10.
40
therefore, move against the stream. Above Lok Chong the
North River flows through deep gorges between mountain
ranges and there are only broken paths on the steep banks.
The river is very shallow in winter and no less than 18
rapids occur in a distance of 25 miles. On the north side
of the divide, the mountain ranges are scattered and any
water courses are of an inferior nature.
23. Less than one-third the material is landed in
Canton and transported by rail to Lok Chong, the southern
base. The rest is landed in uchang and sent by rail to
Chuchow, the northern base. Owing to the fact that the
two terminal sections of the railway are short of rolling
stock, work has been impeded. All material from Chuchow
to Hengchow, the central base, is transported by junk up
the Siang River.
24.
There is plenty of good limestone between Lok
Chong and Ping Shek, but gravel ballast has to be used at
present in the vicinity of Heng chow.
25. There is a good highway paralleling the railway
from Heng chow to Chen chow and continuing to Ping Shek.
Eight Chevrolet 3-ton trucks are maintained and operated
by the Construction Administration along this highway for
the transportation of cement and other urgently needed
materials.
As motor transportation is very expensive for
bulky and heavy material, small junks are used up the Lei
River to as far as Chenchow. These junks take under most
favourable conditions at least 20 days to arrive from
Heng chow. At one time the Construction Administration
omed over 300 of these junks.
VII
M
TECHNICAL DETAILS.
26. All rails and accessories are of 43 kg. section
(equivalent to 85 lbs per yard) and 12 metres in length.
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