operations which are being carried out on behalf of the Whangpoo Conservancy Board, I have the honour to state that, in a letter from the Secretary of the Board which appeared in the "North China Daily News" of the 12th instant, it is explained that the reason why the dredged material is not measured on shore but in the barges is that the contractors did not quote tenders for pumping the mud from the dredgers direct into special reservoirs, in which case the quantity would have had to be measured on shore, but only for the alternative method permitted by the dredging contract of discharging it into barges to be measured therein and then dumped.
The system in operation is therefore absolutely in accordance with the terms of the contractors' agreement.
I have, &c.
(Signed) F. E. WILKINSON.
This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]
C. O.
AFFAIRS OF CHINA.
CONFIDENTIAL.
132
[October 14, 1908]
SECTION 3, 2 NOV 08
[35631]
(No. 423.) Sir,
No. 1.
Sir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey.--(Received October 14.)
Peking, September 21, 1908. WITH reference to my despatch No. 384 of the 1st instant, I have the honour to transmit to you herewith copy of a despatch from His Majesty's Consul-General at Shanghae regarding the criticisms which continue to be passed upon the Whangpoo Conservancy scheme by German experts.
Although M. de Rijke is encountering greater difficulties than he anticipated in the prosecution of his task, and his efforts have not yet succeeded in opening the Junk Channel to steamer navigation, the Conservancy Board retain full confidence in his capacity to carry through the undertaking, and he himself continues to be sanguine of final success.
I have, &c.
(Signed) J. N. JORDAN.
(No. 88.) Sir,
Inclosure in No. 1.
Acting Consul-General Wilkinson to Sir J. Jordan.
Shanghae, September 14, 1908. I HAVE the honour to inclose a translation by the "North China Daily News" of an article in this week's issue of "Der Ostasiatische Lloyd," in which the present scheme for the conservancy of the Whangpoo is again subjected to severe criticism.
The writer of the article, who, it is generally assumed, is M. Schellhoss, the German engineer whose previous strictures on M. de Rijke's scheme were the cause last November of an agitation for an inquiry on the part of the German shipping firms at Shanghae, maintains that the report of the Conservancy Board for June quarter is further evidence that, as has been maintained all along by German experts, not one of the predictions of the Chief Engineer is being fulfilled. In other words, that the attempt to direct the ebb stream which now runs through the Ship Channel into the Junk Channel by means of dredging and training works has proved a failure, since, in spite of all efforts, the Junk Channel keeps persistently silting up, and that in consequence there is considerable danger that the Ship Channel will become closed before the Junk Channel can be used.
The writer also contends that the present scheme is proving too costly to complete and maintain.
There can be no doubt that M. de Rijke is encountering more difficulties in carrying out his scheme of diverting the ebb stream from one channel to the other than he anticipated. When, as Sir Pelham Warren had the honour to report to you on the 3rd ultimo, His Majesty's ship "Cadmus" passed through the Junk Channel on the 9th July and found no less than 19 feet of water at half tide, it was generally understood that the new channel was from that date open to steamer navigation. Although the Junk Channel could, even now, be used by most steamers visiting Shanghae, experience has shown that to allow it to be so used would interfere very seriously with the dredging operations which are being carried on. It has therefore been closed again to steamers, and the official opening is not expected to take place until next spring, or possibly even later, as, in consequence of the recent scandals in connection with the dredging operations, work is no longer carried on, as formerly, at night. The end of the present year was, however, the earliest possible date by which M. de Rijke anticipated that the Junk Channel would be open to steamer navigation, so that the delay cannot be considered
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operations which are being carried out on behalf of the Whangpoo Conservancy Board, I have the honour to state that, in a letter from the Secretary of the Board which appeared in the North China Daily News" of the 12th instant, it is explained that the reason why the dredged material is not measured on shore but in the barges is that the contractors did not quote tenders for pumping the mud from the dredgers direct into special reservoirs, in which case the quantity would have had to be measured on shore, but only for the alternative method permitted by the dredging contract of discharging it into barges to be measured therein and then dumped.
The system in operation is therefore absolutely in accordance with the terms of the contractors' agreement.
I have, &c.
(Signed) F. E. WILKINSON.
This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]
C. O.
AFFAIRS OF CHINA.
CONFIDENTIAL.
132
[October 14052
SECTION 3, 2 NOV 08
[35631]
(No. 423.) Sir,
No. 1.
Sir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey.--(Received October 14.)
Peking, September 21, 1908. WITH reference to my despatch No. 384 of the 1st instant, I have the honour to transmit to you herewith copy of a despatch from Ilis Majesty's Consul-General at Shanghae regarding the criticisms which continue to be passed upon the Whangpoo Conservancy scheme by German experts.
Although M. de Rijke is encountering greater difficulties than he anticipated in the prosecution of his task, and his efforts have not yet succeeded in opening the Junk Channel to steamer navigation, the Conservancy Board retain full confidence in his capacity to carry through the undertaking, and he himself continues to be sanguine of final success.
I have, &c.
(Signed) J. N. JORDAN.
(No. 88.) Sir,
Inclosure in No. 1.
Acting Consul-General Wilkinson to Sir J. Jordan.
Shanghae, September 14, 1908. I HAVE the honour to inclose a translation by the "North China Daily News of an article in this week's issue of "Der Ostasiatische Lloyd," in which the present scheme for the conservancy of the Whangpoo is again subjected to severe criticism.
The writer of the article, who, it is generally assumed, is M. Schellhoss, the German engineer whose previous strictures on M. de Rijke's scheme were the cause last November of an agitation for an inquiry on the part of the German shipping firms at Shanghae, maintains that the report of the Conservancy Board for June quarter is further evidence that, as has been maintained all along by German experts, not one of the predictions of the Chief Engineer is being fulfilled. In other words, that the attempt to direct the ebb stream which now runs through the Ship Channel into the Junk Channel by means of dredging and training works has proved a failure, since, in spite of all efforts, the Junk Channel keeps persistently silting up, and that in consequence there is considerable danger that the Ship Channel will become closed before the Junk Channel can be used.
The writer also contends that the present scheme is proving too costly to complete and maintain.
There can be no doubt that M. de Rijke is encountering more difficulties in carrying out his scheme of diverting the ebb stream from one channel to the other than he anticipated. When, as Sir Pelham Warren had the honour to report to yon on the 3rd ultimo, His Majesty's ship "Cadmus" passed through the Junk Channel on the 9th July and found no less than 19 feet of water at half tide, it was generally understood that the new channel was from that date open to steamer navigation. Although the Junk Channel could This, however, has not proved to be the case. even now be used by most steamers visiting Shanghac, experience has shown that to allow it to be so used would interfere very seriously with the dredging operations which are being carried on. It has therefore been closed again to steamers, and the official opening is not expected to take place until next spring, or possibly even later, as, in consequence of the recent scandals in connection with the dredging operations, work is no longer carried on, as formerly, at night. The end of the present year was, however, the earliest possible date by which M. de Rijke anticipated that the Junk Channel would be open to steamer navigation, so that the delay cannot be considered * Not printed.
(1982 - -31
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