CO129-559-1 Canton - Hankow Railways 15-1-1936 - 23-6-1936 — Page 48

18.

opening of the line south should lead to considerable

stimulation at the Mine, and I am of opinion that coal will

move from Ping Shiang to Canton and Hong Kong in large

quantities if the rail rates do not exceed 14 cents (Chinese)

per ton-mile. There appears to be no reason why this rate

should not prove profitable to both railway and mine. Long

hauls of 500 and 600 miles are involved in coal movement

from the Ping Shiang mines to Canton and Hong Kong respect-

ively, but I am informed by Major C.M. Manners, Assistant

Manager of the Hong Kong & Kowloon Wharf & Godown Company,

who was once connected with the ine, that transportation

costs of Hong Kong $8 per ton are well within the capacity

of this kind of coal which besides being of first class

quality is one of the finest in the world for the production

of coke.

44. There appears to be no doubt that large quantities

of wood oil, cereals, fruit and eggs will move south by

rail as soon as the railway is completed, whilst metals

and mineral ores will be transported in increasing quanti-

ties as soon as the various mines are exploited. Conversely

such commodities as salt, sugar, flour, oils, manufactured

and piece goods, and machinery should be transported by the

return haul.

45. Passenger traffic between all points in the North,

the upper Yangtze valley, and Canton and Hong Kong will be

stimulated considerably by the completion of the line, as

previously a round-about route via Shanghai had to be taken.

The line is sufficiently beautiful to attract tourists,

provided suitable accommodation is provided at stop-overs.

The carrying of higher class passenger traffic must depend

to a great extent on speed, so that the 40 hours overall

timing between Canton and Hankow at present contemplated

cannot be regarded with satisfaction. This timing will no