CO129-382 - Public Offices - 1911 — Page 242

240

with the stations on the Yush-Han or North China Rail-

ways. A glass covered roof shelters the platform up

to the entrance to the carriages.

In all respects

Ta Sha T'ou station fully meets with all requirements.

A special train of sight coaches, the accommodation

of which was strained to the utmost, had been provided

to convey the guests to Tong Mei, twenty-five miles

down the line, lack of time preventing a visit to

Hsien Ts'un, the end of the section.

travelled at an average speed of 35-40 miles, and the

The train

excellence of the construction of the line was evident

in the smoothness and freedom from jolting which were

experienced. After a brief stay at Tong Mei a return

was made to the Ta Sha T'ou where a luncheon was laid

out in the main waiting room and on the platform.

A speech was made by Tactal Sa, of the Bureau of

Foreign Affairs, on behalf of the Acting Governor

General welcoming the guests and toasting the prosperity

Replies were made by Mr. Lindsey, of

of the railway.

the British section and by the Managing Director and

(

latter commented on the delay that had been caused by

protracted clan fights but expressed a hope that the

The

two sections would be linked up in July 1911.

chief limiting factors were the two big bridges over

the East River at Sheklung and the Tung Kuan River; the

former however was practically completed, all the gird-

ers being on the piers, while the bridge on the Tung

Kuan River, which was somewhat longer, was in an ad-

vanced state. Mr. Grove added that all the earthwork

was finished and all the small bridges and culverts com-

pleted so that all that remained was ballasting and plate-

laying.

Further speeches were made by His Majesty's Consul

General wishing success to railway enterprise in China,

and by the representative of the British and Chinese

Corporation besides formal speeches in honour of the

guests. There were no loyal toasts.

The end of the luncheon closed the proceedings.

Negotiations which are likely to prove very pro-

tracted have been commenced for the purchase of the land

the Engineer-in-Chief of the Chinese Section.

The

latter

necessary