1928-12-21 — Page 4

t Your Service

MAN-very often hard to satisfy,

but always a happy recipient of a thoughtful and useful present.

What will you give him this Christmas? We cannot illustrate everything we have so may we suggest you pay us an early 'visit and choose at your leisure from the delightful selection of stylish and useful presents.

Do

your Christmas shopping early

Mackintosh's

MEN'S

WEAR SPECIALISTS.

DAIRY FARM NEWS

EASONABLE PECIALTIES

S

FOR

ATURDAY

BLACK PUDDINGS

60 cents per lb.

HAGGIS (REAL MACKAY)

60 cents per lb.

Don't Miss This Treat.

THE DAIRY FARM, ICE & COLD STORAGE CO., LTD.

GET YOUR GIFTS FOR "HIM"

AT

WHITEAWAYS

Our Christmas display in our Men's Outfitting Depart ment includes the very latest in TIES, HANDKER-

CHIEFS, SOCKS, PULLOVERS, ETC., ETC.

SILK HANDKERCHIEFS

A beautiful range of Pure Silk Bandkerchiefs-in-all the newest-

dexigus.

$2.75 to $4.95 each.

TIES & HANDKERCHIEFS

To Match

$8.50 to $6.50.

SOCKS

The newest designs in all Wool, Wool and Silk, Art Silk and Wool, ets, etc.

A splendid assortment to, chocsa from.

Price from $1.50 to $3.50 pair GOLF HOSE $1.75 to $7.50 pair.

CALL AND INSPECT

WHITEAWAY, LAIDLAW & CO., LTD.

THE HONG KONG DAILY PRESS, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 21st, 1928.

HONG KONG VEHICULAR FERRY.

POINTS FOR AND AGAINST.

..

ESTIMATES OF EXPENDITURE AND REVENUE.

At yesterday's meeting ofthe Legislative Council a paper was laid on the table in which a "detailed account is given of the estimated cost of a vehicular ferry service between Hong Kong

and Kowloon. The report reads in part as follows:-

A vehicular ferry appears the most practical assistance to facilitate vehicular communication between Hong Kong and Kowloon. A bridge over the harbour would be impracticable. A tunnel under the härbour has been considered, but the cost of its construction would be very much greater than the amount' required for the provision of a vehicular ferry service. A harbour tunnel would also involve heavy recurrent charges for main "tenance, ventilation, drainage and

lighting...

The Director of Public Works submitted the following proposal on October 20th, 1926, which pro- vides for a vehicular ferry service between Berths at Jordan Road. Kowloon; and Murray Head, Heng Kong; the distance between ferry piers being about 13 miles.

f

Ferry Fier Sites. Jordan Road, Kowloon.The pro- posed site occupies an area of about 125,000 square feet on the south side of Jordan Road and abuts on Ad- miralty, property. Of the above aren, about 98,000 square feet would, be obtained by a reclamation pro- tected by an ordinary type sen wall; the remainder by two pro- jeeting arma, which would form the ferry berth. The western arm of the berth would be constructed in solid blockwork: the castern arm in reinforced concrete.

The re clamation is to provide proper ac- commodation for traffic and a park ing area for vehicles; in addition. sufficient space would be available for garages to accommodate about 40 cary and/or lorries.

Hong Kong Site:

Reclamation, Ferry Pier, Offices, taking over V.R.C. property and road formation.. (Es timate includes about 273,000 for offices and 8123,000 to réplace Murray Pier)mily Ferry Boats:

620,000

750,000

3 Nos. Vehicular and Passenger ferry boats.

Total cost of piers.

and ferry bonta ..81.820.000

Revenue, Whilst the cost of operating the proposed ferry service can

be cetimated with some degree of ac the volume of traffe which curacy, would make use of the vehicular ferry is not known. In consequence,

correct estimate of receipts could not be framed; however, in order to show how the vehicular ferry service would be required to operate in order to give a satis factory return for the first year. the following assumptions were made:-

(a) Twenty minute service. (b) Ferry boats to ply between 8

.. and 12 midnight, thus making 108 trips per day. (c) An average of 4 vehicles car-

ried per trip.

