[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]
2
Inclosure 2 in No. 1.
Extract from the "Shengking Daily Newspaper" of April 10, 1908.
(Translation.)
THE engineers appointed to survey the Changchun and Kirin Railway route, namely, Lo Kuo Jui, Taotai, and Mr. Ku Chih Liang (Japanese), having finished their survey, arrived back in Mukden a few days ago, and are at present engaged in drawing plans for the construction of the line. These plans, we hear, are almost finished, and on their completion the two engineers will confer as to the details of the scheme, which will then be submitted to the Wai-wu Pu and the Japanese Minister at Peking, so that they may be in a position to sign an Agreement for the undertaking.
According to our information, the following is roughly the line of route to be taken. Starting from the north wall of Changchun, the line will pass to the south of Shih Li-pu, Ma Tou-shan, and Chuan-yuan-kou, and reach a point 25 English miles south of the present main road. In the neighbourhood of the Ta Shui River it will cross the main road at right angles, and will then sweep round the Lao Yeh Ling to the north, and, passing through San Tao-lingtzu and Erh Tao-lingtzu, be brought to the northern gate of Kirin city, whence it will be extended to Lian Hua Pao.
The line will be 75 English miles in length, and the cost of construction approximately 7,000,000 dollars. The station outside the northern gate will be for passengers only, and the station at Lian Hua Pao for the discharge and loading of cargo.
We have further heard that, after the contract has been signed at Peking, a further survey in the autumn of this year will be necessary before the work of construction is commenced; this will take two or three months, so that in all probability work will not be begun on the line until the spring of 1909.
It will take about one year to finish the construction,
CHINA RAILWAYS.
CONFIDENTIAL.
[18042]
[May 26.]
SECTION 4.
No. 1.
Sir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey.-(Received May 26.)
(No. 187.) Sir,
Peking, April 29, 1908. I HAD the honour to describe in my despatch No. 127 of the 16th ultimo the efforts made to secure the engagement of Mr. Kinder or one of his subordinates as Engineer of the Hupei section of the Hankow-Canton Railway.
It has long appeared evident that the Chinese Government possess in its staff of British Engineers on the Northern Railway a body of experienced men, whose services should be utilized in constructing new lines; and it is encouraging to see that two of their number have been appointed recently to construct and survey new undertakings.
Of these the first is Mr. T. W. T. Tuckey, who has been selected to build the southern section of the Tien-tsin-Pukow Railway at a salary of 2,500l. per annum.
The second case is that of Mr. D. P. Ricketts, who has been ordered to survey a line from Honan-fu to Sian-fu, in Shensi.
As regards the Chekiang Railway, I had hopes also that an Engineer from the Northern establishment might be chosen, till I learnt from His Majesty's Consul-General at Hankow that the post was being offered to Mr. St. George Moore, a British Engineer employed at Hanyang in erecting waterworks, to whom I have alluded in my telegram No. 84 of the 21st instant.
Since this gentleman's reputation is well established at Hankow, it seemed to me preferable to support his engagement on the Hupei line, where the Chinese Administration are free to choose an Engineer of any nationality, rather than to encourage his candidature for the Chekiang Railway, where our position is secured by the stipulation in the Loan Agreement to employ a British Engineer.
I was prepared, therefore, on being approached by Mr. Collinson, the Engineer who built the Shanghae-Nanking Railway, to recommend his services to the Viceroy at Nanking, who, he informed me, was already favourably inclined towards him.
In my conversation with his Excellency Tuan Fang at Nanking, on the 13th April, he himself introduced the question of employing Mr. Collinson, and expressed himself in favour of such a course, though he admitted that the Kiangsu and Chekiang Directors had other views; and I am afraid that Mr. Collinson's connection with the Shanghae-Nanking line, which the Chinese here persist in regarding as an extravagant undertaking, will militate against his chance of employment on the Shanghae-Hangchow-Ningpo line.
At Hankow I found the position somewhat delicate. Mr. St. George Moore had received informal offers of a dual appointment as Engineer of both the Hupei and Chekiang lines.
I pointed out to him and to the Viceroy Chao that such a combination of duties could hardly prove satisfactory, and that the British and Chinese Corporation might object to it as conflicting with the spirit of the Chekiang Loan Agreement. The Viceroy did not dissent from this opinion, and gave me an assurance that he would conclude an Agreement with Mr. Moore for the Hupei line before he vacated the Viceroyalty.
Mr. Moore was also most reasonable in his attitude, and assured me that he would take no action without consulting His Majesty's Consul-General, in whose hands the arrangements for completing Mr. Moore's Agreement were placed.
The latter informs me in a letter, dated the 25th instant, that Mr. Moore has refused the Chekiang offer, and that negotiations were proceeding favourably for his engagement by Hupei.
I have, &c. (Signed) J. N. JORDAN.
