467
7
(2)
(b.) The construction of a carriage road from the Village of Little Hongkong traversing comparatively level ground in a South Easterly direction to the Western shore of Deep Water Bay and from thence along the shore, connecting with the existing road at the North Western corner of the Bay.
(c.) The improvement of the existing road from Taitam Tuk to Taitam Gap and
(d) The improvement of the existing road from Chai Wan Gap to Shaukiwan.
Mr. GERSTON STEWART attended the meeting of the Sub-Committee on the 7th instant and explained that he considered that, if this project was carried out in the first instance, say to Deep Water Bay, he was of opinion that it would meet a much felt want by affording an opportunity to all persons of enjoying the Southwest monsoon in summer, and he anticipated that if the road was constructed it would be much used both by Europeans and Asiatics.
He advocated the completion of the project but, in view of the cost involved, he considered that the Government would have to do the bulk of the work. Looking, however, to the revenue derived by the municipality in Shanghai from a wheel tax, he thought it probable that the revenue derived from a similar tax in this Colony would be sufficient to pay the interest on any loan that it might be necessary to raise to meet the expenditure on this project.
Mr. STEWART mentioned, as instancing the popularity of his scheme, that in 2 or 3 days, with but little trouble to himself, he obtained nearly 200 signatures to his letter, which number he could easily have doubled since he forwarded his letter, as he has had further applications to sign from all classes of the community. The road Mr. STEWART proposed should be 20 feet in width, but, if found practicable, he advocated an increased width of 30 feet.
Mr. STEWART wished Mr. DENISON's letter of the 30th March and Report on the Proposed Road from Belcher's Bay to Taitam Tuk by Messrs. DENISON and KAM, which he handed into the Committee, to be considered in connection with this project and asked that any further details required as to route and cost of the road should be obtained from Mr. DENISON.
Mr. Denison's letter dated 30th March, 1897.
In this letter Mr. DENISON divides the road along the southern side of the island, connecting Kennedy Town with the existing road along the northern side of the island, into seven sections as follows:
Sec. 1. B-C from Kennedy Town to the Waterfall, Aberdeen Road.
Sec. 2. C-D from the Waterfall to Little Hongkong.
Sec. 3. D-E from Little Hongkong to Deep Water Bay.
Sec. 4. E-F from Deep Water Bay to Taitam Tuk.
Sec. 5. F-G from Taitam Tuk to Taitam Gap.
Sec. 6. G-H from Taitam Gap to Chai Wan Gap.
Sec. 7. H-A from Chai Wan Gap to Shaukiwan.
In their report, Messrs. DENISON and KAM advise an alteration in the route over a portion of Sec. 4, viz., from Repulse Bay to Stanley by leaving the present road on the eastern shore of Repulse Bay and contouring the southern and eastern slopes of the hills between Repulse and Stanley Bays.
(3)
Mr. DENISON gives the following estimate of the cost of the several sections, the road being 20 feet in width and constructed at a level of from 15 to 20 feet above ordinary high water:
Section 1, $60,000
Section 3, $10,000
Section 4, $5,000
Sections 5 and 6, $25,000
Section 4 (amended route), $30,000
Total......... $130,000
Mr. DENISON attended the meeting of the Committee on the 9th instant and explained that he was of opinion that a fairly level road suitable for the passage of wheeled vehicles could be obtained from Kennedy Town to Shaukiwan, excepting from Taitam Tuk to Taitam Gap, round the southern shore of the Island, using such portions of the existing roads as are suitable, for the sum of $130,000.
Over the section from Taitam Tuk to Taitam Gap Mr. DENISON considered the construction of a road suitable for wheeled vehicles to be impracticable.
Mr. DENISON had made no detailed survey and estimate and wished it to be understood that without such a detailed survey he did not consider it practicable to make a reliable estimate within 20 per cent.
Mr. DENISON concurred in the view expressed by Mr. STEWART that a road 30 feet wide would be better suited for carriage traffic than one 20 feet in width and that the construction of the road would open out building sites and render land in the vicinity of Stanley suitable for the erection of buildings for manufacturing purposes.
Mr. DENISON estimated that increasing the width of the road to 30 feet would involve an additional expenditure of $50,000.
On the 12th instant Mr. DANBY attended the meeting of the Committee and informed Members that he had considered the construction of a road as proposed by Mr. STEWART.
Mr. DANBY had, when in the Government Survey Department, been engaged on a similar project for the construction of a 20 foot road from Belcher's Bay to a point about one mile west of Aberdeen, but the project was abandoned as the cost was considered prohibitive.
As regards the present project Mr. DANBY considered that, speaking generally, the road should be at an elevation of from 75 to 100 feet above sea level so as to be well out of the reach of the sea during heavy south-westerly gales, and that in order that it should be suitable for carriage traffic the steepest gradient should not exceed 1 in 40.
It was difficult to see how, without the construction of a tunnel at a cost of $400,000, a road suitable for carriage traffic could be constructed from Taitam Tuk to Taitam Gap.
Mr. DANBY had considered the construction of this portion of the road on the slopes to the north of the present road and the best gradient obtainable would not be less than 1 in 15, so that carriages could not use it.
Mr. DANBY estimated the cost of the road from Kennedy Town to Shaukiwan including the portion from Taitam Tuk to Taitam Gap at a gradient of 1 in 15 at $225,050.