(d) An average of 30 first-class

and 20 third-class passengers carried per trip.

Beceipts.

109 ferry crossing per day, 4 vehicles carried per trip. Say 150 vehicles at average fare of 82 per vehicle per trip

..........

30 first-class passengers on 108 trips. Say 3,000 first- class passengers at 10 cents per trip..............

20 third-class passengers on 108 tripe. Say 9,000 third- class passengers at 5 cents per trip

Total revenue from traffic

per day

Total revenue from traffic per annum: 365 days x- $1,300

Rent of o sites

garages at $100 each

Hong Kong Site.-The proposed site occupies on area of about 36.000 square fect at the north end of. Murray Road and within the re-entrant angle formed by Victoria Recreation Club property and the Praya" frontage. 30,000 square feet of this site would be provided by at ordinary type reclamation. The vehicular ferry herth is projected in`a north-westerly direction from - the north side of this reclamation. The proposal includes provision for a public landing place on the west side of the reclamation to replace Murray Pier which would have to be removed. To provide accom- modation for träffe and a parking space for vehicles, the area made Cost available by the proposed new work requires to be increased by taking over & portion of the property leased by the Victoria Recreation Club.

The design of the vehicular ferry berths is in the form of a "U" spring, fendering being carried round the inside in order to ex pedite the berthing of ferries with- out risk of damage.

Ferry Boats.

for

000

With an established ferry ser- vice the transport of motor lorries will increase and there will be a movement of cargo from points in Kowloon to Hong. Kong and vice versa from door to door by lorry. Moreover private cars will be transferred in much larger numbers with in- proved facilities. My Commit- tee cannot express an opinion as to the rapidity of this develop- ment and consequently the re venue to be expected. But if the growth of motor-cars in the Colony is any guide then the de- velopment should be fairly rapid. Lorry transport will depend of course, on the comparative costs of delivering cargo by that means. The frequency of the ferry service would have to be in- creased to meet the growing re- quirements..."

(c) The estimated number of passengers is too high, though this depends on the points between which the service will run. The Star Ferry state that their ever- age carrying is only 52 first-class and 38 third-class per trip. Their third-class fare is 4 cents against Government's proposed 5 cents." Additional data as to the location. of the proposed sites for the ferry piers was supplied to the Chamber of Commerce on May 17th. A lát- ter dated July 14th from the Chamber states

"The Victoria Recreation Club does not appeal to the Chamber as a suitable site and it considers Arsenal Street would be profer- able for the terminus. on the Hong Kong side" and sets out arguments in favour of the Ar- senal Street site and against a terminus at the Victoria Recrea tion Club.

The Chamber considers Jordan 300 Road as a most suitable site for

a vehicular ferry terminus and süg gests that the Yaumati passenger service should come

to Jordan

81,300

25474,500

100 Road instead of inside the typhoon refuge, also that the vehicular ser- vice might be run in connection with the Yaumati service with com bined termini at Jordan Road and as formerly proposed at Jubilee Street. Later when development warranted is the Chamber coa sidera that vehicular ferries might be run from Jordan Road to R point east of Arsenal Yard, and suggests that it would welcome a conference with the beads of ap; propriate Departments. should Government consider the above mentioned or other points might be usefully discussed.

4,000

Total revenue per annum..$479,500

Annual Expenditure. of operating and maintaining 3 Crews.........

ferry boats.........$128.000

Salaries of clerical

17,000

staff, inspectora, lift attendants, coolics and seamen 15,000 Depreciation of ferry

56,250

16,000

boats 7 per cent. -$750,000 (estim ated cost).... Maintenance of piers and ferry build- ings, etc..... Depreciation of piers and buildings and seawalls, 3 per cent. of $1,000,000 (estimated cost)

