[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]
CHINA RAILWAYS.
CONFIDENTIAL.
[19442]
CO
23536
[May 22.]
SECTION 2.
RECO Rr18 JU 1 !
No. 1.
Extract from Report by Mr. Ramsay for the Quarter ending December 1910.-(Received at Foreign Office May 22.)
[See Enclosure in Sir J. Jordan's despatch No. 176 of April 25, 1911.]
Railways.
Tien-tsin-Pukow.-The coupling of the Tien-tsin-Pukow with the Peking-Mukden Railway is now an accomplished fact. The opening ceremony was performed on the 19th December. The Tien-tsin terminus is what was formerly known as. the " station," now called the Tien-tsin Central Station.
city trains runs between Tien-tsin and Tsinan, the journey occupying some fourteen hours. A regular service of construction The line is open to Taian-fu, 76 kilom. south of Tsinan. On the southern section construction trains now carry passengers, and the section between Pukow and Lin Huai Kuan will be opened to traffic in spring.
Hankow-Canton Railway.-Very little progress has been made on the Changsha-- Chuchou section. About 14 miles of sleepers and rails have been laid between Chuchou and Chaoshan, but the permanent way has not been ballasted, and no bridges have been erected. Between Chaoshan and Changsha the road-bed made. It is hoped to complete the line from Yochow to Chenchou in about five being
years.
Szechuan-Hankow Railway (Hupeh Railways),-Considerable progress has been made during the quarter. At Ichang three godowns and an engine-shed at the wharf are finished, and the cast-gate station buildings are nearing completion. The first tunnel of about 1,000 feet, at about 12 miles from Ichang, has been pierced, and a construction train runs for a mile or two.
Canton-Kowloon Railway.—The British section of Canton-Kowloon Railway was opened during the quarter as also the first section of the line at the Canton end,
Canton Kowloon-Yueh-Han Railway.-It is proposed to build a line connecting the Yueh Han and Canton Kowloon Railways. This line of some 3 or 4 miles would through the north-east suburbs of Canton. The route has been surveyed and presents pass no engineering difficulties. The line would soon pay.
Shanghai Hangchow-Ningpo Railway. The Chekiang Railway Company have gradually carried out improvements on the permanent way so that the line is at present in fair condition. A handsome red brick station has been erected within the Hangchow city walls and is practically complete.
It is rumoured that work is soon to be stopped on the Ningpo-Shaoshing section for lack of funds.
Peking-Kalgan Railway (Chang Sui Extension).--The distance from Kalgan to Sui Yuan Cheng is about 220 miles by the proposed route via Tatung-fu. The rail- head has reached Tsai Kou Pu 30 miles from Kalgan. It is expected to complete and open the whole section to Tien Chen Hsien by the end of the year, but the Board of Communications have ordered the suspension of construction beyond this point for four years.
Taichow-Shiherhwei Railway. The construction of the Taichow-Shiherhwei Railway and the raising of the necessary funds has been sanctioned in Peking. It is estimated to cost about 2,250,000 tacls, but it is not clear where the money is to come from.
Fokien Railway (Chang-Hsia).--The railway is being mismanaged and work continues very slowly--10 miles complete. It is proposed to carry the line round Pholam which will add too its length, but obviate expenditure on a large bridge.
Kiangsi Railway (Nan-Hsün).-Work is proceeding slowly and trains run as far as Wang Lao Men, about 20 miles from Kiukiang Station.
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