101
}
100
interest, repayment of principal, security, and Imperial Chinese Government guarantee. I have also looked into the construction and working and the traffic prospects generally of the railways now in operation, in order to convey viva voce to your Board official and engineering information as to the value of the property to be offered as security for this loan. Similar extension of time for the issue of this loan and payment of loan proceeds shall also be granted in the event of the Deutsch-Asiatische Bank, Berlin, objecting to its issue before the month of April next, in accordance with the terms of clause 9 of the Agreement for the Chinese Imperial Government 4 per Cent. Sterling Loan of 1898.
The railways to be mortgaged to you for the loan are all of standard English gauge, and consist of the following sections, as shown upon the accompanying statement for your guidance :-
18. Immediately after the signature of this Agreement, and before the issue of the prospectus of the loan to the public, the Administrator-General will memorialise the Throne and obtain an Imperial Edict confirming and sanctioning the provisions of this Agreement, the Imperial Edict so received being then communicated officially and without delay by the Tsung-li Yamên to the British Minister in Peking.
19. The Corporation may, subject to all its obligations, transfer or delegate all or any of its rights, powers, and discretions to any British Company, Directors, Agents, in consultation with the Administrator-General, with or without power of further transfer and sub-delegation.
20. This Agreement is executed in quadruplicate in English and Chinese, one copy to be retained by the Administrator-General, one by the Tsung-li Yamên, one by the British Minister in Peking, and one by the Corporation. Should any doubt arise as to the interpretation of the contract, the English text shall be accepted as standard.
Signed at Peking by the Contracting Parties this day of the eighth month of the twenty-fourth year of the Emperor Kuang-Hsü, being the day of October, 1898, Western Calendar.
agram-
Miles.
Peking to Tien-tsin-A double track line laid with 85-lb. steel rails, and including a short spur to the west from the Peking Junction in commencement of the Hankow system
Tien-tsin to Tang Ku--A single track line laid with 70-lb. rails
Tang Ku to Shan-hai-Kuan---A single track line laid with 60-lb. rails
834
27
146
Total length of lines to be mortgaged ..
257
There is a further section of 40 miles in operation outside the Great Wall (Shan-hai-Kuan to Chung-hou-so), the earnings of which, together with those of the 8 miles of extensions proposed to be built out of the proceeds of this loan, are to be pledged as additional security.
The value of the lines to be mortgaged may be gathered from the following details:-
Permanent Way.
The permanent way is substantially laid, and is maintained under a staff of British engineers and superintendents.
The country through which the lines pass is generally an alluvial plain,
STATEMENT of Loans and Advances by Foreign Banks to the Imperial Railways Administration to be redeemed in terms of this Contract.
By the Hong Kong and Shanghae Banking Corporation :
2nd November, 1894, to Shan-hai-Kuan Section
23rd October, 1896. to Luenuchiao Section
8th June, 1897, to Lucouchiao Section ..
8th June, 1897, to Railway Bonds
3rd December, 1897, to Peking Section..
By the Russo-Chinese Bank --
One due January 1900
One repayable by monthly instalments of 10,000 taels,
commencing 1898
By the Deutsch-Asiatische Bank :-
One due spring 1899, 90,000,
Inclosure 2 in No. 105.
Hongp'ing taels 200,000
400,000
Kuping taels
300,000
140,000
200,000
Hongp'ing taels 200,000
400,000
Hongp'ing taels 700,000
Official Statement, describing the Imperial Railways of North China, and in general their Resources and Value as a security for the Loan negotiated by the British and Chinese Corporation (Limited).
Gentlemen,
IMPERIAL RAILWAYS OF NORTH CHINA.
Bridges.
The double track bridges from Peking to Tien-tsin make an aggregate length of 40 feet, and consist of steel girders resting on masonry or concrete piers and abutments sunk by compressed air to a proper foundation.
The single track bridges aggregate 17,147 feet of similar construction, with the exception of 800 feet of steel girders on timber piers, and this is about being brought to substantial conformity with the remainder of the line.
The largest viaduct is that over the deep gorge of the Lan Ho, and is 2,200 feet long.
Station, Shops, &c.
There is a fine station building almost completed at the Peking terminus, and an elaborately designed station yard capable of accommodating a large passenger and goods traffic. From the terminus to Peking city a heavy rail tramway has been laid, and is being equipped for electrical working.
At Fengtai, 5 miles south of the terminus, is the junction with the Hankow system, which is destined in the process of railway development to become a very important centre, and is a fixed point on this western route owing to its proximity to a heavy viaduct across the Hun Ho at La Kia Chiao city, from whence the line runs as far as Pao Ting Fu is being constructed departmentally. At this junction extensive provision has been made for handling heavy traffic, and sheds, stores, shops, &c., have been erected of a substantial and commodious character.
The other stations, station accommodation, water supply, turn-tables, shops, goods, stores, &c., are generally in keeping with the character of the line and suited to the requirements of traffic and of efficient working.
In pursuance of instructions from the Imperial Chinese Railway Administration through their Engineer-in-chief, Mr. C. W. Kinder, I have made preliminary investigations for the proposed extension railways in Southern Manchuria.
The sidings on the line to be mortgaged make an additional aggregate length of miles.
[1130]
2 D
151