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considerable opposition to the bridge on the part of
those whose vested interests are affected. Threats even
of blowing up the bridge when completed have been freely
indulged in by the indignant townsfolk.
The Railway consider that it would not be worth
their while to make a swing bridge, owing to the extra
cost, amounting to some £10,000, and to the consequent
delay of through traffic, amounting to one-third of the
working time, apart from the added risk of accident. They
have however so far offered to meet the objections of the
Sheklung people as to offer the alternative of a lump sum
as compensation to the junk owners for the extra expense
they would be put to in unshipping their masts, or else to
construct for them a depôt and godown for the storage of
goods immediately below the bridge, in connection with the
railway station. The Railway prefer the latter alternative
as likely to prove advantageous in the future to the inter-
ests of the Railway.
Taotai Wei Han is leaving shortly for Sheklung and
hopes to be able to effect a settlement of the question.
The Chief Engineer, Mr. Grove, has kindly supplied me
with the following memorandum of progress of works to
December 31st 1908, which he recently sent to the Board
of Communications in Peking.
Survey.
Completed.
Land. Purchase of more than one half completed.
Earthwork. 24 Miles in an advanced state of progress.
Culverts and Bridges. - 10 miles in an advanced state.
Large Bridges. Foundation steel work in course of
erection and delivery. Preliminary works well started.
30,000 delivered.
Sleepers.
Quarters.
Temporary and permanent quarters well
advanced.
Workshop and Depôt. - For constructional purposes
erected.
Plant for construction. Purchase and delivery about
two-thirds completed.
Work has been commenced on say a total length of 45
miles. Progress is on the whole good though there is a
scarcity of labour and the usual trouble to obtain reliable
petty contractors. Chinese are exclusively employed as
The
petty contractors.
Y