1934-11-24 — Page 2

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MAIL NEWS FROM CHINA

Railways, Mining And Road Building

፡ነ

HIGHWAYS IN CHINA The building of highways in China is advancing by leaps and bounds. The Highway Construe tion Committee of the National Economic Council report recently that more than 5,700 kilometres of modern highways have been constructed in the eight Central and South-Eastern provinces of China since the inception of the Roads Bureau in May, 1932. Co- operating with the provincal governments of Kiangsu, Che- kiang

NEW CANTON ELECTRIC

* PLANT

"

The Canton Municipal Govern- meat has signed a contract with Siemens China Company for a new electric power station with necessary equipment at a cost of $2,500,000 "Hong Kong currency. The new works will be installed by 1935 at Sal Chuen, "on the western outskirts. Capable of supplying 30,000 kilowatts, this power station will supply electri- city for use within Canton city, while electric power and Anhwei, the Bureau

outside of Canton will be provided by the has also helped complete six high- ways linking up these three pro-

hydroelectric plant

to be The Bureau has also vinces. co-operated with the Fukien Pro- vincial Government in building a 872 kilometre highway along the Fukien-Klangs border, and his granted a loan for, the building of AL 570 kilometre road along the Klangsi-Kwangtung-Fukien border.

Road construction work 11 Shens and Kansu in connection with the rehabilitation of the North-West is proceeding. Many graduates of schools of engineer- Ing have left Shunghai this sum- mer to help in this work, The road between Slaniu, capital of Shensi, and Lanchow, capital of Kansu represents SLA

-

new

erected at Yüng Klang, a tributary of the North River. Four years wil be required to com- plete this generating station, the cost being $20,000,000" Hong Kong currency. When completed, the station will supply electricity to a radius of 250 miles.

STEEL WORKS For SHANGHAI

Plans for converting the former Lunghua Arsenal in Shanghai into an iron and steel works are

being made by the Ministry of War. With the outbreak of the Sino-Japanese hostilities in 1932

a large portion of the machinery' of the arsenal was removed to the Nariking and Hanyang Arsenals.

HONG HONG DAILY PRESS, SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 1934.

LOCOMOTIVES

FOR CHINA

Big Order Secured By British Firm

London, Nov. 3.

The Vulcan Foundry at New- ton-le-Willows recently secured an order to build 16 steam loco- motives and tenders for the Can- ton and Hantow Rallway of China, to the order of the Chi- rese Purchasing Commission. An official of the firm stated that the locomotives would be of an entirely new design, of the 4-8

type, with huge 44 type tenders. The type is expected to develop into one of the standard types of Chinese engines. They will be among the heaviest non- articulated engines for the Far East, and will have exceptionally large boilers, which will neces- sitate special mechanical stokers. Each, engine in working order will weigh 111 tons and each tender 50 tons.

||

The official added that the or- der would mean the reopening of the pattern and early stage shops, which were not very busy at

pre- serit,

SHIPBUILDING

ACTIVITY

portant sector of an historic Later, the Ministry contemplated Britain Leads World

highway

connecting

Central

China with the populous areas of Central Asia and beyond. It was along this route that the silk Caravans were dispatched to Asia,

Minor for trade with the Western World. Such a highway will be a ' means of connecting parts in North China with vast areas untouched and reachable now in many cases only in from two to six months by means of camel caravans. It 's calculated that such a highway wii reduce travel-time to thre or four weeks by regular motor- truck service. · Linking up Shensi- Kansu-Szechwan is to be another important highway, 223 kilometres long and valued not only for its commercial uses but also for its strategic position.

LAND & WATER TRANSPORT

New Agreement Signed

Tsingtao, Nov. 18.- Through' transportation on land "and water between the Klaochow- Tstaan Rallway and the China Merchants S.N. Co. will be operated on January 1, it is announced.

sale of the land, the proceeds to be earmarked for the expansion of the Nanking and Hanyang Arsenals. To promote the deve- lopment of domestic industries. It is now learnt that the Ministry is contemplating the erection of an iron and steel works on the site.

