This is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.
2
buttresses descending abruptly from a main range to the Taiping. The country is entirely clad with dense virgin forest. The difficulties were creditably surmounted by the Assistant Engineer in charge. At 10 miles (Nam-sa torrent) the country opens out into large rolling foot-hills, where work was easy, and at 14 miles the open plain of the Taiping is reached. The road then passes above the village of Man-hsien and stops at the hamlet of Man-yim. From this to Lung Chang market (the third main stage on the present Bhamo trade route, counting from Teng-yueh) is 12½ miles by alignment and on a dead level, and with no streams absolutely requiring bridges for mule traffic; but to make a first-class mule road over these 12½ miles will cost a good deal more than was expected, owing to the presence of several large marshes, supplied by mountain streams, and through these stone causeways would have to be constructed. But an earthen "fair weather" road, which would be available for eleven months of the year, with irrigation channels and ramps to and from the small streams traversed, could probably be made for under 20,000 rupees. I have not yet the accounts of the sums expended this season, but I believe that the total, inclusive of bridges and dynamite, will come to 45,000 rupees, to which 10,000 rupees will have to be added for the iron bridge over the Nam-sa. Considering the difficult nature of the country, I believe that this is 15 to 20 per cent. cheaper than the usual Bhamo rates.
As it is unlikely that further Chinese funds will be available, it is earnestly to be hoped that the Government of Burma will agree to continue the work at its own expense up to Teng-yueh, future repairs to be seen to by the Customs Taotai, the Commissioner, and the Consul. Next to the removal of the disastrous prohibition against the transit of opium, a good mule road is the first requisite for the revival of our long-neglected frontier trade. Even if it is decided to undertake railway construction in the Taiping Valley, some time must elapse before such a decision can bear fruit, and even when work is commenced, a good service road will be a necessity.
In conclusion, I would draw attention to the excellent service rendered by Mr. A. W. Mukerjee, Assistant Engineer in the Burma Public Works Department, in connection with this road. Owing to his experience of frontier road-making, he was put in sole charge, and very wisely given wide discretion. The result is that in three months he has put through a work that has been talked about for three years. His tact and energy were of great value. He had to deal with suspicious Chinese officials, lazy Shan headmen, and ignorant Kachins, but there has been no single instance of serious trouble or misunderstanding. At one time nearly 3,000 men were working on the road, which has been made chiefly by contract piece labour. The good impression made by Mr. Mukerjee on all natives with whom he came in contact will render any future operations by the Burma Public Works Department in China much easier, and there is every reason to hope that an abundant supply of labour will be forthcoming. I would venture to suggest that the attention of the Government of India may be drawn to the exceptionally good services rendered, under difficult circumstances, by Mr. Mukerjee, so that, if he is available, he may be entrusted with any further work that may be undertaken in the Taiping Valley.
I have, &c. (Signed) G. LITTON.
SOUTH-WEST CHINA.
CONFIDENTIAL.
No. 1.
528
[September 12.]
SECTION 1.
Sir E. Satow to the Marquess of Lansdowne.—(Received September 12.)
No. 256.) My Lord,
Peking, July 20, 1904. I HAVE the honour to transmit to your Lordship herewith copy of a despatch from His Majesty's Consul-General at Yünnan-fu, inclosing a report by Mr. Litton on the present state of the road under construction, from the Kulikha River on the Burma frontier to Man-hsien. Seventeen miles of the road have now been completed.
I have, &c. (Signed) ERNEST SATOW.
Inclosure 1 in No. 1.
Consul-General Wilkinson to Sir E. Satow.
Yünnan-fu, June 1, 1904. I HAVE the honour to forward a despatch to your address from Mr. Litton, reporting the completion, with the exception of a necessary iron bridge, of 17 miles of mule road from the Burma frontier stream Kulikha to the hamlet of Man-yim, on the opposite side to Manwyne of the Taiping River.
I reported to you in January last by telegraph the commencement of this work. I am still awaiting the receipt of printed copies of any correspondence with the Burma Government before furnishing you with details of the Agreement which, in conjunction with Mr. Litton, I negotiated at Teng-yueh last December.
I have reason to believe that the question of a light railway to Teng-yueh is at the present time engaging the attention of the India Office and of the Indian Government. Should the decision be reached to construct such railway, or to continue the new road, it is gratifying to learn that there is every prospect, thanks to the tact shown by Messrs. Litton and Mukerjee, of the work being carried through without friction, or the delays due to an inadequate supply of labour.
I have, &c. (Signed) W. H. WILKINSON.
Inclosure 2 in No. 1.
Acting-Consul Litton to Sir E. Satow.
Teng-yueh, May 2, 1904. THE commencement of work on the mule road in Chinese territory, from the frontier at Kulikha River (52 miles by cart and mule road from Bhamo) up the valley of the Taiping, was reported to you by Mr. Wilkinson in the middle of January. Work for the season has now been finished, and 17 miles of good mule road with a ruling gradient of one in eighteen are now open to mule traffic. The bridge over the torrent of the Nam-sa, which is practically unfordable all the year round, is of a temporary character, and the work on this, the Taiping gorge, section of the future trade route cannot be called complete until an iron 60-foot span bridge is substituted, which will be done next year, at a probable cost of 10,000 rupees.
