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official correspondence, the allotment of funds and the ordering of materials. these matters the signature of the managing director is required.
In all
2. The Engineer-in-Chief has the direction of the engineers of every grade employed on the whole section. His special duty is the carrying out of engineering work of every kind. When matters are referred to him for his opinion, or for investiga- tion, he should prepare suitable proposals without delay and submit them to the managing director, whose decision is necessary before they can be put into effect.
3. The Chinese Staff-As the number of persons in China possessing a thorough knowledge of railways is still small, all Chinese engaged for the service of the railway are required to give special attention to engineering work with a view to gaining experience. Whilst they are on probation their salaries are on a low scale, but they will be rewarded with an increase of pay if it is found after some months that they have shown real application and ability. Those who are remiss, or who have earned a bad reputation, will be dismissed at once with a view to avoiding extravagance and waste.
4. The Foreign Staff-As the most important points with regard to the foreign employés are their professional knowledge and their character, enquiries must be made about their antecedents and reputation. Before engineers of any grade are engaged, their diplomas, certificates and letters of recommendation must be carefully examined, and these should serve as a guide in allocating the various posts. The engineers are all under the engineer-in-chief, but subject to the general control of the managing director.
5. Requisition of Funds. With regard to requisitions, the managing director directs the engineer-in-chief to furnish him with an estimate of the amounts required during the following three months for works of every kind. When the managing director has sanctioned this estimate, he notifies the bank to have the necessary sum in readiness to be drawn out and expended as required.
6. Accounts. The accounts are kept in accordance with the most modern and convenient methods. Whenever a sum of money is expended, the amount is entered both in Chinese and foreign language in the ledgers, so as to be accessible both to Chinese and foreigners. Every account must be signed four times: once by the person receiving the money, once by the accountant in Chinese employ, once by the adminis- tration's comptroller of accounts in Chinese employ, and-after these three persons have already signed--by the managing director.
7. Tenders. Whenever materials are to be purchased the engineer-in-chief is directed to prepare specifications giving particulars of the quality and pattern of the materials to be supplied. These specifications are submitted to the managing director, who issues a notice inviting tenders, to be opened on a certain date, after which the orders will be allotted. In selecting tenders the guiding principle is to choose the lowest, but when the price named is exceptionally low care must be taken to ensure that the materials are not of bad quality, and the utmost caution must be exercised in regard to this point.
Purchase of Land. -When land is to be purchased for the railway the engineer must first prepare a detailed plan stating the extent of the land, and the class to which it belongs, together with the number of all graves, houses, trees, gardens, or wells which are wanted. This plan is forwarded to the deputy stationed on that section of the line, who in concert with the land purchase deputy and the local official notifies the owners of the land, and in their presence measures the land, defines its limits, and pays the price fixed by the regulations.
9. Purchase of Materials. In purchasing materials every effort must be made to have recourse, in the first instance, to materials of Chinese origin, and which Chinese merchants are able to supply, with a view to preventing the profits leaving the country.
10. Contracts for Work-Ilitherto trouble has always been very liable to arise, owing to the untrustworthy nature of some contractors, who have either absconded without doing the work or bave cheated their employers and workmen, and it is therefore essential that precautions should be taken. Under the regulations for contracts which have now been laid down, only men who have already carried out engineering works, have furnished satisfactory guarantees and deposited security, will be eligible to
undertake contracts.
The above ten sections merely state the general principles, and it will still be necessary to make such additions as may seem desirable, after due consideration, when occasion arises, As regards the relations between the managing director and the engineer-in-chief, they should constantly consult together, and ask each other's advice with a view to avoiding all occasion for suspicion and misunderstanding, and it is still more necessary that the head office should supervise and instruct the various sections,
with a view to ensuring that nothing is done without being reported through the proper channels, and that the whole system is thoroughly co-ordinated.
The following is a statement of the progress made since the sixth month of last year, when the work was commenced in sections :---
All the earthworks have been completed from Liang-wang-chuang as far as Te Chou, and the workmen have up to the present been well-behaved. From Tien-tsin to the north bank of the Yellow River the ground is level, and there are no hills from which to procure stone, and bricks are used instead, but by bringing up stone from the south of the Yellow River by the railway itself, a saving of carriage expenses to the amount of about 6,000,000 dollars can be effected.
The steel rails have already been purchased, and brought to Tien-tsin in successive consignments. At Tien-tsin, the terminus, the work has been divided into sections, which are being proceeded with simultaneously and rapidly. Both the Chinese and foreign employés have exerted themselves, and shown no disposition to waste time, and in a short time it will be possible to lay down the sleepers and rails, which will in the first place facilitate the transport of materials.
This, therefore, is the progress made on the northern section, and the main objects which we have kept in view are that the work should be completed as soon as possible and that the funds should not be wasted. The Chinese and foreign employés have vied with each other in striving to attain this end, and neither have presumed to urge unduly the adoption of their own views.
List of the various Departments in the Head Office of the Northern Section of the Tien-tsin-Pukow Railway.
Secretariat. Accountancy.
Surveying department. Interpreting department. Land purchase department.
Works department.
Materials department.
Telegraph department. Rolling stock department.
Correspondence registration department.
List of the various Classes of Foreign and Chinese Employés in the Head Office of the Northern Section of the Tien-tsin-Pukow Railway.
Director-general, assistant director-general, managing director, assistant manager,
assistant.
Superintendents and assistant superintendents in charge of--
Judicial work, receipt and issue of funds, interpreting, secretariat, investiga-
tions, receipt and issue of correspondence, purchase of land. Constables, copyists, accountants, detectives
Office servants and messengers, guards, grooms, &c.
Engineer-in-chief, assistant engineer-in-chief, second assistant engineer-in-chief. Engineers of the first, second, and third grades, in charge of-
Machinery, engine shops, construction, receipt and registration department, surveying, accounts, correspondence, materials, telegraphs, and rolling stock. Overseers.
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