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doubt that you will agree with me in thinking that, if the Agreements are accepted by the Chinese Government substantially as they stand, this object will have been attained without the sacrifice of any material interest on the part of the Colony.

As you will see, I have requested that Sir E. Satow may keep you fully informed of the progress of the negotiations, and you will, of course, consult me before coming to a decision, if any important modifications are proposed.

I have, &c.,

ALFRED LYTTELTON.

93

The following verbal corrections need to be made in the Loan Agreement:— Page 17, line 12. Insert full stop after " ment" and commence new sentence

with "The Lands." Page 28, line 8. Page 28, line 17.

Substitute "its" for "their." Substitute "Railway” for

p

»

same.

Yours, &c.,

W. KESWICK.

5634

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

། ། ། ། ། །

Reference :-

C.O. 882

6 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO

No. 65.

THE BRITISH AND CHINESE CORPORATION, LIMITED, to COLONIAL

SIR,

OFFICE.

(Received February 21, 1905.)

Canton-Kowloon Railway.

3, Lombard Street, London, E.C., February 20, 1905.

I BEG leave to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 17th instant, No. 4889/1905,* and to assure you that the suggestions which you make in regard to the negotiations will be carefully communicated to our agents for the instruction of Mr. Ross.

In regard to the observation with which you conclude your letter, I have to assure you that the Corporation and its agents will be careful to give effect to your views and keep the business as confidential as possible until the views of the Chinese Government have been ascertained.

I am, &c.,

5704

No. 66.

W. KESWICK,

Chairman.

GOVERNOR SIR M. NATHAN to MR. LYTTELTON. (Received 7.30 a.m., February 22, 1905.)

TELEGRAM.

[Answered by No. 74.]

Referring to your despatch of 20th January,† please enquire from Wolfe Barry who should consult Chatham; and my despatch of 11th January, estimated cost detailed survey of British section, and telegraph result.

6209

No. 67.

MR. W. KESWICK, M.P., to MR. G. V. FIDDES. (Received February 25, 1905.)

DEAR Mr. FIDDES,

[Answered by No. 70.]

3, Lombard Street, London, E.C., February 24, 1905. OUR Consulting Engineers have prepared an outline specification for the Canton-Kowloon Railway, and I send you a copy herewith, but unless after reading it you wish it (as it stands or revised) to be included in the Working Agreement we should not propose doing so, having come to the conclusion that the various references and provisions in the Agreement are sufficiently explicit.

The specifications will, however, be useful to have in hand in case, during the negotiations in China, the information should be asked for.

• No. 62.

↑ No. 53.

‡ No. 59.

Enclosure in No. 67.

CANTON-KOWLOON RAILWAY.

General Specification.

The railway to be constructed as a single line and of 4 feet 84 inches gauge. Sufficient land to be acquired in the first instance to provide for doubling the line hereafter when the exigencies of traffic demand it. There are to be passing places at suitable intervals, and the tracks to be spaced 12 feet 6 inches centre to centre at such passing places.

The rails to be of steel, flat-footed and to weigh not less than 85 lb. per yard with suitable fishplates weighing about 39 lb. per pair and having 4 bolts, nuts, &c., at each joint weighing about 30 ozs. each.

Good timber sleepers measuring not less than 9 inches by 5 inches by 8 feet 9 inches long of Jarrah or other suitable wood to be used. There are to be not less than 2,000 sleepers per mile.

The line is to be sufficiently ballasted throughout with broken stone or good gravel ballast.

The gradients and curves are to be the best possible attainable having regard to the difficult country in the vicinity of Kowloon."

The standard width for a single line on the top of an embankment at formation level to be 17 feet 6 inches, and at the bottom of cutting 25 feet 6 inches, the latter inclusive of side drains. Where passing places or sidings occur, these widths to be increased proportionately.

The inclinations of the slopes are to be varied according to the nature of the ground, but to be such as to ensure stability.

The line to be provided with all necessary bridges, culverts, flood openings, and minor openings.

The bridges are, as a rule, to have brickwork or masonry abutments laid in cement mortar, the foundations being of concrete with a steel superstructure, but culverts, flood openings, and minor openings, may be of masonry or concrete with arched tops, or of rolled steel beams on brickwork or masonry abutments, or may consist of earthenware or steel pipes. The bridges, culverts, &c., are to be designed to carry, with a sufficient margin for safety, the heaviest loads likely to be required.

The clear headway throughout the line is to be 15 feet.

The roofs of tunnels are to be lined throughout, the sides being lined, and an invert used if the nature of the strata passed through requires it. Tunnels are to be 18 feet high from rail level to the soffit of the arch, 16 feet wide for a single line. There are to be refuges on each side at reasonable intervals.

The stations will be so placed as to best serve the requirements of existing traffic, having regard also to future developments. The station machinery, including water- ing arrangements, signalling, turntables, sidings, weighbridges, platforms, &c., and the station buildings comprising station offices, staff quarters, locomotive, carriage, and goods sheds, are to be on an adequate scale.

The line is to be fenced in where necessary in the vicinity of towns and villages, and at level crossings suitable barriers, &c., to be provided.

The line is to be fully equipped with mile and gradient and boundary posts, and also with electric telegraph,

The rolling stock, including locomotives, coaching stock, trucks, &c., is to be of the bogie type and of the best possible design to meet the requirements both of the passenger and freight traffic.

The materials and workmanship throughout are to be up to the highest English standard, and all stock to be equipped with the Westinghouse continuous brake.