33
yourself Now Sosta Sales hardwood is ever so much
superior and aheaper in the long ran". Again on the
8th April #r. Stratten reported to the Managing
Director "wriginally this line was laid with alespers
supplied by Kesars, Bowden Brothers and many of the
original sleepers are still in the track after 19
years service. This is itself speaks well of them.
Main in 1920 renewala were undertaken and inesa
aloepers are still in very good condition; walle
sgain in 1986 Kruen (Singapore) slompare wore ordered
owing to cheapnese but I regret to say these sleepers
do not stand the climatic conditions, as most of them
have deteriorated a great deal already in the enort
space of two years". Vr. io has, hisself, pointed
out to the
Purchasing Commission the snormous #gonomy
which can be effected by buying exelasively the sleeper
of kesere. Bowden Brothers.
8. It will be remembered that in the memorandum
of Mr. Choy, which formed an enclosure to Foreign
office despaton No. 726 of 20th July, 1989, to the
Legation, great emphasis was laid on the vital
importance of maintaining a rapid train service
between Canton and Boagkong. It was argued, and
prossuly correctly, that only in this way could the
railway successfully compete with steamere,
Nevertheless owing to the lack of provision of new
sleepers it was found zecessary on the 25th June to
reduce speed on seotiome of the line from thirty to
twenty miles per hour. Mr. Stratton now informe me
thet se the track between Caok Lung and Shan Cham im
getting/