467
7
(2)
(b.) The construction of a carriage road from the Village of Little Hong- kong traversing comparatively level ground in a South Easterly direction to the Western shore of Deep Water Bay and from thence along the shore, connecting with the existing road at the North Western corner of the Bay.
(c.) The improvement of the existing road from Taitam Tuk to Taitanı
Gap and
(d) The improvement of the existing road from Chai Wan Gap to
Shaukiwan.
Mr. GERSTOM STEWART attended the meeting of the Sub-Committee on the 7th instant and explained that he considered that, if this project was carried out in the first instance, say to Deep Water Bay, he was of opinion that it would meet a much felt want by affording an opportunity to all persons of enjoying the Southwest monsoon in summer, and he anticipated that if the road was constructed it would be much used both by Europeans and Asiatics.
He advocate the completion of the project but, in view of the cost involved, he considered that the Government would have to do the bulk of the work. Looking, however, to the revenue derived by the municipality in Shanghai from a wheel tax, he thought it probable that the revenue derived from a similar tax in this Colony would be sufficient to pay the interest on any loan that it might be necessary to raise to meet the expenditure on this project.
Mr. STEWART mentioned, as instancing the popularity of his scheme, that in 2 or 3 days, with but little trouble to himself, he obtained nearly 200 signatures to his letter, which number he could easily have doubled since he forwarded his letter, as he has had further applications to sign from all classes of the community. The road Mr. STEWART proposed should be 20 feet in width, but, if found practicable, he advocated an increased width of 30 feet.
Mr. STEWART wished Mr. DesiSON's letter of the 30th March and Report on the Proposed Road from Belcher's Bay to Taitam Tuk by Messrs. DENISON and Kam, which he handed into the Committee, to be considered in connection with this project and asked that any further details required as to route and cost of the road should be obtained from Mr. DENISON.
Mr. Denison's letter dated 30th March, 1897.
In this letter Mr. DENISOs divides the road along the southern side of the island, connecting Kennedy Town with the existing road along the northern side of the island, into seven sections as follows
Sec. 1. B-C from Kennedy Town to the Waterfall, Aberdeen Road.
Sec. 2. C-D from the Waterfall to Little Hongkong.
Sec. 2. D-E from Little Hongkong to Deep Water Bay.
Sec. 4. E-F from Deep Water Bay to Taitam Tuk.
Sec. 5. F-G from Tuitam Tuk to Taitam Gap.
Sec. 6. G-H from Taitam Gap to Chai Wan Gap."
Sec. 7. H-A from Chai Wan Gap to Shaukiwan.
In their report, Messrs. DENISON and RAM advise an alteration in the route over a portion of Sec. 4, viz., fron Repulse Bay to Stanley by leaving the present road on the eastern shore of Repulse Bay and contouring the southern and eastern slopes of the hills between Repulse and Stauley Bays,
(3)
Mr. DENISON gives the following estimate of the cost of the several sectious,
the road being 20 feet in width and constructed at a level of from 15 to 20 feet above ordinary high water:-
Section 1,
Section 3,
Section 4,
Sections 5 and 6,
Section 4 (amended route),
Total.........
60,000
10,000
5,000
25,000
30,000
$130,000
Mr. DENISON attended the meeting of the Committee on the 9th instant and explained that he was of opinion that a fairly level road suitable for the passage
of wheeled vehicles could be obtained from Kennedy Town to Shaukiwan, excepting from Taita Tuk to Taitam Gap, round the southern shore of the Island, using such portions of the existing roads as are suitable, for the sum of $130,000,
Over the section from Taitam Tuk to Taitam Gap Mr. Dexisox considered the construction of a road suitable for wheeled vehicles to be impracticable.
Mr. DENISON had made no detailed survey and estimate and wished it to be understood that without such a detailed survey he did not consider it practicable to make a reliable estimate within 20 per cent.
Mr. DENISON concurred in the view expressed by Mr. STEWART that a road 30 feet wide would be better suited for carriage traffic than one 20 feet in width and that the construction of the road would open out building sites and render land in the vicinity of Stanley suitable for the erection of buildings for manu- facturing purposes.
Mr. DENISON estimated that increasing the width of the road to 30 feet would involve an additional expenditure of $50,000.
On the 12th instant Mr. DANDY attended the meeting of the Committee aud informed Members that he had considered the construction of a road as proposed by Mr. STEWART,
Mr. DANBY had, when in the Government Survey Departmcut, been engaged on a similar project for the construction of a 20 foot road from Belchers Bay to a point about one mile west of Aberdeen, but the project was abandoned as the cost was considered prohibitive.
As regards the present project Mr. DANBY considered that, speaking generally, the road should be at an elevation of from 75 to 100 feet above sea level so as to be well out of the reach of the sea during heavy south-westerly gales, and that in order that it should be suitable for carriage traffic the steepest gradient should not exceed 1 in 40.
It was difficult to see how, without the construction of a tunnel at a cost of $400,000, a road suitable for carriage traffic could be constructed from Taitam Tuk to Taitam Gap.
Mr. DANBY bad considered the construction of this portion of the road on the slopes to the north of the present road and the best gradient obtainable would not be less than 1 in 15, so that carriages could not use it.
Mr. DANBY estimated the cost of the road from Kennedy Town to Shaukiwan including the portion from Taitam Tuk to Taitam Gap at a gradient of 1 in 15 at $225,050.
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.