(a)
The same applies to the traffic from the Kowloon Wharf and Godown Company. It will be only the valuable cargo that we may hope to get from them in the first instance.
It will be possible to do a good trade in Bulk oil from Messrs. Arnhold Karberg's tanks at Tai Kok Tsui. It will not be very difficult to run a siding into their premises off the workshop line. A couple of Bulk oil waggons would pay a good profit on this trade alone by getting the oil in bulk up country and I foresee a very good trade in this quarter as new ground will be tapped all along the line. The new Standard oil works are rather far off for a siding just at present.
I have not been able to get any figures for trade between Hong Kong and Shek Lung or any intermediate places except Sam Chun, but leaving out Sam Chun, I should think that 200 tons per day each way a very small estimate of the traffic which would come to the Railway from the Chinese Section.
Taking this at 3 cents per ton per mile and the actual cost of transport at 14 cents the figures are as follows:-
Gross Earnings$262. Working Expenses$131. Profit$131The actual traffic to and from Sam Chun and Hong Kong is about 100 tons per day each way and the rate which the Railway could afford to charge is 5 cents per ton per mile which would work out as follows:-
Gross Earnings$242.00. Working Expenses$66.00. Profit$176.00.I do not think that much can be looked for from the goods traffic on markets days in the new territory. Such goods are sold in the market will have to be considered as personal luggage if any passenger traffic is to be encouraged and it will be impossible to be very strict on this account.
However I should think a 30 ton wagon might be kept engaged each day to and from Taipo. Taking the freight at 54 cents per mile
(7)
632