CO129-492 - Governor Sir Clementi - 1925 [12] - 1926 [1-5] — Page 535

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estimated that "the cost of construction should not

exceed £6,500 per mile, earthwork being light and

culverts few, and this figure should include the cost of

land. For the greater part the line would go over rico

fields and many graves should not be required to be removed". According to a report, Lated the 5th June, 1924, by Mr. B. T. B. Boothby, then Engineer-in-Chief of the Chinese Section of the Kowloon-Canton Railway, ninety per

cent of the land along this first location has already

been purchased by the Canton-Hankow Railway. This location

would therefore, be economical and it would be quite

satisfactory for through goods traffic; but it is unfortup -

ately situated for serving Canton suburban traffic and

thero is no suitable site on it for a new central station.

The original estimate by the Canton-Kowloon Railway for

the construction of the Junction Line as located by Mr.

Grove was $300,000; but Mr. Boothby thought that, under

conditions existing at Canton in 1924, the cost would

probably be over $500,000.

After the demolition of the Canton city-walls,

Mr. Boothby proposed in January, 1920, a new location

for the Junction Line, branching off from the Kowloon

Canton Railway at a point about one quarter of a milo

east of the Tai-Sha-Tau termings, crossing the East

Parade Ground, passing wost of the Mint, entering the city

just south of the North East Gate, leaving it just south of the North Gate and joining the Centon-Hankow Railway at

Sai-Chuen station. This location would havo beon about

3 miles in length one mile shortor than Mr. Crove's location. But in June, 1924, Mr. Boothby reported that there had been great development in tho construction of roads and buildings in the north of Canton City, that the value of lend had constantly appreciated, that the East