CO129-342 - Governor Lugard & Public Offices - 1907 [11-12] — Page 321

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trade alone by getting the oil in bulk up country

and I foresee a very good trade in this quarter as

new ground will be tapped all along the line. The

new Standard oil works are rather far off for a

siding just et present.

I have not been able to get any figures for trade

between Hong Kong and Shek Lung or any intermediate

places except Sam Chun, but learing out sam Chun, I

should think that 200 tons per day each way a very

small estimate of the traffic which would come to the

Railway from the Chinese Section.

Taking this at 3 cents per ton per mile and the

actual cost of transport at 1 cents the figures are

as follows:-

Gross Earnings

Working Expenses

Profit

₤262

$131

$131

The actual traffic to and from Sam chun and Hong Kong

is about 100 tons per day each way and the rate which

the Railway could afford to charge is 5 cents per

ton per mile which would work out as follows:-

Gross Farnings

Working Expenses

$242*00 $ 66.00

$176.00

Profit

I do not think that much can be looked for from

the goods traffic on market days in the new territory.

Such goods as are gold in the market will have to be

considered as personal luggage if any passenger

traffic is to be encouraged and it will be impossible

to be very strict on this account.

However I should think a 30 ton wagon might be

kept

reas