Directory_and_Chronicle_1939 — Page 389

CHINA

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Hunan, to Chuanhsien and Kweilin, in Kwangsi, covers a distance of 380 kilo- metres and is expected to be completed within six months. The bridge over the Siang River at Hengyang, which will connect this line with the Canton-Hankow line, is already under construction.

Following the settlement of the Sian incident, the Ping-Han Railway revert- ed to normal soon after the beginning of 1937. Upon the outbreak of Sino- Japanese hostilities construction of the branch line from Hwayuan to Laohokow was suspended in August.

The opening to traffic of the Sian-Paoki section of the Lung-Hai Railway was originally scheduled to take place on New Year's Day, 1937, but was post- poned until the 1st March. Final surveys were carried out for the extension westward from Paoki to Tienshui, whence extensions of this line, north-west to Lanchow and south to Chengtu, the capital of Szechwan, are contemplated.

The northern section of the Tatung-Puchow Railway is under construction. The first section of the Chekiang-Kiangsi line from Hangchow to Yüshan, 336 kilometres, was completed in 1933; the second section from Yüshan to Nan- chang, 300 kilometres, was opened to traffic in January 1936; and the third section of 263 kilometres to Pinghsiang, where connexion will be made with the Canton-Hankow line, was expected to be completed during 1937 or early in 1938.

Work proceeded rapidly on the extension of the King-Kan (Nanking-Kiang- si) Railway to Kweich'i. Upon completion, it is the intention of the Govern- ment to extend this line via Shaowu and Nanping (Yenp'ing), in Fukien, and thence through Chaoan to Canton.

:

The construction of the unfinished section of the Shanghai-Hangchow-Ningpo Railway between Zakow and Hangchow and of the Ch'ient' ang River Bridge would shortly have been completed but for the hostilities, which suspended work and caused a certain amount of damage to the bridge. The rehabilitation of the Shanghai-Nanking Railway, with the double-tracking of the section Shang- hai-Soochow, was also contemplated.

Financial arrangements were completed for a loan from the British and Chinese Corporation of £4,000,000 for the construction of a line from Pukow (Nanking) running on the north of the Yangtze River and crossing the Peiping- Hankow Railway to Siangyang, in the province of Hupeh.

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The first stage in the construction of the Chungking-Chengtu Railway was started during the year. The line, on leaving Chungking, will follow a course along the valley of the Upper Yangtze, passing the Maoerhhsia Gorge. At 125 kilometres the line will leave, the Yangtze and turn to the north-west to Yung- chwan, thence following a general westward direction, passing Jungchang, Lungchang, Neikiang, Tzechung, Tzeyang, Kienyang, Chaokiatu, and southward to Chengtu. Many difficulties will have to be overcome in the course of construc- tion. The estimated time for completion is two and a half years, and the length of the line 523 kilometres.

The following are the import statistics for rolling-stock, and for such rail- way materials as are specifically quoted as such in the Returns, during the past three years:

1935.

1937.

Quantity.

1936. Value. Quantity. Vaiuc. St. $

St. S

Quantity. Value

St. $

Crossings and Turntables for

Railways... Quintals

..

Rails

8,396 751,035

243,560 14,859 577,995 8,498,768 965,747 14,871,008–913,341

18,974

693,960

13,60,276

Locomotives & Tenders

3,950,991

14,026,834

6,63,686

Railway Carriages and

Wagous

.....

1,962,725

11,5:1,923

2,744,425

Railway Materials, n.o.r

Railway Sleepers Pieces 3,702,067

3,509,901

4, 43,039

4,643,362

8,524,812 1,757,06%

4,593,053 1,300,895

4,5+7,97+

Total

26,690,757

49,625.852

32,501,674

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