Page 17. As last year the stream in Junk Channel was evidently increasing, I have much hope that a new survey would show a better situation and less work for dredgers.
Ship Channel Becoming Impassable. Kajow Ship Channel better than ever.
Bar.
§ XLV.
Page 16. "After having proceeded thus far in my Report, I received further soundings
"These soundings give additional evidence of the fact that before long the Ship Channel—the present fairway—must become entirely impassable for the deeper craft still calling at Shanghae. Owing to
the increased diversion of the stream from the main channel above Gough Island to the Junk Channel, a new bar is making itself more and more conspicuous just in front of the Kajow Creek.
"It may be taken as certain that this bar has come to stay and, no doubt, to grow higher.
There is no doubt that on the other hand the inner bar will feel more and more the influence of the new one."
Advantage of the Kajow Bar.
$ XLV.
Page 17. "Although the swallowing up of the Ship Channel and the formation of a new bar at the upper entrance is attended with a general increase in the power of the river, yet the bar at Kajow has one great advantage, viz., that it diverts the main stream during ebb tides to the much more desired direction, that is, to the Junk Channel. If the river is to be improved by regulation, a series of works, forming a new concave shore on the right shore would have to be made, by which to shift over to the left the main channel from a distance above Kajow.
"The forcing over of the main stream of a river like this, without causing new impediments, and without much interrupting navigation, is often found to be a very difficult task, even when using numbers of men skilled in such work. It becomes all the easier when, as is now the case, the whole of the stream tends to flow that way."
Bar.
No Kajow
Compare with the new chart of the Whangpoo River published by the Whangpoo Conservancy Office, which shows that where there formerly has been the Kajow Bar there is very deep water now. But the Dries' in the upper part of the Junk Channel have become regular islands covered with green.
"As there is no longer a Kajow Bar which diverts the main stream to the Junk Channel, but, on the contrary, the whole of the stream tends to flow through the Ship Channel, the opinion of M. de Rijke, which still holds good, must now be read as follows, viz: The forcing over of the main stream of a river like this, without causing new impediments, and without much interrupting navigation, will be a very difficult task, even when using numbers of men skilled in such work."
The present state of the river as described in the Quarterly Reports shows that the surmises on which the scheme of 1898 was based have not been verified. Exactly the contrary of M. de Rijke's surmises has happened, viz., the depth of the junk channel has not increased and the ship channel has not shallowed, but the depth of the ship channel has increased and the junk channel has entirely silted up. The scheme intended to make use of the junk channel because it was believed that the natural tendency of the river would be to flow through the junk channel. From the above comparison, based solely on observations published by the River Conservancy Board itself, it is obvious that exactly the contrary of what was generally expected has happened. The Whangpoo in its present fairway from the Arsenal to the Yang-tsze has throughout a depth of at least 18 feet at lowest water, the Kajow bar has given place to deep water, the ship channel in its whole length has improved very considerably, the inner bar is not only gradually decreasing (and that since a time when according to former statistics it ought to have been in its worst state), but is to-day only a short narrowing of the deep fairway.
From the foregoing we can only draw the following conclusions, and the following questions must necessarily arise:--
1. According to M. de Rijke's own words: "The forcing over of the main stream of a river like this, without causing new impediments, and without much interrupting navigation is often found to be a very difficult task, even when using numbers of men skilled in such work." The Kajow bar which would facilitate this "forcing over" has entirely disappeared, and there must now be a certain danger if it is tried. Is it under these circumstances advisable to run such an incalculable and enormous risk? Or what security does M. de Rijke's scheme give that in the course of its execution shipping will not be seriously hampered or even interrupted?
2. The expense of the ship channel's closing up under the present conditions will be—as admitted by the Quarterly Reports—much higher than at first estimated. Will this amount there are at the disposal twenty annual rates of 160,000 taels each.
under all circumstances suffice for the complete execution of M. de Rijke's scheme?
3. If these two questions cannot be answered with certainty, might it not be taken into serious consideration to make use of the natural tendency of the river, choosing the present fairway (ship channel), by improving and strengthening it? It is quite obvious that thereby the shipping can in no way be hampered and moreover the expenses will be considerably smaller.
We, the Undersigned, now respectfully ask the Imperial German Consulate-General to take such steps through the proper channels as will have the effect to elicit from M. de Rijke an exhaustive answer to the above questions.
We would like to mention that our misgivings are shared by experts.
In conclusion, it seems absolutely necessary that until our questions are satisfactorily answered no work is to be commenced which might unfavourably influence the ship channel fairway.
As this matter does not only concern the shipping, but is of vital importance to all Shanghae we have addressed the "Deutsche Vereinigung" and have requested the same to forward a translation of our Petition with the request of kind co-operation to the Chamber of Commerce and all Shanghae Associations interested in this question.
Sir,
Shanghae, October 26, 1907.
MELCHERS AND CO.
(Signed) Hamburg-Amerika Linie,
(Signed)
K. OLDOERP. SIEMSSEN AND Co. CARLOWITZ AND Co..
Per pro. Diederichsen, Jebsen, and Co.,
(Signed)
JOHANN JESSEN. MEYER AND Co.
Per pro. Sander, Wieler, and Co.,
(Signed) FRIEDRICHS.
Inclosure 3 in No. 1.
Shanghae Branch of China Association to Consul-General Sir P. Warren.
November 18, 1907. WITH reference to the letter addressed to the Consul-General for Germany by the German shipping firms, and supported by the "Deutsche Vereinigung" regarding
Page 7
D - [2846 h--5]
77
Page 17
6
Page 17. As last year the stream in Junk Channel was evidently increasing, I have much hope that a new survey would show a better situation and less work for dredgers."
