CO129-331 - Public Offices - 1905 — Page 35

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district, would bring the length of the line up to

something like 140 miles; the distance by water 18

under ninety miles, which the steamers could easily

cover in six hours or less. The latter carry

Chinese passengers the whole distance for twenty

cents a head, and silk for a dollar a bale. Such

through rates could hardly be remunerative to the

railway. The latter will probably derive most of

its earnings from local traffic between Canton and

Shek-lung on the one hand, and on to Watchow, should

a branch line be constructed; and between Shek-lung

and Kowloon on the other; and there seems no reason

to doubt that it would prove a very profitable in-

vestment.

(e)

Canton-lacao Line. The only other line of

railway which has so far been discussed is the Canton

Macao Railway, the agreement for which was signed

last November by the Portuguese Minister in Peking,

but which has so far not been ratified, and which it

is now rumoured is never likely to be. This though

nominally a Portuguese undertaking, is in reality on

tirely controlled by the Chinese. The two principal

shareholders