Total expenditure includ

ing depreciation

30,000

$262,250

Net revenue per annum..$216,250

On March 21st, 1927, Government

The design of the ferry beat pro vides for carrying about 20 åve- seat motor-cars or a proportionate number of other vehicles, together with 250 third-class passengers on a lower deck; and 540 first-class passengers on an upper deck. The length of the bast proposed is 150 feet, with a beam of 39 feet which is splayed above the water-line to give a deck width of 50 feet. To avoid the necessity of turning at the birtha, the boats woulď. be double-ended. The design provides for vehicles and passengers embark- ing or disembarking at either end addressed the Hong Kong General of the boat. When the ferry-boat is Chamber of Commerce regarding berthed, a double deck ramp about the proposed vehicular ferry instal 65 feet in length would provide lation and invited comments on facilities for traffic between the the above statement of revenue and decks and the roadway. The ramp expenditure, more particularly in would be hinged at the shore end regard to the estimated volume of in such a manner as to permit the traffe using the service. geaward end to be raised or lower- The reply received" from the ed and thus provide for adjusting Chamber of Commerce on April the outward end of the ramp to the 8th, 1927, contained the following level of the boat deck, whilst the observations, which were framed on shore end of the ramp remaine at the assumption that the proposed the street level. The ramp would service was to operate between the require to be operated by mechanical neighbourhood of the Central Mar- power as the construction of pon-ket on Hong Kong side and Jor- toons for this purpose is not prac dan Road in Kowloon; will be about 1 in 9; this would tical. The steepest grade oa ramps (a)" A twenty minute service with three boats running con- tinuously for 18 hours is regard- as impracticable, and allow- ance must be made for periodi- cal overhaul, It is not thought that 2 boats could maintain a 20 minute, schedule with cars to load and unload"

occur at lower water ordinary Spring Tides.

of extra-

It was purposed that the ferry boats should be designed for a speed of about 10 knots, e, a crossing including time occupied in berthing will take about 10 minutes. A period of 10 minutes, at berths should be ample time for unloading and loading of "boata. Two ferry. boats should therefore provide a twenty minute service. A faster - service may be necessary at certain periode of the day. For this pur- pose and for the proper mainten- ance of a 20 minute korviés, it is considered that three vehicllar ferry bdats are necessary.

Estimated Cost.

The estimated cost of establishing the proposed vehicular ferry service is as follows:- Jordan Road:

Reclamation, Ferry Pier and Offices (estimate includes about $75,000

ed

In this connection, it has been naceztained that at Vancou- very two ferry-bonts capable of carrying 18 vehicles each, maintain a 20 minute service dcross Burrard Inlet, a dia tance of two miles.

(b) Sets out details of vehicles transported during Jäuuary 1027, viz,-

403 cars, 9 lorries and about 200 motor-cycles and side-cars, and adds:-

"It would seem therefore that, -to-start with, an hourly-service would meet the needs on week days, and a half-hourly service on Bundaya and holidays except daring the busy hours (8 a.m- 10 a.in.: 12 noon-2 p.m. and i p.m. to 7p.m.) when a 20 minutę

A conference was duly arranged, and on August 10th the Chamber reported:-

S

K. M. A.

CERAMIC & REFRACTORY PRODUCTS

CLINKER,

PAYING, BUILDING

& FIRE- -BRICKS

STONE-

-WARE

PIPES &

GLAZED TILES

Ask for our Illustrated Catalogne-Compare our Prices and Inspect our wide Range of Samples

THE KAILAN MINING ADMINISTRATION DODWELL & CO., LTD., "Agents, Hong Kong.

veniently take all the passengers vehicular ferry is influenced' con- who at present use the Yaumati [siderably by the ferry fare. Should Ferry, and the additional re this be fixed at 81.00 por trip, the venue received would help to en- cost per ton would be reduced from sure financial success. On the $3.30 to $2.60 per ton. Kowloon side passengers would be taken to more convenient terminus thun the Yaumati Ferry.

