CO129-530-4 Development of Canton to Kowloon railway 1-12-1930 - 1-12-1930 — Page 33

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yourself Now Sosta Sales hardwood is ever so much

superior and aheaper in the long ran". Again on the

8th April #r. Stratten reported to the Managing

Director "wriginally this line was laid with alespers

supplied by Kesars, Bowden Brothers and many of the

original sleepers are still in the track after 19

years service. This is itself speaks well of them.

Main in 1920 renewala were undertaken and inesa

aloepers are still in very good condition; walle

sgain in 1986 Kruen (Singapore) slompare wore ordered

owing to cheapnese but I regret to say these sleepers

do not stand the climatic conditions, as most of them

have deteriorated a great deal already in the enort

space of two years". Vr. io has, hisself, pointed

out to the

Purchasing Commission the snormous #gonomy

which can be effected by buying exelasively the sleeper

of kesere. Bowden Brothers.

8. It will be remembered that in the memorandum

of Mr. Choy, which formed an enclosure to Foreign

office despaton No. 726 of 20th July, 1989, to the

Legation, great emphasis was laid on the vital

importance of maintaining a rapid train service

between Canton and Boagkong. It was argued, and

prossuly correctly, that only in this way could the

railway successfully compete with steamere,

Nevertheless owing to the lack of provision of new

sleepers it was found zecessary on the 25th June to

reduce speed on seotiome of the line from thirty to

twenty miles per hour. Mr. Stratton now informe me

thet se the track between Caok Lung and Shan Cham im

getting/