This section, with the solitary exception of the Nan-tien gorge, 5 miles long, commencing 28 miles from Teng-yueh, is the most difficult on the whole road. For 7 miles out of the 17 the new road had to be cut along and round spurs and
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is Derment is the Property of His Britann Majey's Gvernment.j
2
buttresses descending abruptly from a main range to the Taiping. The country is entirely clad with dense virgin forest. The difficulties were creditably surmounter by the Assistant Engineer in charge. At 10 miles (Nam-sa torrent) the country opens out into large rolling foot-hills, where work was easy, and at 14 miles the open plain of the Taiping is reached. The road then passes above the village of Man-hsien and stops at the hamlet of Man-yim. From this to Lung Chang market (the third main stage on the present Bhiamo trade route, counting from Teng-yuel) is 124 miles by alignment and on a dead level, and with no streams absolutely requiring bridges for mule traffic; but to make a first-class mule road over these 124 miles will cost a good deal more than was expected, owing to the presence of several large marshes, supplied by mountain streams, and through these stone causeways would have to be con- structed. But an earthern "fair weather" road, which would be available for cleven months of the year, with irrigation channels and ramps to and from the small streams traversed, could probably be made for under 20,000 rupees. I have not yet the accounts of the sums expended this season, but I believe that the total, inclusive of bridges and dynamite will come to 45,000 rupees to which 10,000 rupees will have to be added for the iron bridge over the Nam-sa. Considering the difficult nature of the country, I believe that this is 15 to 20 per cent. cheaper than the usual Bhamo rates.
As it is unlikely that further Chinese funds will be available, it is earnestly to be hoped that the Government of Burmah will agree to continue the work at its own expense up to Teng-yueh, future repairs to be seen to by the Customs Tuotai, the Commissioner, and the Consul. Next to the removal of the disastrous prohibition against the transit of opium, a good mule road is the first requisite for the revival of our long neglected frontier trade. Even if it is decided to undertake railway con- struction in the Taiping Valley, some time must elapse before such a decision can bear fruit, and even when work is commenced, a good service road will be a necessity.
In conclusion, I would draw attention to the excellent service rendered by Mr. A. W. Mukerjee, Assistant Engineer in the Burmah Public Works Department, in connection with this road. Owing to his experience of frontier road-making be was put in sole charge, and very wisely given wide discretion. The result is that in three months he has put through a work that has been talked about for three years. His tact and energy were of great value. He had to deal with suspicious Chinese officials, lazy Shan headmen, and ignorant Kachins, but there has been no single instance of serious trouble or misunderstanding. At one time nearly 3,000 men were working on the road, which has been made chiefly by contract piece labour. The good impression made by Mr. Mukerjee on all natives with whom he came in contact will render any future operations by the Burmah Public Works Department in China much easier, and there is every reason to hope that an abundant supply of labour will be forthcoming. I would venture to suggest that the attention of the Government of India may be drawn to the exceptionally good services rendered, under difficult circum- stances, by Mr. Mukerjee, so that, if he is available, he may be intrusted with any further work that may be undertaken in the Taiping Valley,
I have, &c. (Signed)
G. LITTON.
SOUTH-WEST CHINA.
CONFIDENTIAL.
No. 1.
528
[September 12.]
SECTION 1.
Sir E. Satow to the Marquess of Lansdowne.-(Received September 12.)
No. 256.) Ly Lord,
Peking, July 20, 1904. I HAVE the honour to transmit to your Lordship herewith copy of a despatch His Majesty's Consul-General at Yännan-fu, inclosing a report by Mr. Litton the present state of the road under construction, from the Kulikha River on the Surmal frontier to Mansien. Seventeen miles of the road have now been completed.
I have, &c. (Signed) ERNEST SATOW.
I
b. 16.)
Inclosure 1 in No. 1.
Consul-General Wilkinson to Sir E. Satow.
Yünnan-fu, June 1, 1904. I HAVE the honour to forward a despatch to youraddress from Mr. Litton, reporting le completion, with the exception of a necessary iron brigde, of 17 miles of mule road m the Burmah frontier stream Kulikha to the hamlet of Man-yim, on the opposite He to Manwyne of the Taiping River.
I reported to you in January last by telegraph the commencement of this work, I am still awaiting the receipt of printed copies of any correspondence with the armah Government before furnishing you with details of the Agreement which, in
junction with Mr. Litton, I negotiated at Teng-yueh last December.
I have reason to believe that the question of a light railway to Teng-yueh is at the sent time engaging the attention of the India Office and of the Indian Government. hould the decision be reached to construct such railway, or to continue the new road, is gratifying to learn that there is every prospect, thanks to the tact shown by fessrs. Litton and Mukerjee, of the work being carried through without friction, or e delays due to an inadequate supply of labour.
I have, &c. (Signed)
W. H. WILKINSON.
Inclosure 2 in No. 1.
Acting-Consul Litton to Sir E. Sałow.
Teng-yuch, May 2, 1904. THE commencement of work on the mule road in Chinese territory, from the ontier at Kulikha River (52 miles by cart and mule road from Bhamo) up the valley the Taiping, was reported to you by Mr. Wilkinson in the middle of January. ork for the season has now been finished, and 17 miles of good mule road with a ing gradient of one in eighteen are now open to mule traffic. The bridge over the rent of the Nam-sa, which is practically unfordable all the year round, is of a porary character, and the work on this, the Taiping gorge, section of the future de route cannot be called complete until an iron 60-foot span bridge is substituted, ich will be done next year, at a probable cost of 10,000 rupees.
This section, with the solitary exception of the Nan-tien gorge, 5 miles long, mmencing 28 miles from Teng-yueh, is the most difficult on the whole road. For miles out of the 17 the new road had to be cut along and round spurs and
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