TELEPHONE NETWORK FOR

FUKIEN

The installation of a long-dis- tance telephone network. linking up the important cities of Foo- chow, Yenping, Changchow and Amoy is to start immediately. The total outlay amounts to $300,000, Work is to be, completed within two months. The services will be under the direct control of the Ministry of Communications.

CHIENTANG BRIDGE

Work Formally Started

Hangchow, Nov. 12. Construction work on the fron bridge across the Chientang River was formally, started yes terday at a cermony held at the Zakow Station here in the pre- sence of over 5,000 Government An agreement governing the operation was formally signed on

officials, delegates of the fallway

highway the 14th inst, between Mr. Tsao and

administrations Chang Chi, of the Klaochow-

concerned, industrial and bank- Tsinan Railway, and Mr. Ho Meling leaders as well as represed- Lin, of the CM.S.N. Co.

The cities coming under the ar- rangement

Include Shanghai, Amoy, Swatow, Hong Kong and Canton, ports of call of the ship- ping company; and Tinan, Chou- tsun, Changtien. Foshan, Sintien, Tsingchow, Welhsien, Ershilipao, Fangtsu, Hslamotun, Kaomi, Klao- chow, Changlo and Tsingtao, Along the railway-

stations Kuo Min.

CONSTRUCTIONTM "OF HIGHWAYS

Labour Relief Work To Be Expedited

tatives of the interested public organisations.

Mr. Tserig Chung-ming, Ad- ministrative Vice-Minister -of Railway, attended the function on behalf of Minister Ku Meng- Yu.

Laying special emphasis on the importance of the project, Mr Tseng, Yang-fu. Cheklang Pro- vincial Commissioner of Reçons- truction, who is also Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Cheklang-Kiangai Railway and concurrently Director of the Southeastern Inter-Provincial Highway Bureau, declared that the completion of the iron bridge will not only facilitate better communications in Cheklang

province and link up the South-

Japan Second

(Special Air Mail Service)

London Nov. 3. Merchants vessels under con- struction in Great Britain and Ireland at the end of September totalled 604,298 tons, an increase of 17,154 tons on the previous quarter, and of 300,534 tons, or '99 per cent, greater on the tonnage in hand at the end of September, 1933.

"While this does not represent such a substantial increase as that recorded at the end of the June quarter, when comparison was with a very low period of activity, Lloyd's Register of Ship- ping, states that the figures main- tain the upward tendency noted since the beginning of 1933. "At the end of September, the ton-

nage on which work was suspend

ed amounted to 50,088 tons, com- posed entirely of steamers.

About -82,000 tons-13.6 per cent. of the tonnage now being built in this country-are intended for registration abroad or for sale.

under Tonnage

construction abroad at 707,091 tons was about 78,000 tons more than at the end of June, 1934, and the highest

June, 1932. quarterly total recorded since Tonnage, included in the total in hand abroad, on which work has been suspended amounts to 3.035 tons of steamers and 35,778 tons of motorships.

FRANCE AND GERMANY Of the countries abroad, Japan leads with 149,750 tons, France with 120,848 tons ranking second, whlie Germany with 120,818 tona takes third position.

Total tonnage under construc- tion th the world was 1,211,387, of which 46.1 per cent, was in Great Britain and Ireland, and 53.9 per cent, abroad. The world total re- presents an increase of 95,000 tons over the figures at the end of June last, and the highest recorded to- tal since December, 1931,

ENGINEERING & BUILDING.

Triumph Of Engineering. Ingenuity.

STORY OF THE ROTHERSAND LIGHTHOUSE

The story of the Rothersand light-house is, an epic of en- gineering genius rather than of heroism, and- of triumph over tremendous difaculties: It began with the swift expansion of Ger- man maritime commerce during the latter half of the nineteenth century. Germany's effort to secure the North Atlantic passen. ger trade

was being carefully planned, and shipping experts were "searing for a suitable spot in order to establish a "home"

•port for the North German At lantic Uners.

!