The relative coets. indicate that a vehicular ferry can Doz compete economienlly with the present method of cross-harbour transport That a terminus at Jubilee for bulk cargo between godowns on Streef will cost more to construct

the sea front. was, the Committee felt, out- There is considerable

cross har. transport weighed by the consideration bour

of goods and " that a ferry pier is a permanentterinis in lots of less than 5 tons, nases to the Colony, the more these are principally for local con valuable the more suitably place sumption and include general mer- ed, and that the Jubilee Street chandise, piece goods, provisions, site has a substantial advantage wines, tobacco and cigarettes, dairy in facilitating the daily working products, beef; mutton. of ferries by affording a com vegetables, fruita, hushold paratively eleaf route across the furniture etc. Harbour to Jordan Road.

In the light of further know ledge of the subject the Chamber therefore strongly favours the Jubilee Street site, and con- siders that any anticipated dif- culties in handling traffic, owing to the narrowness of sorne of the connecting streets in that area,

The cost of trans- port on a number of the above ar-

ticles "is at an agreed rate per package, crate and/or basket; in such cases, it has been found diff- cult to compare the costs by pre- sent methods with the cost of trans... ·

Port vid vehicular ferry.

In cases where actual figures for comparison were obtainable, these show that the cross harbour trans will be largely met by making port and handling of goods in two of the streets between Desmall lota between premises adja Vaux Road and the Prays into one-way streets for arriving 424-8250 per ton, and when the pre departing vehicles respectively.'

The Chamber had nothing fur: ther to add on the financial aspect of the proposal.

Jubilee Street. Site--Hong Kong. A design for a vehicular ferry berth in front of the new Govern- ment offices between Jubilee and Pottinger Streets occupies an area of $41,000 sq. ft. of which 67,000 is obtained by a reclamation, the re- mainder by two projecting rein- forced concrete armi grming the ferry berth. The cost of construct ing is estimated at 8655,000 (in- cludes $80,000 for offices) as com- pared with an estimate of 8620,000 for the accommodation at the Vie toria Recreation Club.

and this Government is indebted to

"In the course of the proceed ings, the relative merits of sites at the Victoria Recreation Club to enable a decision to be taken on project involving such a large and at Arsenal Street were dis expenditure. In consequence, fur cussed. The Harbour Master. pointed out that, besides the obther investigations have been made, jection of distance, a route across the harbour from Arsenal Streety private individuals nud to Jordan Road would cross the public companies, in the Colony and abroad for the information Naval Anchorage, go through a which has been collected. very crowded part of the harbour and interfere with the operation of the Star Ferry at Kowloon

Point. After some discussion, it

was agreed that Arsenal Street

would not be a suitable-site. -

ag

Combined vehicular and passen ger ferry services in America and Europe do not permit the transport of inflammable cargo, such petrol, benzine, etc; it has been de cided, therefore, to exclude from consideration the transport of each goods.by a vehicular ferry installa- tion in the Colony. Comparative Cost Of Handling Bulk

I

cent to the harbour front in $2.00

mises are situated some distance from the harbour front, such as the Dairy Farm Co.'s stores, the cost

exceed 86.00 per ton. Groceries, provisions and general merchandise for local consumption arrive by ocean steamer and are delivered into godowns at Kowloon Point, a week's free storage being. allowed by the Godown Co. A total amount of such goods in excess of 10 tons would appear to be trans- ported across the harbour daily by various merchants in Hong Kong. Some of the merchants are of the opinion that a vehicular ferry would be a great boon, affording them much better and more econo- mical facilities for trans-harbour

The information which had been distribution of goods, and enabling obtained regarding the amount of goods to be collected from the vehicular traffic which the propos- gedowns. on the return trip, thus handle, was considered insuficient less ed installation was likely to ensuing economy of transport with

risk

of pilferage and/or damage to goods.

Little farm produce except. vegetables-about 100 picule per day-some pigs and cattle cross from the Kowloon side, Generally speaking, cattle, and pigs for slaughter purposes and the greater portion of market produce, e. fruit, chickens, etc., are imported by river or coaster steamer and dis embarked on the Hong Kong side; the bulk of fish is also landed on this side of the harbour. A quan- tity of market produce and fish pass from Hong Kong to Markets- in Kowloon, the amount cannot be defnitely ascertained but is in ex- cess of 25 tons per day, the present method of land transport is by coolie, water transport being effect- ed by passenger ferry, motor boat or other small craft. These com- centre of the city all the cross-and freight from the godowns at modities, except live stock, could harbour lorry traffic.

