Page 584
Inclosure 2 in No. 1.
Extract from the "Hong Kong Daily Press,”
REMOVAL OF THE ARTIFICIAL OBSTRUCTIONS IN THE CANTON RIVER.
On behalf of the Kwungtung Provincial Authorities.
OFFERS in connection with the removal of the barriers in the Canton River, as specified hereinunder, are hereby invited by the Undersigned.
1. To remove sunken stones to the following estimated amounts:—
2,500 cubic yards to a maximum depth of 18 feet at low water spring tides (Customs data).
3,000 cubic yards to a maximum depth of 12 feet.
1,000 cubic yards to a maximum depth of 8 feet.
The removed stone to be the property of the contractor. It is believed that the stones consist chiefly of granite, and that they vary in size up to 5 cubic feet. The offer should be made in respect to granite and to "other stone," and at so much a cubic yard. The stone recovered will be measured in the boats, and the proportion of granite to other stone ascertained by a method to be mutually agreed upon.
The offer should state the minimum number of divers to be employed and the months during which the work will proceed.
2. To remove piles from the Cambridge (Yu Chu) and the Whampoa (Li Tak) barriers, the piles to be the property of the contractor.
Offers for the removal of stones and piles, as above, will be required at once.
3. To remove entirely the wooden bridge (Sha Lo Muk) barrier, including all outlying piles which are visible above low water. The whole of the material, consisting of piles, timber, bolts, &c., to be the property of the contractor. The offer should state a period for the completion of the work.
4. To remove a portion of the central section of the iron (Sha Lo Tih) barrier as follows:—
The twenty-four single-screw piles and connecting girders of its northern end, and the adjoining forty-one groups of triple-screw piles—these piles to be entirely removed and (with all chains, bolts, girders, plates, and other gear belonging to the structure) landed and stowed on the adjacent shore at the Sha Lo Fort jetty.
The speedy performance of this work is especially desirable, and the period within which the work is undertaken to be completed will be an important factor in accepting an offer.
Offers for the removal of the iron and bridge barriers as above will be received until the 10th September. Prospective tenderers of offers are free to examine the barriers by divers, &c.
A satisfactory bond for the due performance of undertaken work will be required.
Offers in reply to this advertisement, and correspondence on the subject, should be addressed to the Barrier Office, Custom-house, Canton,
The right of accepting or rejecting any offer made hereunder is hereby expressly reserved.
R. DE LUCA, Acting Commissioner of Customs.
Custom-house, Canton, August 17, 1904.
(Signed)
What the Customs are doing I can only gather from private conversations, and from general report; the Viceroy's people merely say that the barriers are now in the hands of the Customs. The Customs are afraid of saying anything official, though they are in no way averse from private talks in general terms.
Tyler is conducting a very thorough survey of all the barrier reaches. I was led to believe that this had been done before, and, in fact, it was done before, but so inefficiently that Tyler cannot use the information collected. In the course of his survey, he has examined the Elliott Reach, which was blocked by a stone barrier as early as 1845 (it is said), and which was up to then the principal approach to Canton. Of course, if the Elliott Reach, which is shorter than the Back Reach, and is said to promise a deeper channel, can be made available, all the better.
But I fancy that if it is opened Mr. Tyler will advise that the expense of removal of the three barriers in the Back Reach need not be incurred at present.
So far as I can judge, the "artificial obstructions" of Article V can only have been the well-known barriers in the Back and Front Reaches. The Elliott Reach does not seem to have been used within memory, and the barrier across it was evidently not thought of by Sir James Mackay. Tyler has evidently not made up his mind yet, and the question may not arise, but it seems clear that what he is working for is to set off the removal of the Elliott barrier against the three (iron, wood, and tai shek) in the Back Reach.
I am at present without complete information, but so far as I can gather from river captains with whom I have conversed, the Elliott Reach would really be a great improvement on the Back Reach, if the barrier and silt were properly removed. So far, I have said nothing to Tyler to discourage his project. What I do not like is the delay which this want of a definite plan is bound to cause, and it is with the object of reducing this delay within minimum limits that I telegraphed to you. Tyler tells me now that his plans have been approved by Sir Robert Hart, but he is reticent as to the exact scope of those plans.
Yours sincerely,
(Signed)
C. W. CAMPBELL.
Dear Sir Ernest,
Inclosure 3 in No. 1.
Acting Consul-General Campbell to Sir E. Satow.
Canton, July 18, 1904
I TELEGRAPHED to you on the 4th July with the object of hastening the Customs, who are now practically charged by the Viceroy with the removal of the barriers.