Ship Channel Becoming Impassable. Kajow Ship Channel better than ever.
Bar.
§ XLV.
Page 16. "After having proceeded thus far in my Report, 1 received further soundings
"These soundings give additional evi- dence of the fact that before long the Ship Channel-the present fairway-must be come entirely impassable for the deeper craft still calling at Shanghae. Owing to
the increased diversion of the stream from the main channel above Gough Island to the Junk Channel, a new bar is making itself more and more conspicuous just in front of the Kajow Creek.
"It may be taken as certain that this bar has come to stay and, no doubt, to grow higher.
There is no doubt that on the other band the inner bar will feel more and more the influence of the new one.'
Advantage of the Kajow Bar.
$ XLV.
11
Page 17. "Although the swallowing up of the Ship Channel and the formation of a new bar at the upper entrance is attended with a general increased in the power of the river, yet the bar at Kajow bas one great advantage, via, that it diverts the main stream during ebb tides to the much more desired direction, that is, to the Junk Channel. If the river is to be improved by regulation, a series of works, forming a new concave shore on the right shore would have to be made, by which to shift over to the left the main channel from a distance above Kajow.
"The forcing over of the main stream of a river like this, without causing new impediments, and without much inter- rupting navigation, is often found to be a very difficult task, even when using numbers of men skilled in such work. It becomes all the easier when, as is now the case, the whole of the stream tends to flow that way."
፡፡
Bar.
No Kajow
Compare with the new chart of the Whangpoo River published by the Whangpoo Conservancy Office, which shows that where there formerly has been the Kajow Bar there is very deep water now. But the Dries' in the upper part of the Junk Channel have become regular islands covered with green."
"As there is no longer a Kajow Bar which diverts the main stream to the Junk Channel, but, on the contrary, the whole of the stream tends to flow through the Ship Channel, the opinion of M. de Rijke, which still holds good, must now be read as follows, viz: The forcing over of the main stream of a river like this, without causing new impediments, and without much interrupting navigation, will be a very difficult task, even when using numbers of men skilled in such
work.'
The present state of the river as described in the Quarterly Reports shows that the surmises on which the scheme of 1898 was based have not been verified. Exactly the contrary of M. de Rijke's surmises has happened, viz., the depth of the junk channel has not increased and the ship channel has not shallowed, but the depth of
7
the ship channel has increased and the junk channel has entirely silted up. The scheme intended to make use of the junk channel because it was believed that the natural tendency of the river would be to flow through the junk channel. From the above comparison, based solely on observations published by the River Conservancy Board itself, it is obvious that exactly the contrary of what was generally expected ́ has happened. The Whangpoo in its present fairway from the Arsenal to the Yang-tsze has throughout a depth of at least 18 feet at lowest water, the Kajow bar has given place to deep water, the ship channel in its whole length has improved very consider ably, the inner bar is not only gradually decreasing (and that since a time when according to former statistics it ought to have been in its worst state), but is to-day only a short narrowing of the deep fairway.
From the foregoing we can only draw the following conclusions, and the following questions must necessarily arise :--
1. According to M. de Rijke's own words : "The forcing over of the main stream of a river like this, without causing new impediments, and without much- interrupting navigation is often found to be a very difficult task, even when using numbers of men skilled in such work." The Kajow bar which would facilitate this "forcing over" has entirely disappeared, and there must now be a certain danger if it is tried. Is it under these circumstances advisable to run such an incalculable and enormous risk? Or what security does M. de Rijke's scheme give that in the course of its execution shipping will not be seriously hampered or even interrupted?
2. The expense of the ship channel's closing up under the present conditions will be-as admitted by the Quarterly Reports-much higher than at first estimated. Will this amount There are at the disposal twenty annual rates of 160,000 taels each.
under all circumstances suffice for the complete execution of M. de Rijke's scheme ?
3. If these two questions cannot be answered with certainty, might it not be taken into serious consideration to make use of the natural tendency of the river, choosing the present fairway (ship channel), by improving and strengthening it? It is quite obvious that thereby the shipping can in no way be hampered and moreover the expenses will be considerably smaller.
We, the Undersigned, now respectfully ask the Imperial German Consulate- General to take such steps through the proper channels as will have the effect to elicit from M. de Rijke an exhaustive answer to the above questions.
We would like to mention that our misgivings are shared by experts.
In conclusion, it seems absolutely necessary that until our questions are satisfac-· torily answered no work is to be commenced which might unfavourably influence the ship channel fairway.
As this matter does not only concern the shipping, but is of vital importance to all Shanghae we have addressed the "Deutsche Vereinigung" and have requested the same to forward a translation of our Petition with the request of kind co-operation to the Chamber of Commerce and all Shanghae Associations interested in this question.
Sir,
Shanghae, October 26, 1907.
MELCHERS AND CO.
(Signed) Hamburg-Amerika Linie,
(Signed)
K. OLDOERP. SIEMSSEN AND Co. CARLOWITZ AND Co..
Per pro. Diederichsen, Jebsen, and Co.,
(Signed)
JOHANN JESSEN. MEYER AND Co.
Per pro. Sander, Wieler, and Co.,
(Signed) FRIEDRICHS.
Inclosure 3 in No. 1.
Shanghae Branch of China Association to Consul-General Sir P. Warren.
November 18, 1907. WITH reference to the letter addressed to the Consul-General for Germany by the German shipping firms, and supported by the "Deutsche Vereinigung " regarding
D - [2846 h--5]
77
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.