable operating improve- ments.
'n
UNIT CONDITIONER Typical of these is the year- round unit conditioner, which con trols, the four elements of air-con- ditioning the year round. Basic- ally, it consists of a refrigerating. unit for cooling and dehumidity- tng, a heating unit taking steam neglect of important branches of from a central supply, a new type research (especially of the resor humidiner offering substantial tion between irrigation and differ- ent types of sol), are some of the most obvious defects, which the N.E.C. plans to remedy during the currency year.
advantages, particularly when used with water having high hard- ness content filters and direct ven- tilation for controlling the clear liness of the air, and a blower to
MECHANICAL GULLY
EMPTYING
How Systems Differ
The advantages of modern me- chanical methods for emptying street gullies and disposing of the retuse, as opposed to the old horse and cart atd semi-manual me- thods. are obvious. But as the various mechanical methods now in use vary considerably in prin ciple and practice, it is well worth studying some of the salient points.
For instance, It has been com- Puted that, as a result of fushing the gullies, in the London ares alone thousands of tons of solid matier are forced into the sewers annually, with detrimental results in the way of stoppages. On the "other hand, the system on which
all Fowler motor gully emptiers, „ for example, operate is that the entire contents of the gullies is withdrawn by vacuum into the sludge tank, where by a patented me.hod the quid is drained from the solid refuse, thus enabling a greater number of gullies to be emptied before it is necessary to discharge, while the refuse is.
"
taken to the dump in a semi-dry condition.
By this means gullies cannot
be fushed, but are cleansed and resealed with clean water," and over 200 gullies can be dealt with in a normal work'ng day."
Another po'nt is the choice of a chassis. It frequently happens that among the vehicles compris. ing the fleet of a city or own. there is one which is surplus to requirements or past its prime for economical fast transport. A self- con a'ned gully-emptying appara tus provides an opportunity for extending the useful life of such. a chassis; for this comparatively easy work, it will serve admirably. for the functioning of the Fowler gully-emptying apparatus is en- tirely independent of the chassis. Thus, should be chaar's become too old for further service, no dif- ficulty need be experienced in transferring the apparatus to an- other. Again, it can be handled.. by any type of haulage unit,
of
to be among the most up-to-date in the world. One of the main portions of their equipment is the blast furnace plant with a capa- city of 5500 teas of pig-iron per 24 hours. In this connection also. electrostatic plant on the latest twostage principle is installed, cleaning down to much lower engine than the ordinary gas standard of "0.0088 grains of dust
chain drive of the pump. and also the driving mem- ber of the clutch for the com- a Ham- compressor capable worthy pressor. This latter is dealing with 9 cuple feet of free air per minute, the delivery pres- sure being 350 lbs. per square inch. For circulating the cooling water, the inch Albany pump delivers water first to the com pressor, then to the engine and per cubic foot,
ymm
THE TAIKOO DOCKYARD & ENGINEERING COMPANY OF HONGKONG, LIMITED.
"
BUILDERS OF ALL CLASSES OF SHIPS.
BUILDERS OF "RECIPROCATING STEAM ENGINES. BUILDERS OF MARINE AND LAND BOILERSJ BUILDERS OF TURBINE MACHINERY
Under License From Messrs. Parsons. BUILDERS OF DIESEL ENGINES
Under Special License
From Messrs. Sulzer Bros., Winterthur. Licensed To Manufacture Lanz Perlit Iron, Specially Suitable
For Internal Combustion Engine Working Parts.
DOCK & SLIPWAYS.
FOR DOCKING VERY LARGE AS WELL AS SMALLER VESSELS,
ON ANY TIDE.
ALL CLASSES OF SHIP, ENGINE AND BOILER REPAIRS AND EXTENSIVE
WELDING, BOTH ELECTRICAL AND OXY ACETYLENE - SKILFULLY AND PROMPTLY CARRIED OUT.
11
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HONG KONG, CHINA & JAPAN.
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