C.O. 17226
[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.}
Rece
CHINA RAILWAYS.
CONFIDENTIAL.
REG 2! MAY 09
[May 1.]
385
SECTION 4.
C
[16394]
(No. 121.) Sir,
No. 1.
Sir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey.(Received May 1.)
Peking, March 17, 1909.
I HAVE the honour to inclose translations of two recent Decrees and a Memorial of the Board of Communications on the subject of the Szechuan-Hankow Railway,*
The Chinese engineer who has been appointed to start work upon this fine has taken a prominent part in the construction of the Peking-Kalgan Railway, now approaching completion. As soon as this line is open to traffic in the course of the coming summer, Mr. Yen Te Ching, I understand, is to proceed to Szechuan.
The Report of the Board of Communications on the finances of the Provincial Company confirms the statement in the Chengtu Intelligence Report for December last, inclosed in my despatch No. 89 of the 26th February, that they have available a sum of about 9,000,000 taels (say 1,125,0001.), but their assumption that this will be augmented annually by a revenue of 2,000,000 taels accruing from further contributions out of taxation appears unduly sanguine. One source for their revenue, for example, is the taxation of opium and opium divans, and this will not be forthcoming long if the Viceroy carries out his declared policy of stamping out opium within one or two years.
It is, however, possible that a commencement of work on the Ichang-Wanhsien section of the line may encourage the public to take up a greater proportion of the shares; but there is no reason to think that native capital and Chinese engineers will suffice to bring the enterprise to completion.
I have, &c.
J. N. JORDAN.
(Signed)
* Not printed.
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