This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]
C.O.
46
1189
CHINA TRADE.
CONFIDENTIAL.
[38938]
No. 1.
[November 9.]-
SECTION 3 || JAN 09
(No. 267.) Sir,
Sir C. MacDonald to Sir Edward Grey,—(Received November 9.)
Tokió, October 4, 1908.
I HAVE the honour to transmit herewith a Report by Mr. Gordon, Acting British Vice-Consul at Dairen, on the Seoul-Wiju Railway, and the proposed new railway- bridge over the Yalu.
Mr. Gordon had my anthority for proceeding to his post by way of Seoul and Mukden so as to enable him to form some opinion of the workings of the South Manchurian Railway and its principal branch line before entering on his new duties at Dairen.
On receipt of Mr. Gordon's Report, I lost no time in calling the attention of Count Komura to that part of the Report dealing with the proposed bridge over the Yalu. I addressed a note to his Excellency informing him of my despatch No. 12 to you of the 20th January, the terms of which you were good enough to approve in your despatch No. 51 of the 28th February.
His Excellency promised to look into the matter and send me a reply before long. I am hopeful that, in the present mood of the Japanese Government in regard to questions affecting China, the answer may be satisfactory and the decision to construct a fixed bridge cancelled.
I have, &c.
(Signed) CLAUDE M. MacDONALD.
Inclosure 1 in No. 1.
Report by Acting Vice-Consul Gordon respecting the present Condition of the Seoul-Wiju Railway, and the proposed Yalu Railovy Bridge,
The Seoul-Wiju Railway.
AS the general features of this line have already been reported on by Sir A. Hosie and others, I propose to confine my remarks to the engineering conditions.
Though fast trains have been running over this line since the 1st April, the through train from Fusan covers the distance from Ryuzan to New Wiju, 3094 miles, in 15 hours 10 minutes--the railway is by no means in a complete condition, and trains have to pass over the temporary track for distances amounting in all to over one quarter of the total.
The new line is used from Seoul as far as Kaijo, a distance of 48 miles, with the exception of the bridge over the Kintsuko River (36 miles), which is at present crossed by a wooden trestle. The piers of the new iron bridge are well advanced, and it should be ready for use by the spring of 1909. From Kaijo to the 80th milepost, the old track is used. Two bridges near the 90th milepost are still unfinished, and the embankments are not yet completed as far as Shinbaku, 97 miles. From Shinbaku to about 1 mile before Kosui, 111 miles, the new line is not yet in use, but is regained at Kosui station, and followed to about 2 miles before Heijo (Pingyang), 164 miles. Between Koju, 1414 miles, all the sinalier bridges and culverts are of wood. The bridge over the Taidoko River just before Heijo is temporary; the new one is in course of construction.
Owing to the line having been broken by floods, I had to take a slow train to Heijo and stay the night there, and as it was dark by the time Koju was reached I was unable to observe this section of the line closely.
Near the 177th milepost, a bridge of 14 spans of 24 fect is nearly completed, and From Teshu, 196 iniles, the the girders are in readiness for placing in position. temporary track is used for a distance of 2 miles, and also for a similar distance from
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