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line should then take a direction due West towards
Canton, through a densely inhabited district. Between Sheklung and Canton some bridging would be
necessary, owing to the creeks and tributaries, but
none requiring a large span, with the exception of
that across the East River near the former place.
As a lucrative feeder to this the main line,
and as essential to the development of trade with
Walchow, I would suggest that a branch be laid from
Sheklung to Walchow. It would be only about thirty
miles in length and its construction would be comparatively simple. The country is flat and the
streams to be crossed are narrow and could be bridged
at small cost. The estimated total length of the
railway from Kowloon to Canton, if laid on the above
route, is about one hundred miles, making, with
the proposed branch to Walchow, some 130 miles in
all.
They would traverse a country teeming with
population and rich in natural products.
They would
clash with no vested interests, such as the river
steamboat companies, for they would not follow the
same line of country, and they would not even touch at
Whampoa, which is already well served by the great
waterway on which it is situated.
The enterprise is a tempting one in spite of some
few engineering difficulties in the New Territory, and
if these are regarded as so serious as to constitute
a drawback, perhaps His Majesty's Government might be
induced to assist, either by a grant of money or land,
or by a guarantee. In any event, no trifling obstacle
of this kind should be allowed to delay the construction of this railway, so vital to British interests.
Now that French agents are so actively creating French
interests and promoting French prestige in the Two
Kwang, by subsidizing steamboats on the rivers, extending railways to the frontiers, establishing banks,
mercantile agencies, hospitals, and post offices, no
time should be lost, no money spared to maintain that
paramount position in Kwangtung Great Britain has
hitherto enjoyed, but which may easily be imperilled if
steamboat
parsimony,