[2972 cc-4]
75
[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]
2
Inclosure 2 in No. 1.
Extract from the "Shengking Daily Newspaper" of April 10, 1908.
(Translation.)
THE engineers appointed to survey the Changchun and Kirin Railway route, namely, Lo Kuo Jui, Taotai, and Mr. Ku Chih Liang (Japanese), having finished their survey, arrived back in Mukden a few days ago, and are at present engaged in drawing plans for the construction of the line. These plans, we hear, are almost finished, and on their completion the two engineers will confer as to the details of the scheme, which will then be submitted to the Wai-wu Pu and the Japanese Minister at Peking, so that they may be in a position to sign an Agreement for the undertaking.
According to our information, the following is roughly the line of route to be taken. Starting from the north wall of Changchun, the line will pass to the south of Shih Li-pu, Ma Tou-shan, and Chuan-yuan-kou, and reach a point 25 English miles south of the present main road. In the neighbourhood of the Ta Shui River it will cross the main road at right angles, and will then sweep round the Lao Yeh Ling to the north, and, passing through San Tao-lingtzu and Erh Tao-lingtzu, be brought to the northern gate of Kirin city, whence it will be extended to Lian Hua Pao.
The line will be 75 English miles in length, and the cost of construction approximately 7,000,000 dollars. The station outside the northern gate will be for passengers only, and the station at Lian Hua Pao for the discharge and loading of cargo.
We have further heard that, after the contract has been signed at Peking, a further survey in the autumn of this year will be necessary before the work of construction is commenced; this will take two or three months, so that in all probability work will not be begun on the line until the spring of 1909.
It will take about one year to finish the construction,
CHINA RAILWAYS.
CONFIDENTIAL.
[18042]
[May 26.]
SECTION 4.
No. 1.
Sir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey.-(Received May 26.)
(No. 187.) Sir,
Peking, April 29, 1908. I HAD the honour to describe in my despatch No. 127 of the 16th ultimo the efforts made to secure the engagement of Mr. Kinder or one of his subordinates as Engineer of the Hupei section of the Hankow-Canton Railway.
It has long appeared evident that the Chinese Government possess in its staff of British Engineers on the Northern Railway a body of experienced men, whose services should be utilized in constructing new lines; and it is encouraging to see that two of their number have been appointed recently to construct and survey new undertakings.
Of these the first is Mr. T. W. T. Tuckey, who has been selected to build the southern section of the Tien-tsin-Pukow Railway at a salary of 2,5001. per annum.
The second case is that of Mr. D. P. Ricketts, who has been ordered to survey a line from Honan-fu to Isian-fu, in Shensi.
As regards the Chekiang Railway, I had hopes also that an Engineer from the Northern establishment might be chosen, till I learnt from His Majesty's Consul- General at Hankow that the post was being offered to Mr. St. George Moore, a British Engineer employed at Hanyang in erecting waterworks, to whom I have alluded in my telegram No. 84 of the 21st instant.
Since this gentleman's reputation is well established at Hankow, it seemed to me preferable to support his engagement on the Hupei line, where the Chinese Adminis- tration are free to choose an Engineer of any nationality, rather than to encourage his candidature for the Chekiang Railway, where our position is secured by the stipulation in the Loan Agreement to employ a British Engineer.
I was prepared, therefore, on being approached by Mr. Collinson, the Engineer who built the Shanghae-Nanking Railway, to recommend his services to the Viceroy at Nanking, who, he informed me, was already favourably inclined towards him.
In my conversation with his Excellency Tuan Fang at Nanking, on the 13th April, be himself introduced the question of employing Mr. Collinson, and expressed himself in favour of such a course, though he admitted that the Kiangsu and Chekiang Directors had other views; and I am afraid that Mr. Collinson's connection with the Shanghae-Nanking line, which the Chinese here persist in regarding as an extravagant undertaking, will militate against his chance of employment on the Shanghae- Hangchow-Ningpo line.
At Hankow I found the position somewhat delicate. Mr. St. George Moore had received informal offers of a dual appointment as Engineer of both the Hupei and Chekiang lines.
I pointed out to him and to the Viceroy Chao that such a combination of duties could hardly prove satisfactory, aud that the British and Chinese Corporation might object to it as conflicting with the spirit of the Chekiang Loan Agreement. The Viceroy did not dissent from this opinion, and gave me an assurance that he would conclude an Agreement with Mr. Moore for the Hupei line before he vacated the Viceroyalty.
Mr. Moore was also most reasonable in his attitude, and assured me that he would take no action without consulting His Majesty's Consul-General, in whose hands the arrangements for completing Mr. Moore's Agreement were placed.
The latter informs me in a letter, dated the 25th instant, that Mr. Moore has refused the Chekiang offer, and that negotiations were proceeding favourably for his engagement by Hupei.
I have, &c. (Signed) J. N. JORDAN.
[2972 cc-4]
75
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