345
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the opening of such a railway, while the local traffic would most certainly not pay the interest on the capital outlay. This being the case, Government has turned its attention to roads, and is of opinion that surveys for a railway need not be under- taken."
27. The last and weightiest recommendation on this subject has come from At their last spring meeting, the Associated Chambers of Commerce of Great Britain. the 3rd March, 1903, they resolved: "That, with a view to promoting facilities for the conveyance of merchandize between Burnah and South-West China, a survey should be undertaken at once for a light railway from Bhamo to Têngyüeh, as it is believed that the reports of His Majesty's Consul at Tengyüeh on the goods traffic between those places are sufficient to justify proceeding with such a work.”
November 23, 1903.
(Signed)
W. WARRY.
P.S.-I have been unable to obtain the new 4-inch survey maps in time to prepare I submit instead a map of Yunnan a tracing from them for the purposes of this note. reduced by the Royal Geographical Society from the survey maps. It is the best of its size in existence, but is on too small a scale to give the names of all places on the Kunion- Tali-fu railway trace.
APPENDIX.
""
W. W.
From Kunlôn (1,700 feet) to 4 miles beyond Mongkyen (54 miles) construction is In the next 70 miles occur the worst easy, the estimate being 25,000 rupees a-mile. difficulties of the whole line. There is very heavy gorge work; one section of 26 miles is estimated at 1,32,000 rupees a-mile, another of 15 miles at 1,46,000 rupees a-mile, another of 4 miles at 1,34,000 rupees a-mile. This brings the rail to Toù Tao Shui, and thence over the watershed to Yunchou (17 miles) the work is easier, averaging about 23,000 rupees a-mile. Another easy stretch of 17 miles succeeds, and then come the gorges of the Nan Chiao Ho, the Mekong (about 3,000 feet above sea) and the Konglan by Major Davies showed that these stream-in all, 56 miles. The " partial survey were not so difficult as had been anticipated; and the estimate for this section averages only 78,000 rupees a-mile. The 10 miles ascent from the gorge of the Konglan to the summit of the Konglan range (7,300 feet) is described as "extraordinarily easy, though the last 6 miles are only suited for a 1-inch 16-rack rail." The estimate is about 20,000 rupees u-mile. Near the summit a short tunnel of 500 yards will be necessary, costing 1 lakh. The descent lies through the Nanchien Valley and plain (27 miles) for which the estimate is 21,000 rupees a-mile. "Then comes a gorge of 5 miles costing 80,000 rupees has a-mile; then the Mitao Valley and Plain, 354 miles at 12,300 rupees a-mile. Next a range to be crossed involving an ascent of 54 miles at 50,000 rupees a-mile, and a tunnel of 14 miles costing 3 lakhs. This brings the trace into the Chao Chou Valley, and there remain 26 miles of nearly level country, costing 14,200 rupees a-mile, through the Chao Chou and Hsiakuan Plains to Tali-fu.
Inclosure 9 in No. 1,
Liverpool Chamber of Commerce to Mr. Brodrick.
Sir,
1. BHAMO and Momein Road and Light Railway.
Liverpool, October 28, 1904.
25
(2.) In regard to the above-named subject (No. 2), it is noted that "the Govern- ment of India have furnished an estimate of the cost of surveying the portion of the route between the Salween and the Mekong," and that "this estimate, which amounts to 1,50,000 rupees, has been communicated to the Foreign Office," but that the Govern- ment of India are not willing to throw this expenditure on the Indian revenues, and that the Secretary of State in Council in these circumstances cannot proceed with the survey.
With reference to this second announcement, the Committee of the East India and China Trade Section observe that in the seventh Report of the Directors of the Burmah Railways Company (Limited), dated the 15th December last, it is shown in the statement of surplus profits for the year ending the 30th June, 1903, that after payment of interest charges at the rate of 24 per cent. on the Company's share capital and Government outlay, the Government's share of the net earnings in excess of interest was 17,28,984 rupees (115,2657), and the Committee therefore respectfully but urgently suggest that a small portion of this profit-viz., the 1,50,000 rupees, or 10,000l., required for the survey-should be granted for that purpose, in view of the prospective value of a railway to the trade of Burmah with South-Western China. The Committee would also respectfully point out, in further support of their request, that the Province of Burmah yields to that Government of India some 3,000,000l. per annum as clear profit out of its revenues.
It is observed that the French are pushing their railway enterprises from Tonquin into the heart of Yunnan, and it is anticipated that when Yunan-fu has been reached by them they will extend their railway now building between Laokai and Yunnan-fu to Sui-fu on the Yangtse River. Such a French railway would take the trade at the head waters of the River Yangtse, and leave to Burmah only the comparatively small trade of the mountainous country lying between North-East Burmah and the valley of the Yangtse. On the other hand, a British railway between Burmah, Yunnan-fu, and Sui-fu might anticipate the extension of the French line, and secure to Burmah merchants a portion of the vastly more important trade of the very populous Province of Szechuan.
The Committee feel that an enterprise of this nature should be encouraged by the Government of India, seeing that railways in general in China are being made by Germany, France, Belgium, and Companies or Syndicates of other nationalities, and that Britain is in danger of losing her hard-won supremacy in China markets.
Further, the French Indo-China Government have guaranteed 4 per cent. interest on the capital which is being expended on the Tonquin-Yunnan-fu Railway.
I have, &c.
Sir,
(Signed) THOMAS W. BARKER, Secretary.
Inclosure 10 in No. 1.
India Office to Liverpool Chamber of Commerce.
India Office, September 30, 1904. I AM directed by the Secretary of State for India in Council to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 28th October, 1904, relative to railways between Burmah and China.
In reply, I am to inform you that the Secretary of State has carefully considered in Council the views laid before him by the Chamber of Commerce of Liverpool, relative to the proposed Burmah-Szechuan line, but has not been able to modify the views previously expressed.
With regard to the proposed Bhamo-Momein line, however, he has now learnt the views of the Government of Burmah and of the Government of India on the subject, and he has the matter under his consideration.
I am, &c. (Signed) HORACE WALPOLE.
2. Proposed Burmah-Szechuan Railway.
(1.) I have to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated the 2nd September saying, in regard to the first of the above-named subjects, that "the Government of India are still in consultation with the Burmah Government in regard to the project for a railway between Bliamo and Momein," and that "steps have meanwhile been taken to improve the roads between the two places. In respect to this announcement I am to say that the Committee of the East India and China Trade Section are gratified therewith, and trust the matter will progress to a favourable issue.
-ET
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