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materials are also coming from America. The opening of the railway from Kungyik to Sunning will undoubtedly be of benefit to this port, as the line will tap a very rich district which cannot at present be easily reached from Kongmoon. So far, Sunning has drawn its supplies from the south, through the inconvenient harbour of Kwanghoi, or by a roundabout and uncertain route by way of Sunchong. When the railway is opened the journey from Kongmoon to Sunning will not take more than six hours, instead of from twelve to eighteen hours, as at present. Kungyik, the northern terminus of the line, is still little more than a town site, laid out, however, in accordance with foreign rather than native ideas. It is opposite the well-known town of Tanshuihow, and is in the hands of a Company. The river bank has already been well bunded with stone, and before long substantial houses will probably be built.
On the 17th December, 1907, a correspondent writing from Fatshan gives the following account of the progress of construction ---
"The work of constructing the Sunning Railway is rapidly proceeding, and it is now announced that the section to the north of Sunning city is to be opened on the 1st of the Chinese twelfth month (4th January). Peculiar interest attaches to this scheme, as the whole work connected with it--the inception of the idea, the flotation of the Company, the designing, &c., the construction, and the subsequent management is kept strictly in Chinese hands. Considering how large a proportion of the population of this and adjoining counties have resided in America or other foreign countries, and how difficult of access the city of Sunning has hitherto been, there is little to wonder at in the spirit of enterprise shown, but that Chinese have organized so well and carried out the scheme so thoroughly is as remarkable as it is gratifying to observe. By the courtesy of the officials I was to-day allowed to ride on one of the construction trains over this line, and to my inexperienced eye it seemed as though a very satisfactory piece of work had been done, the running being smooth and the embankments, &c., apparently firm. Unlike the Canton and Samshui line, it passes through a difficult country, and has to take a winding course to negotiate the intervening hills.
"The port of Kungyik, which is the northern terminus of the line, is another striking illustration of the enterprising spirit prevailing in this district. A large town with broad, straight streets has been planned, and many of the lots are already occupied. Unfortunately, the buildings here, though ambitious in size, have been less substantially built, and the evidences of the ravages of last September's typhoon are still all too striking. The bunding here, however, will compare favourably with that in any European settlement, and the situation on a fine navigable river in the centre of so prosperous a district ought to make it a great trade centre, perhaps partly at the expense of the Treaty port of Kongmoon.
"Work has also been begun on the section of the line from Sunning to Chunglan. Eventually it is intended to continue it southwards to the sea coast, where a port is even talked of on the lines of Kungyikfu, but capable of receiving vessels from foreign countries."
The same correspondent, writing on the 14th February last, says:—
"Last December I described a trip over this line just before its opening. It has now been working for a month, and being in that part of the delta last Monday, I travelled over it once again. Considering that no foreign aid has been invoked, it is only fair to state that the line is very adequately managed, and, indeed, by local standards would be deemed a fair success. Although the trains are made up of both passenger cars and freight or construction trucks, they appear to keep punctually to the time-table. The rolling-stock is also good, the first-class coaches being indeed luxuries. It was also gratifying to see the thoroughness with which the third-class carriages are swept out on each arrival at the terminus. (Like some British lines, it has no second-class coaches.) The fares, however, are unreasonably high. At present it must be hard to make the line pay, for at the large town of Kungyikfu, which forms the northern terminus, most of the lots either are not yet built on, or are still in the builders' hands, and the steamers which are to start from there for Canton and Hong Kong are not yet in existence. The work is, however, being carried out with thoroughness, and in a few years it will no doubt be one of the great ports of the province."
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The accompanying plan shows the alignment of the railway traced on a German map. The starting point in the north is Kungyik (Kung-yi); Sunning or Sanning is the Cantonese pronunciation of the name of the district city of Hsin-ning, to the east of which the line passes, and Samkahoi is the southern terminus of the line on the seaboard.
(Signed) ALEX. HOSIE,
Peking, April 27, 1908.
* Not reproduced.
Acting Commercial Attaché.
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