On the banks of the Weser the experts halted, at a place called Bremer-haven. They stay- ed a long time for here. 1 seemed was the ideal spot from which to launch a mightly chal- lenge to the world's merchant navies. But nature herself had bullt a terrible barrier about the wide mouth of the Weser, "a barrier formed by vast ridges of treacherous, shifting sand. "

The experts surveyed the place, and while their reports told of the great advantages of Bremer- haven as an ideal port for giant liners there remained the

pro- blem of the sand-miles upon miles of silt. that blocked the mouth of the Weser. So much sand was there that, while it was possible to dredge a deep, channel. the vast shoal was an impossible side on which to erect a warning. beacon' for the safety of ships. Such a death-trap. the experts declared, needed a permanent and powerful lighthouse to make safe maritime traffic in the vicinity.

{

Formidable Task

It was a formidable, a seeming- ly insuperable, task. for the soft sand moved in minor submarine landslides to the powerful under- currents of the North Sea. The experts shook their heads, but the proposed port of Bremer- haven was to Ideally suited to their purpose that they, debated the matter in detall before com- ing to a decision. They looked about them for giants, of the en- gineering profession, and at last approached the Society Harkort of Duisburg for advice.

tow the calsson to its resting- place in the North Sea. The ex- pense of this delay, of course, was enormous. In the early hours of the morning. on May 28, 1883, the tags took the strain and a long procession moved out of Bremenhaven on the ebb tide.

The Last Secret

Far beyond the mouth of the Weser, where a buoy marked the site of the new lighthouse the last secret of the giant calsson was revealed. This metal Colos- 'sus was to be the foundation.of a tall tower.. Inside its hollow belly, eight feet from the bottom rim was an Iron floor, and in the space below the floor men were to work under compressed air as miners excavating the sea-bed after the caisson was sunk.

cranes were

The bottom rim had a cutting edge that forced a way through the sand to a Arm foundation. Above the first floor were three others, and the topmost cor-- directly below the top of the caisson-formed a dormitory and living-room for workmen. Two powerful

mounted on top of the calsson. and these. were used to haul aboard mate- rials and provisions. As the .cafs son sank lower and lower into the soft sand, and the structure was filled with loads of concrete, the floors were dismantled and raised while the outer walls were built up to keep the top always above water.

Into The Sand

By October of that year the total weight of the sunken cais- son was increased to more than

3,350 tons, and by building up the sides the height from its base had risen to 99 feet. The bottom rim now rested 51 feet below low- water mark. But the work of sinking the mighty caisson still deeper into the sand went on until its steel shell was 107 feet feet from top to bottom, and 40 feet of old steel and concrete was buried deep into the ridge they call the Rothersand. By this time 3,000 cubic yards of sand had been removed from the sea-bed, and 49,100 tons of con- This famous company of en- crete and other materials had gineers, after months of survey- been packed Into the sunker ing the mouth of the Weser, Colossus so that it was now a came to certain conclusions. To solid mass capable of supporting the amazement of the experts.

a great lighthouse. the Society Harkort declared that

Upon this artificial but the task of building a great light-oundation arose "the house built house On shifting sand WHE quite practical They were pré- pared to sign a contract for £42.-. 850

in return for erecting suitable lighthouse complete ex- cept for the Lighting apparatus. This offer was accepted, - and work was started in September, 1832.

A few weeks later the folk of Exemerhaven were intrigued by secret activities on in a guarded dry dock, and as time went on their curiosity turned to amaze- ment at sight, of 'an enormous metal monster rising higher every day" above the workshops. This was the Society Harkort's

In Great Britain and Ireland. 76,911 tons were commenced dur- ing the quarter, a decrease of 69,- 742 tons compared with the June, secret—a mighty calsson, of oval quarter. Tons launched at 183,-shape measuring 46 feet in length 422 showed an increase of 147, 468 by 38 feet wide, and more than on the June quarter. Similar fig- 80 feet in height. ures for abroad were 181,177 tons, eastern provinces, but also beau-

commenced and 123,375 tons tify the scenery of the famous launched, an increase compared Lake City He expressed with the previous quarter of 55,265 hope that one and all will co- tons in tonnage, commenced and -operate in the work so that this of 9,937 tons in tonnage launched

gigantic structure may be com- pleted at an early date.

