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The cost of the line from Tengyueh to Tali, everything included, earth-work, electric plant, rolling stock, &c., has been estimated at 480 lakhs of rupees, or 3,200,0007., as an outside figure.
It is well known that it is not possible to rely on heights obtained by aneroids to within about 300 feet. Those given have been only provisionally adopted by the party until their numerous readings have been worked out.
The information about the railway has been put at my disposal by Mr. Lilley, and it seems advisable that it should be in your possession in order to give a general idea of the work done by the reconnaissance pending the issue of Mr. Lilley's own Report which may, however, give entirely different figures.
A Table showing approximately the distances and altitudes of the rivers and mountain summits by the road and the proposed railway is inclosed (Inclosure No. 2), as is a tracing, on the scale of 1 inch to 15'8 miles, showing the approximate courses of the road and railway from Bhamo to Tali (Inclosure No. 3).
The principal plains crossed by the proposed railway are :—
1. Tengyueh: about 8 miles long and 3 broad; estimated population, 50,000.
2. Salween, under a Shan Sawbwa: 10 miles long by 3 broad.
3. Fang-ma-chang and P'u-piao Plains: about 7 miles long; estimated population, 15,000.
4. Yungchang: 20 miles long by 6 broad; estimated population, 100,000. There are nearly 100 villages marked on the 4 miles to an inch map. The water from one spring that issues from the Lung Wang Temple supplies, so I was told, fifty-three villages. It is possible that there are some 250 villages as well as the town.
5. Yuugping and Chutung: about 4 miles by 2. The two towns are said to
contain about 1,000 houses; estimated population, about 10,000.
6. Yangpi: about 8 miles long; estimated population, about 10,000.
7. Tali: 30 miles long and 3 broad; estimated population, 100,000.
The Meng-lien plain is a day's journey to the south of Tengyueh, and is well populated. The district to the south of Yungchang is also well populated. In the neighbourhood of Hsia-kuan there are the large plains of Meng-hua, Chao-chou, and Mitu.
The mountain tracts contain only small villages.
Probably the lengths of line in the Yungchang and Tali plains would pay their way, and I think that possibly those in the other plains may do so. The greater part of the line is, however, across mountain chains. It cannot be said that the volume of trade between Tengyueh, Yungchang, and Hsia-kuan is very big, but a railway will certainly create a traffic of its own.
I have, &c.
(Signed)
H. A. OTTEWILL.