This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.
CHINA RAILWAYS.
CONFIDENTIAL.
[9069]
No. 1.
[March 16.]
SECTION 1.
(No. 35.) Sir,
Sir C. MacDonald to Sir Edward Grey.-(Received March 16.)
Tokió, February 18, 1908.
I HAVE the honour to transmit herewith a résumé which I have received from His Majesty's Vice-Consul at Dairen of the Report on the first six months' working of the South Manchurian Railway, i.e., from April to September 1907, together with the speech delivered by Baron Goto, President of the Railway, at the general meeting of shareholders.
I have, &c.
(Signed)
CLAUDE M. MACDONALD.
Inclosure in No. 1.
Report on the first six months' working of the South Manchuria Railway, i.e., from April to September 1907.
Résumé of Baron Goto's Speech at the last General Meeting of the Shareholders of the South Manchuria Railway Company.
THE enterprises in which the Railway Company is interested are, as is generally known, in addition to the railway itself and mines, undertakings in connection with bays and harbours, local settlements, electric plant and enterprises, hotels, &c.
In accordance with the instructions received from the Imperial Government, the work of doubling the track between Dairen and Suchiatun, as well as that of converting the whole of the main line to broad gauge, was taken in hand in June 1907.
In doubling the track the work was divided into fifteen sections. Work on the first, between Dairen and Nankwanlin, was completed in the middle of August. The other sections are either three-fifths or two-fifths completed, the work on them being now in full swing. The broadening of the gauge is being carried out on the three-track principle, that is to say, a fresh single line of rail is laid down alongside the existing line. When the work is completed, one of the lines of the narrow gauge will be removed, and thus no time will be wasted or inconvenience caused in the process of changing from narrow to broad gauge. The broad-gauge branch line between Dairen and Port Arthur is actually finished, as also is that between Nankwanlin and Tashichiao. Work on the rest of the line is in progress, and should be completed in May or June 1908.
The locomotives, cars, &c., ordered abroad for use on the new broad-gauge line are arriving steadily, and the work of setting them up is carried on day and night with all speed. The body of this Report will show what results have been achieved in this direction. Experimental broad-gauge traffic is in progress on the Dairen-Port Arthur section.
Fushun Mines-When the Company took over these mines there were about thirty altogether being worked, and during the period under review exertions have been made to ascertain which of them promise a profitable return. Investigations are also being made to discover new mines, experiments having been carried out in the vicinity of those already in existence. The object is to develop this branch of our enterprise to its fullest extent. Of the machinery we need part has already arrived, the balance is in course of being ordered. As soon as this is received it is hoped that an advance commensurate with our hopes will be made.
The Yentai mines have also been inspected with certain others, but the results of this inspection are not yet to hand.
Local Settlements. These demand a word of explanation. When the railway came into possession of them all matters connected with sanitation, public works, education,
[2880 q--1]
Page 259