the

TANKER CONSTRUCTION Steam and motor oll tankers

under construction in the world amounted to 43 vessels of 324,712 tons, of which 13 vessels of 101, Britain and Ireland. Of the 604,

Calsson Launched ̧..

sure

DEATH OF SIR R. MCALPINE

A Great Builder's

Life Work

Sir Robert McAlpine, Bart... head of the Arm of Sir Robert McAlpine and Sons, the famous contractors and engineers, died at his home at Oxshott, Surrey, At the age of elghy-seven. He had been seriously ill for nearly a month.

It was from the smallest of be- ginnings that Sir Robert bullt up the great business which brought him fame and fortune.

He started work as a boy on rall

-way construction works seventy- two years ago. Before he was twenty he had established a small building business in Glasgow.

Was

One who has been associated with Sir Robert for many years in his business enterprises stated."

**Sir Robert

born at Newarthill, Lanarkshire, and his father died when he was three years old. He had to make his own way in the world. There was nobody to back him up, co expensive education and no uni- versity for him. All he knew he taught himself. He was a self- made man.

"Young McAlpine actually be- gan by bricklaying. Then he started at twenty in business on his own account, and his first job -the first 'contract he ever got was to repair a mine chimney At a total fee of £295.

"Contrast that with some of his later contracts, such as the

£3,000,000 Tilbury Docks!

"Wembley Exhibition,-which he built, and many famous factorles, are standing monuments to the soundness of his judgment. The Empire Stadium, Wembley, where the Cup finals are held. is an- other of his buildings.

"He was a wonderful person- alty; a model employer and a model father. To the end he took an active interest in his firm, although for the last three months he had been alling."

In sixty years, it is estimated. *the firm of McAlpine executed contracts worth more than £100,000,000.

'',

ARCHITECTS HOME

Opening By The King

The King next Thursday wil formally open the new home of the Royal Institute of British Architects 'in Portland-place, W. In its design and equipment the building is a model of discreet modernity.

The architect is Mr. George Grey Wornum, who won the com- petition for a design against 283 competitors.

The building has cost £125,000.

Passers-by in Portland-place are already familiar with the rather severe-looking facade with Its 3-ton bronze doors. Its vast central window, and the twin pil- lars supporting the figures of a man and a woman.

The representational character of the decoration is exemplified by the bas-relief on the doors, ll'ust—“ rating the typical buildings of . London, including a tube station and a zoo scendi

A double staircase, with etched glass panels instead of balusters. leads up to the Henry Florence Memorial Hall, lined with polished Perricot stone, carved in elaborate cartoon panels by Mr. Bambridge. Copnall, illustrating "Man and his buildings through the ages."

Carved panels in a screen of Quebec pine represent the peoples, Industries, flora and fauna of the, fivé great Dominions. The central Boor is of Indian silver grey wood. Downstairs. the Henry Jarvis lecture theatre, capable of seat- ing 350 with the "disappearing wall." allowing 150 extra seats to- be placed in the foyer.

A library on an upper floor hou- ses 40.000 volumes, the largest and most valuable collection of archit ectural books in the world.

Sir Robert has been described as the greatest builder in the world." and one of the achieve- ments of which he was most proud Was the erection -of Dorchester House, Park-lane, at

a cost of £1,750,000.

METAL WINDOWS

MANUFACTURER:

MADE IN HONGKONG

FROM.

IMPORTED BRITISH MATERIAL

95% BRITISH.

but THE TAI YING STEEL WINDOW MFG. CO.

upon sand"--a massive graceful tower with a lantern- gallery some 80 feet above the sea. For the first time, on Nov. 1. 1885, this epic of engineering was illuminated by a beam of brillant light, and all Bremier- haven rejoiced. To-day the Ro- thersand Lighthouse ránka with

the mouth of the Weser is safe the finest lights in Europe, and

for navigation.-W. ham in The Navy.

