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[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.TC O
10
AFFAIRS OF CHINA.
CONFIDENTIAL.
[33680]
No. 1.
40452
[October
NOV 16
SECTION 5.
7.
(No. 350.) Sir,
Mr. Carnegie to Sir Edward Grey.--(Received October 6.)
Peking, August 20, 1906. I HAVE the honour to forward to you herewith copy of a Report by Mr. W. J. Garnett, Third Secretary to His Majesty's Legation, on the Peking-Nankow section of the Peking-Kalgan Railway. It is hoped that this section will be opened to traffic in a month's time.
I have, &c.
(Signed) LANCELOT D. CARNEGIE
Inclosure in No. 1.
Memorandum by Mr. Garnett respecting the Peking-Kalgan Railway.
ON the 19th August I visited the Peking-Nankow section of the Peking-Kalgan Railway, in company with Mr. Mayers, Assistant Chinese Secretary of His Majesty's Legation, and Mr. Garstin, Chancery Assistant. Though the line is not yet open for traffic, our visit was possible owing to the courtesy of the native engineer of the line, and of one of the engineers of the Imperial North China Railways, who lent me his private car, which was placed at the end of a construction train.
The Peking-Kalgan line will be, when completed, 400 li (130 miles) in length, of which at present only 35 miles are constructed-ie., to within a mile of the village of Nankow. Work was commenced a year ago, and it is hoped that the whole line will be finished in another three years' time; it is also hoped that the portion already completed will be opened to traffic by the end of next month. The section already completed is by far the easiest one, crossing as it does the plain to the north of Peking, and as Nankow lies at the foot of the mountains, it is not till this village is reached, and the next section-which includes the crossing of the famous Nankow Pass-begun, that the real engineering difficulties have to be faced. The work throughout this branch of the Imperial Chinese Northern Railways is under the entire management of a Chinaman, and the services of no European or American employé are utilized. This Chinaman was first trained in America, and later under Mr. Kinder, C.M.G., of the Imperial North China Railways. The slow progress already made over the easiest portion of the railway makes it doubtful whether the whole line can be finished within four years from the commencement of work. The only difficulties at present encountered have been the crossing of the Peking-Hankow Railway and of the narrow streams, the Shaho and Pei Shaho (Northern Shaho).
The latter are at present traversed by trestle bridges, but stone ones are in course of construction. There is no difficulty about them. The Pehan Railway is crossed in a curious manner, as, soon after the station of Kuangan Men (the Kuang Gate of Peking) is passed, the line ascends to cross the other railway, and then, having achieved its purpose, descends again with as steep a gradient as used on the ascent, the whole accomplishment resembling a "camel-back" bridge.
Gauge. This is the same as is in use throughout the Imperial North China Railways-i.e., the 4-ft. 8-in. gauge.
Raits. The rails used are partly French, partly Belgian--the latter of the Cockerill Works. A rail is 30 feet in length.
Sleepers.The sleepers are of wood (Oregon pine).
Embankment.-Recent heavy rains have considerably damaged the earthwork, which is badly cracked, and even washed away in certain places, and there is no doubt that this will be a perpetual source of trouble.
Time. The journey from Fengtai to Nankow takes at present six hours and twenty minutes, and it would seem that it is not contemplated as yet reducing this, as a time-table has been prepared, by which every train will take as long. This time-table arranges for as many as sixteen trains per diem to Nankow.
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