407
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Head 3.
152. Works which for the present need not be proceeded with, though ultimately some of them will be required.
Under this heading are comprised the remainder of the works proposed by M. de Rijke, and extending as far as the Upper Harbour limit near Kiangnan Arsenal, including, as will be seen from drawing No. 1, the dredging of a narrow bank on the left side of the river opposite Cosmopolitan Dock, the dredging of a portion of Pootung Point on the right bank, and also a considerable length of dredging on the left bank, a short distance above the Native City.
153. The dredging proposed opposite the Cosmopolitan Dock, described in paragraph 81, the object of its execution being to facilitate the passage of the flood
currents.
154. The most important of these proposed works is the dredging at Pootung Point. It will be noticed that the "normal line on the right bank projects beyond the present shore line on either side of Poctung Point, and it would be necessary that bunding should be resorted to over these lengths in order to properly direct the current. This would be required before dredging could be undertaken with any likelihood of success, but even it appears to us doubtful if any results obtained by dredging in connection with such an unfavourable site as Pootung Point would be permanent. A sum has been included for the bunding above mentioned in a supplementary estimate drawn up by M. de Rijke, dated August 1909, and it was considered that the cost would be more than met by the value of the land which it is intended to reclaim behind the bunding, with the dredgings obtained from Pootung Point.
155. No dredging that could be done at Pootung Point would, in our judgment, have any effect in diminishing the scour on the concave side of the river. Should this scour increase and produce any detrimental effect either in the advance of the Point or in injury to the concave shore, then special works for its prevention, and for the maintenance of the present condition of the river would have to be considered. The necessity for such works would, however, have to be more clearly demonstrated than is the case at present, and, in any event, before they were put in hand, their nature would involve very careful consideration and much more information on the subject than we have at our disposal.
156. With regard to the proposed dredging in the neighbourhood of Chinese City, we have already, in paragraph 43, referred to this bank and the uses to which it is put, from which it will be clear that, in order to carry out the work as contemplated, a great disturbance of the native population and their trade would be involved. From enquiries made for us on the spot, it would appear very doubtful, for this reason, if the Chinese authorities would consent to the work being
carried out.
157. The crib work shown on the right margin of the river opposite the arsenal are proposed by M. de Rijke for the protection of the bank, which at this spot is being eaten away, with the result that shoaling is taking place on the left bank in the neighbourhood of the arsenal, where dredging has constantly been resorted to in order to maintain access to the same. This work is certainly not necessary for navigation purposes.
XVL-CONSERVANCY'S FINANCIAL POSITION.
158. With regard to the finance of the Conservancy Board, it will be seen from the statement in paragraph 105 that on 1st January of this year there was only available, for the carrying on of the works, the sum of 783,193 Shanghai taels, and at We that date there was no apparent prospect of any further funds being obtainable. understand, moreover, that when the latter sum is exhausted, unless in the meantime other arrangements are made, the Conservancy Board will cease to be operative, and its engineering staff will be disbanded.
159. We gather it was M. de Rijke's inattention, with the balance in hand at the beginning of the year, to entirely complete the works in connection with the final closing up of Ship Channel, and also such of the various works in connection with the fixing of Astræa Channel, along either bank thereof, as might be necessary to throughout secure the same, In these views we concur.
*Not reproduced.
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160. With such funds as might then remain at his disposal, M. de Rijke proposed to carry out so much of the training work at the mouth of the river, on the right bank below Pheasant Point, as would cut off the inshore flood current to which reference has already been made. He hoped also, in addition, to be able to construct such works for the protection of the right bank of the river, between Kajow Creek and Cosmopolitan Dock, as might be more immediately available for the prosecution of the works under head 1, and we strongly recommend the provision of money sufficient for the approved works under head 2.
161. Whilst dealing with the question of finance, it appears to be desirable that we should draw attention to the considerable tonnage dues on shipping using the Whangpoo River. It is usual in the case of ports charging such dues for the sum collected to be specially allocated to a fund for general conservancy work, and as in this particular case the tonnage ducs are ample for the purpose, it seems desirable that at all events such portion of the total collection as is necessary for the completion of the above-named works and for the purpose of the proper conservation of the river should be earmarked for and applied to those purposes.
XVII-PERMANENT CONSERVANCY BOARD.
162. We consider it in the highest degree important that there should be created a permanent Conservancy Board charged with the upkeep of the river, and having full authority over all questions affecting not only the régime of the main river below Shanghai, but also over all matters relating to the upper river and subsidiary creeks.
163. In our opinion such a board should be constituted on lines analogous to the Port of London Authority, the Mersey Docks and Harbour Board, the Clyde Trustees, the Tyne Commissioners, and other similar bodies in the country; in other words, it should include interests, of all nationalities, directly concerned in the proper main- tenance of the river.
164. A Conservancy Board such as we have suggested, should have the power of undertaking work, either for the improvement of the waterway or for the upkeep of the existing works, and should maintain for such purpose an engineeing staff and suitable plant. In this latter connection it is especially desirable to point out the necessity for the acquisition of dredging plant for use in removing such deposits as may be expected to occur from time to time in the river.
XVIII-CONCLUSIONS.
165. In preparing this report on the design and effect of the works for the improvement of the Whangpoo River, we have endeavoured to obtain all the evidence, opinions, and information available, which would throw light, either favourably or otherwise, upon the various questions, not only after careful and impartial analysis and consideration of the facts and opinions presented to us, but also in the light of the experience which we have gained in dealing with similar problems in the cases of other rivers.
We have, &c.
Westminster, July 25, 1910.
J. WOLFE BARRY. WILLIAM MATTHEWS. ANTHONY G. LYSTER.