J. Passing

· ENGINEERS OF TO MORROW

Many good suggestions for the, "revitalisation of Scottish industry are contained in the presidential To build this towering metal address of Mr. H. A Retncke to.. structure reguired the combined the Glasgow University Engineer- efforts of 120 men, who worked ing Society. His remarks as to the continuously for 127 days. When duties of the present generation Jaunched the calsson weighed 335 towards adolescent youth are par- tons, and when loaded down with ticularly important. Many young for towing purposes its weight ballast in the form of pigironmen with all the potentialities for was increased, by another 245

a useful career in the Industries tons. Such an impressive-looking

of the West of Scotland are now

ed by the hands of men.

Changsha, Nov. 19. To push forward labour reller work and promote communications in the province, the Human Pro Dr. Mao T-sheng, Director of. vincial Government has decided to the Engineering Bureau in empley part of the $10 millions charge, reported on the prepara- Provincial Reconstruction Loan for rations for the engineering work the construction of four main "He said that the bridge will be $00 tons were being built in Great, monster has rarely been fashion out of work, and at the same time: highways. These are the projected 3,520 feet long and cost between Paoking - Kwanghalen, Taoyuan- $3,400,000 to $3,800,000 Yuanling (Shenchow)-Liyehchen, and Hungchiao-Lingling (Yung- chow)-Huangshaho Highways, re- spectively in the western, north- western and southern parts of the province. The loan was recently approved by the Executive Yuan

Bonds will be issued on January

ENGINEERING BUREAU AT CHENGCHOW,

Chengchow, Nov. 13. An Engineering Bureau for the

1, 1936. Finds will be set aside Chengchow Municipal Adminis

298 tons under construction in Great Britain and Ireland, 291,517 tons consisted of motorships, while at the same date, motorship ton- bage being constructed abroad at 473,303 tons was 42,933 tons in ex- cess of that of steamers.

Department of Reconstruction to

monthly from the Provincial re-tration was established here yes- push forward forward recons venues for redemption of the Loan, terday. Funds will be approp-truction work in Chengchow Kuo Min

rated by the Honen Provincial Kuo Min

there is the growing danger of a dearth of skilled labours. The old- er industries cannot absorb more: than a proportion of the young

- now seeking...... employment,

and it is important that new e terprises should be attracted to Clydsside," Mr. Reineke that something: should be

The most difficult taak after launching was that of keeping the caisson level on the water and it was necessary to wait for favourable weather conditions before attempting to tow the structure out to sea. Nearly two months passed before sultable. weather prevailed and during to nurse the new industries when that time two of the most power-

they come here, and so tide ful tugs in existence waited with over the period of initial strug area banked and steam raised to. and scclimatisation,

~TELEFKONE: 27472.

OFFICE: 89/85, OHUN YONG STREET. FACTORY:--NORTH-POINT, HONG KONG,

SHIP & ENGINE BUILDERS. SHIP & ENGINE REPAIRERJ. MECHANICAL AND ELECTRICAL

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BOILER" MAKERS. IRON FOUNDERS. (Licensed To

Manufacture.... Lan's Perlit 'Iran) BRASS FOUNDERS, FORGE MASTERS...

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-DRY DOCK

Length 787 Foot.

OF HONG KONG LIMITED.

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V.P.G.Na 00

Length on Blocks 750 Feet Breadth at entrance 98 ft. ins Depth on Centre of

801 (H.W.OST.) 34 ft. 6 ins.

THREE SLIPWAYS – Uspable of Handling Ships Up

to 4,000 Tons Displacement

CRANES

100 TON Eleotris Crane at Sea Wall,

Lifting reach 70 feet.

25 TON High tower gantry Travell- ing Crane, Lifting radius 77 11. 6 ing serving the Dry Dock and Bea Wall bertin

BUTTERFIELD & SWIRE, Agents,

HONG KONG, CHINA & JARAN,

“TAIKOGBOOK,, Hong Kong,

UKERAL OWEN OVER - PENTANT ÄNG

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