34
district, would bring the length of the line up to
something like 140 miles; the distance by water 18
under ninety miles, which the steamers could easily
cover in six hours or less. The latter carry
Chinese passengers the whole distance for twenty
cents a head, and silk for a dollar a bale. Such
through rates could hardly be remunerative to the
railway. The latter will probably derive most of
its earnings from local traffic between Canton and
Shek-lung on the one hand, and on to Watchow, should
a branch line be constructed; and between Shek-lung
and Kowloon on the other; and there seems no reason
to doubt that it would prove a very profitable in-
vestment.
(e)
Canton-lacao Line. The only other line of
railway which has so far been discussed is the Canton
Macao Railway, the agreement for which was signed
last November by the Portuguese Minister in Peking,
but which has so far not been ratified, and which it
is now rumoured is never likely to be. This though
nominally a Portuguese undertaking, is in reality on
tirely controlled by the Chinese. The two principal
shareholders