4
[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]
(No. 68.) Sir,
Inclosure 3 in No. 1.
Acting Consul-General Fox to Sir J. Jordan.
Canton, December 4, 1908. WITH reference to my despatch No. 46 of the 17th September, 1908, on the subject of the Canton-Haukow Railway, I have the honour to forward a further report by Mr. Assistant Pratt on the progress of the line.
I have, &c.
(Signed)
HARRY H. FOX.
Inclosure 4 in No. 1.
Further Notes by Mr. Pratt on the Progress of the Canton-Hankow Railway,
IN his Intelligence Report for the Quarter ended 30th September, 1908, Mr. Porter reported the opening of the line to Ngin Chan Au on the third section. The track has now been extended to Yuen Tam on the fourth section, making a total length of 44 miles of rail. An opening ceremony was held on the 17th November at Yuen Tam, and it is understood that, the line having reached this town, the first of any size from the Canton, and high hopes are held that more promising passenger receipts will be recorded. As far as I could observe when on a trip on the newly-opened section, but little through traffic takes place as yet with Canton. I took the opportunity to call on Mr. Li the resident Section Engineer, who told me that the daily receipts at Yuen Tam averaged about 40 dollars, representing roughly some 100 passengers. A small traffic in pigs, he said, had also started with various stations on the line. Goods traffic, however, was very much hampered by the lack, at present, of goods cars, but a large order had been placed in America, and the cars were being expected.
The information as to receipts, if accurate, would seem to auger well for the success of the new station. It must be taken into consideration that the information was given only ten days after the opening, and that the people are totally unaccustomed to, and, as yer, probably unappreciative of the conveniences of railway travelling. With a little encouragement this ought to be got over. The Direction, indeed, would seem to have realized this, for they have chosen Yuen Tam for the building of their first permanent station (the platform of which is already finished). They are also running two through trains daily in each direction at very moderate rates.
It will be observed that the estimate of the foreign engineers for the opening of Yuan Tam (see previous Report forwarded in Mr. Fox's No. 46 of the 17th September last) has been carried out almost to a day. Any credit that may reflect on them for this punctuality makes one regret all the more the news (gathered from private sources) that some of them intend leaving the Company in the spring when their contracts expire. As far as one can ascertain, this is due to the annoyances they are subjected to by the general lack of funds occasioned by continued difficulties with the second call.
Despite the apparent haste with which the line has been pushed on, the track appears to be well laid, all the curves and dangerous places, together with the majority of the Mong Sha end of the track being stone ballasted. In this direction there is a marked contrast with the Samshui line. Permanent bridges are also being slowly but surely substituted for the temporary ones.
The opening of the line for another six miles to Kong Hau, 50 miles from Canton, is promised in a-month's time, i.c., the end of December. As this also is a town of some size on a creek, navigable to small junks only, a few miles from the North River, the local traffic with Yuan Tam should be remunerative.
Copies of the latest time-table and tariff issued by the Company are attached. Canton, December 2, 1908.
CHINA RAILWAYS.
CONFIDENTIAL.
[2770]
No. 1.
Sir Edward Grey to Sir J. Jordan,
[January 22.]
SECTION 1.
(No. 22.) (Telegraphic.) P.
Foreign Office, January 22, 1909. CANTON-HANKOW Railway Loan. See your telegram No. 29 of the 21st
instant.
Yesterday the British and Chinese Corporation communicated to
me the telegram from Bland. It was yesterday decided at a Board meeting to suggest to the German and French groups that the whole loan should be intrusted to the Hong Kong and Shanghae Bank, all details of the issue to be arranged by this Bank on the basis probably of three issues of 1,000,000l. each being made at London, Berlin, and Paris respectively, the issue to be a purely financial operation. The question of construction would be left to be dealt with at a subsequent date. It does not now seem practicable to exclude the Germans. Mr. Addis will proceed to Paris and Berlin for the purpose of endeavouring to arrange matters on Sunday next, the 24th.
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