Directory_and_Chronicle_1916 — Page 778

CHINA

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destruction was a strong feature of the strategy of the Imperial troops, and from their point of view, wisely so. It was the cutting of the Railway that was the sole cause of Admiral Seymour's failure in his gallant attempt to rescue the Legations. All the lines in North China were attacked and badly cut. The terminus at Peking has been brought inside the Chinese City at the Chien Men or Southern Gate of the Manchu City, and a scheme is now in progress for the construction of a circular railway to link up the various grand trunk termini in Peking, providing for the late erection of a grand central station. A branch line has been made from the Chien Men terminus to Tung Chow, the head of the water-ways; and both the French and Germans have pushed on the trunk lines being built under their exclusive auspices in Chihli, Honan, and in. Shantung, respectively. Railway vandalism was the first evidence of the savagery and magnitude of the Boxer sedition. It is significant that the Imperial Government was so inert in protecting its own property. Now, however, there is no need to preach the gospel of railway construction, and only lack of funds retards the completion of many. new lines.

The following list of railways, open and under construction, shows the progress which. has been made in little more than ten years in improving communications in China:-

1. Chinese Eastern Railway (Tung Ching), 5-foot gauge. Kuanchengtzu to Harbin and thence east and west to the Russian frontier, 1,077 miles. Under Russian control. 2. Tsitsihar Light Railway (Ang-ang-chi), metre gauge. Connecting Tsitsihar with the Chinese Eastern Railway at Ang-ang-ki, 17 miles. Opened August, 1909. Constructed by a British engineer.

3. South Manchurian Railway. Under Japanese control. Main line: Dairen (Dalny) to Kuanchengtzu (13 miles beyond Changchun), 439 miles; double line. Branches: (1). Choushuitzu to Port Arthur, 314 miles. (2) Tashihkiao to Yinkow (Newchwang), 17 miles, inclusive of the new section from Niuchiatun to Yingkow, which was opened in November, 1909. (3) Yentai to Taikang, 10 miles. (4) Suchiatun to Fushun, 34 miles, to the coal mines. (5) Moukden to Antung, 2 feet 6 inches gauge, le7 miles. (6) Kirin to Chanchun, 80 miles.

4. Imperial Railways of North China. The earliest railway system in China, British engineers, Chinese and British_capital. Main line: Peking to Moukden (Ching- Feng), 523 miles. The last section, Hsinmintun to Moukden, was purchased from the Japanese in 1907. Branches: (1) Peking to Tungchow, 14 miles. (2) Peking to Lukow- kiao, 4 miles, connecting with the Peking-Hankow Railway. (3) Kowpangtze to Yingkow (Newchwang), 57 miles. (4) Tientsin to Hsiku. 4 miles. A branch from Tangho to. Chinwangtao, 6 miles, belongs to and is controlled by the Chinese Engineering and Mining Company (British).

5. Peking-Kalgan Railway (Ching-Chang), 124 miles. Chinese capital and Chinese engineers. Opened to Kalgan in September, 1909. Kalgan to Changsui, 126 miles.. Opened April, 1912. Changsui to Tatung. Opened March, 1915.

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6. Peking Hankow Railway (Ching-Han, also known as Pe-Han or Lu Han), 755 miles. Built by Franco-Belgian capital. Reverted to Chinese control, January 1, 1909. French and Belgian engineers still employed. Branches: (1) Liangsiang to Tuli, 12 miles, to local coal mines. (2) Liuliho to Chowkweichwang, 10 miles, to local coal mines. (3) Kaopeitien to Siling, 26 miles, light metre gauge railway to the Imperial tombs. (4) Kaoyihsien to Lincheng, 10 miles, to local coal mines. (5) Poatingfu branch, 3 miles.

7. Tientsin-Pukow Railway (Ching-P'u), 675 miles. Anglo-German capital (northern section 400 miles, German; southern section, 275 miles, British). Completed in 1911. Branches: (1) Chentangchwang to Liangwangchwang, 16 miles. (2) Lincheng to Tsao- chwang, 19 miles. (3) Yenchowfu to Tsiningchow, 19 miles. (4) Lokou to Huangtai- chiao 5 miles. (5) Tuliu to Pauto-Techow Grand Canal, 23 miles. (6) Pukow to Hanchuang (British), 2364 miles.

8. Shantung Railway. Constructed by Germans. Main line: Tsingtau to Tsinan, 256 miles, a single line with earthwork to accommodate double line. Branches: (1), Changtien to Poshan, 28 miles. (2) Tsaochuang to Taieshchuang, 26 miles

9. Shansi Railway (Cheng-T'ai). From Shihkiaochwang (next station south of Chengtingfu) on the Peking-Hankow line to Taiyuanfu, 151 miles, metre gauge.. Chinese Government have commenced work to connect Peking-Kalgan extension with: proposed North-Western grand trunk system. Orders for materials for Taiyuan Pingyao section have been given, and earth works have been begun between Yutze,. Taiku and Pingyao south of Taiyuanfu. Concession secured by Russo-Chinese Bank in 1898; constructed by Belgian syndicate; opened 1907.