Kowloon Point or the railway be made up in satisfactory loads station Ca be delivered into for vehicular transport, Whilst It was agreed in further dis- godowns on the sea front in Hong the greater portion of this traffic. cussion that it would be desirable Kong at a rate varying between is one way, vir: from Hong Kong" to keep in view the possibility of 81.50 and $1.50 per ton, provided to Kowloon, it is probable that a an eventual need for two vebieu the consignment to be handled is transport company could under lar ferry systems across the har- not less than about 6 tons. The bour, having regard to the wide approximate cost of transporting tional

take the transport at little addi- distance separating the Western and delivering materials by motor methods, and thus relieve to 2 expense over present district from the areas of develop larry rid the vehicular ferry, he considerable extent congestion on ment eastward. The sites of the tween Kowloon Point and Godown some portions of the harbour front first ferry piers to be built should on

It was further pointed out that the objections to a site at Aracnal Street applied with al most equal force to a site at the

Victoria Recreation Club. In ad- dition, it was considered unde- sirable to

concentrate in the

Cargo.

It has been ascertained that cargo

be so selected as not to prejudice the sea front in Hong Kong and in the neighbourhood of the

would cost about 83.30 per ton, this markets. figure includes for about 14 miles

Regarding cattle and swine, the land transport on Hong Kong side, annual numbers transported across and is arrived at as follows:- First cost of lorry to

the harbour are approximately as follows:- curry 2 tona

Cattle Swine

satisfactory arrangements for two systems. A point beyond Causeway Bay can be connected with Hung Hom by a route measuring only 1.34 miles.

nefading...

................. $5,000,00

- A ferry between Jordan Road Number of days worked and the Western district of Hong | Return trip, Kowloon Kong should obviously come first, Point to West - Point, and particularly as it is thought

loading and that eventually a second ferry may be required, the Chamber is Average load each way.... of opinion that the Hong Kong Length of working day terminus should be west of Blake Depreciation and interest Pier, giving a route "to Jordan per annum Road of 1.67 milea, as compared with 1.67 miles from the Victoria Recreation Club, and 2.34 miles Running expenses includ from--Arsenal-Street Such & -ing loading and unload- ronte would least interfere withing cargo

300

6,500 and 24,000,0

It is considered that the vehicu- lar ferry could deal with this traffic in the carly morning, and 3 hrs offer better facilities than exist at 13 tons present. 9 hrs.

$1,400.00 (per working day

Say 3.4.70

other trafic and be free from the 8 trips on vehicular ferry · objections mentioned in regard @ 82.00 per trip to the other sites under considera- tion.'

A suggestion which commended itself to the Chamber was that the present Yaumati Ferry should be combined with the vehicular ferry. The prospects are remote of there being much passenger trafe on, a ferry from the Vic- toria Recreation Club to Jordan Rond, but a vehicular ferry from,

Total cost of loading, transporting and de livery to godowns of, say, B tona cargo handl ed between Kowloon Point and West Point vid Vehicular Ferry

It will be observed that rting material

12.00

Due to the lack of satisfactory accommodation in Hong Kong, coal yards are situated in Kowloon At present, advantage is taken of the Praya East Reclamation for the.. storage of a small quantity of household-coal brought-from-Kow- 12.30 TOOD.

When the facilities of thể reclamation are no longer avail- able, unless a berth is provided on the Hong Kong side for the recep- tion of coal from junks or lighters, the handling of this commodity will cause obstruction of the Prays frontage.An_average_amount of about 10 tons of coal is delivered 829.40 daily to householders in Hong or about Kong. The cost of distribution of coal by present methods is less then per ton. vid a véhicular ferry unicas the

the coat ferry charges were negligible. (Continued on Dase_11)

83.20

•