2
3
584
Inclosure 2 in No. 1.
Extract from the "Hong Kong Daily Press,”
REMOVAL OF THE ARTIFICIAL OBSTRUCTIONS IN THE CANTON RIVER.
On behalf of the Kwungtung Provincial Authorities.
OFFERS in connection with the removal of the barriers in the Canton River, as specified bereinunder, are hereby invited by the Undersigned.
1. To remove sunken stones to the following estimated amounts :---
2,500 cubic yards to a maximum depth of 18 feet at low water spring tides (Customs data).
3,000 cubic yards to a maximum depth of 12 feet. 1,000 cubic yards to a maximum depth of 8 feet.
The removed stone to be the property of the contractor. It is believed that the stones consist chiefly of granite, and that they vary in size up to 5 cubic feet. The offer should be made in respect to granite and to "other stone," and at so much a cubic yard. The stone recovered will be measured in the boats, and the proportion of granite to other stone ascertained by a method to be mutually agreed upon.
The offer should state the minimum number of divers to be employed and the months during which the work will proceed.
2. To remove piles from the Cambridge (Yu Chu) and the Whampoa (Li Tak) barriers, the piles to be the property of the contractor.
Offers for the removal of stones and piles, as above, will be required at once. 3. To remove entirely the wooden bridge (Sha Lo Muk) barrier, including all outlying piles which are visible above low water. The whole of the material, con-
sisting of piles, timber, bolts, &c., to be the property of the contractor. The offer should state a period for the completion of the work.
4. To remove a portion of the central section of the iron (Sha Lo Tih) barrier as follows:-
The twenty-four single-screw piles and connecting girders of its northern end, and the adjoining forty-one groups of triple-screw piles-these piles to be entirely removed and (with all chains, bolts, girders, plates, and other gear belonging to the structure) landed and stowed on the adjacent shore at the Sha Lo Fort jetty.
The speedy performance of this work is especially desirable, and the period within which the work is undertaken to be completed will be an important factor in accepting an offer.
Offers for the removal of the iron and bridge barriers as above will be received until the 10th September. Prospective tenderers of offers are free to examine the barriers by divers, &c.
A satisfactory bond for the due performance of undertaken work will be required.
Offers in reply to this advertisement, and correspondence on the subject, should be addresssed to the Barrier Office, Custom-house, Canton,
The right of accepting or rejecting any offer made hereunder is hereby expressly reserved.
R. DE LUCA, Acting Commissioner of Customs.
Custom-house, Canton, August 17, 1904.
(Signed)
What the Customs are doing I can only gather from private conversations, and from general report; the Viceroy's people merely say that the barriers are now in the hands of the Customs. The Customs are afraid of saying anything official, though (they are in no way averse from private talks in general terms.
Tyler is conducting a very thorough survey of all the barrier reaches. I was led to believe that this had been done before, and, in fact, it was done before, but so inefficiently that Tyler cannot use the information collected. In the course of his survey he has examined the Elliott Reach, which was blocked by a stone barrier as early as 1845 (it is said), and which was up to then the principal approach to Canton. Of course, if the Elliott Reach, which is shorter than the Back Reach, and is said to But I fancy that if promise a deeper channel, can be made available, all the better.
it is opened Mr. Tyler will advise that the expense of removal of the three barriers in the Back Reach need not be incurred at present.
So far as I can judge the "artificial obstructions" of Article V can only have been the well-known barriers in the Back and Front Reaches. The Flliott Reach does not seem to have been used within memory, and the barrier across it was evidently not thought of by Sir James Mackay. Tyler has evidently not made up his mind yet, and the question may not arise, but it seems clear that what he is working for is to set off the removal of the Elliott barrier against the three (iron, wood, and tai shek) in the Back Reach.
I am at present without complete information, but so far as I can gather from river captains with whom I have conversed, the Elliott Reach would really be a great So improvement on the Back Reach, if the barrier and silt were properly removed. far I have said nothing to Tyler to discourage his project. What I do not like is the delay which this want of a definite plan is bound to cause, and it is with the object of reducing this delay within minimum limits that I telegraphed to you. Tyler tells mue now that his plans have been approved by Sir Robert Hart, but he is reticent as to the exact scope of those plans.
Yours sincerely, (Signed)
C. W. CAMPBELL.
Dear Sir Ernest,
Inclosure 3 in No. 1.
Acting Consul-General Campbell to Sir E. Satow.
Canton, July 18, 1904 I TELEGRAPHED to you on the 4th July with the object of hastening the Customs, who are now practically charged by the Viceroy with the removal of the
barriers.
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