506
railway and an already sufficiently Chinese to think of
Also, as I don't intend to leave the
tiny "face".
Colony unless made to
before the line is open to
Canton I am naturally getting anxious to see it commenced.
May and I differ as to which route it should take within our own territory, he favouring a West route 31 miles long as tending more to development and I an East route 19 miles long, but including half a mile of tunnel, as being more direct and also better meeting naval and military requirements though of course these are subordinate to commercial advantages. The decision must mainly depend on the report of the Consulting Engineers and I propose to send home a preliminary statement for consideration by them (assuming that they have been appointed) as soon as I have received some further information that I have called for.