This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.
CHINA RAILWAYS.
CONFIDENTIAL.
[20521]
No. 1.
[June 15]
SECTION
23756
JUL 08
Sir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey,-(Received June 15.) (No. 176. Confidential.) Sir,
Peking, April 24, 1908. DURING my recent visit to Hong Kong, Sir F. Lugard informed me of a suggestion which had been made to him by Mr. Clementi of the Colonial service to examine the country between Changsha and Chungking with a view to possible railway construction.
I was not able at the time to offer any opinion as to the feasibility of the scheme, but after consultation with His Majesty's Consul-General at Hankow and examination of the military reports on the region in question, I am led to believe that it will present considerable difficulty.
I have the honour to inclose copy of Sir F. Lugard's despatch of the 9th April on the subject, and of my reply of to-day's date.
I have, &c. (Signed) J. N. JORDAN.
Sir,
Inclosure I in No. 1.
Governor Sir F. Lugard to Sir J. Jordan,
Hong Kong, April 9, 1908. WITH reference to our conversation of the 5th instant, I have the honour to submit to your Excellency the suggestion I then made, and which I understood that your Excellency would be willing to further by any means in your power.
2. Mr. Clementi, who, as your Excellency is aware, has just completed a very remarkable journey from Turkestan to South China, visited the city of Chengtu, which is the objective of the proposed railway from Hankow, viâ Chungking. He states that there is no question at all, but that the line from Chengtu to Chungking is greatly needed and will be built, and that the Chinese authorities have decided that any line connecting Chengtu with Hankow must pass through Chungking. The section between the latter place and Hankow as at present projected traverses the rocky and very difficult gorges to the north of the Yang-tsze River, a region, I understand, scantily inhabited and devoid of produce requiring railway carriage. Mr. Clementi suggests that it should instead proceed due east to meet the Siang River at Changsha, south of the Tung Ting Lake, and there unite with the projected Hankow-Canton line, by which connection will be made with Hankow. He is confident that this line will present less engineering difficulties than that at present proposed, and the portion to be constructed (leaving out of consideration the piece of the Hankow-Canton line from Changsha to Hankow) will be very considerably shorter. The total mileage from Chengtu to Hankow will probably be about the same by either route, but a line from Chungking to Changsha, especially if on survey it is found that the easiest route passes Chen Chou-fu, would offer facilities for the construction of a branch line to Kuei Yang-fu, the capital of the Province of Kwei Chou.
3. The Colony of Hong Kong is interested in this question, since it is probable that if the southern route were adopted, railway freights would be carried southwards to Canton and Hong Kong instead of westwards; the district of Chengtu would also benefit, since the total mileage from that place to the sea will be less by the southern route than by the western route.
4. I am aware that an Anglo-French Syndicate holds a Concession for the line from Hankow to Chungking, but I submit that no interference with their rights will be involved by adopting the route suggested, while expense will be saved, both in mileage to be constructed, and in the rate per mile.
Page 2
[1814 p-2]
810
This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.10.
CHINA RAILWAYS.
CONFIDENTIAL.
[20521]
No. 1.
[June 15]
SECTION
23756
į
! JUL 08
Sir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey,-(Received June 15.) (No. 176. Confidential.) Sir,
Peking, April 24, 1908. DURING my recent visit to Hong Kong, Sir F. Lugard informed me of a suggestion which had been made to him by Mr. Clementi of the Colonial service to examine the country between Changsha and Chungking with a view to possible railway construction.
I was not able at the time to offer any opinion as to the feasibility of the scheme, but after consultation with His Majesty's Consul-General at Hankow and examination of the military reports on the region in question, I am led to believe that it will present considerable difficulty.
I have the honour to inclose copy of Sir F. Lugard's despatch of the 9th April on the subject, and of my reply of to-day's date.
I have, &c. (Signed)
J. N. JORDAN.
|
Sir,
Inclosure I in No. 1.
Governor Sir F. Lugard to Sir J. Jordan,
Hong Kong, April 9, 1908. WITH reference to our conversation of the 5th instant, I have the honour to submit to your Excellency the suggestion I then made, and which I understood that your Excellency would be willing to further by any means in your power.
2. Mr. Clementi, who, as your Excellency is aware, has just completed a very remarkable journey from Turkestan to South China, visited the city of Chengtu, which is the objective of the proposed railway from Hankow, viâ Chungking. He states that there is no question at all, but that the line from Chengtu to Chungking is greatly needed and will be built, and that the Chinese authorities have decided that any line connecting Chengtu with Hankow must pass through Chungking. The section between the latter place and Hankow as at present projected traverses the rocky and very difficult gorges to the north of the Yang-tsze River, a region, I understand, scantily inhabited and devoid of produce requiring railway carriage. Mr. Clementi suggests that it should instead proceed due cast to meet the Siang River at Changsha, south of the Tung Ting Lake, and there unite with the projected Hankow-Canton line, by which connection will be made with Hankow. He is confident that this line will present less engineering difficulties than that at present proposed, and the portion to be constructed (leaving out of consideration the piece of the Hankow-Canton line from Changsha to Hankow) will be very considerably shorter. The total mileage from Chengtu to Hankow will probably be about the same by either route, but a line from Chungking to Changsha, especially if on survey it is found that the easiest route passes Chen Chou-fu, would offer facilities for the construction of a branch line to Kuei Yang-fu, the capital of the Province of Kwei Chou.
3. The Colony of Hong Kong is interested in this question, since it is probable that if the southern route were adopted, railway freights would be carried southwards to Canton and Hong Kong instead of westwards; the district of Chengtu would also benefit, since the total mileage from that place to the sea will be less by the southern route than by the western route.
4. I am aware that an Anglo-French Syndicate holds a Concession for the line from Hankow to Chungking, but I submit that no interference with their rights will be involved by adopting the route suggested, while expense will be saved, both in mileage to be constructed, and in the rate per mile.
[1814 p-2]
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