969
10. Turning now to the estimate, I give below the relative cost of the origi- nal and present schemes.
Item.
Original
Present
Scheme.
Scheme.
(1.) Storage Reservoir,....
$150,000
$489,000
(2.) Catchwater,
6,000
40,000
(3.) Main to Filter Beds,
16,000
24,000
(4.) Filter Beds and Bungalow,
20,000
31,000
(5.) Main from Filter Beds to Service Reservoir,
72,000
100,000
(6.) Service Reservoir at Kowloon Tong,
60,000
70,000
(7.) Connection to and Extension of Distributing
System,
55,000
70,000
(8.) Service Reservoir at Kowloon City,.
6,000
7,000
(9.) Fire Hydrants on existing system,
3,000
4,000
(10.) Purchase of cultivated ground,
5,000
8,000
(11.) Road diversions,
5,000
393,000
848,000
Allow for value of machinery, &c. to be dispensed
with
13,000
13,000
Total,.........$
380,000
835,000
11. In comparing these two estimates, it must be borne in mind that nearly two years have elapsed since the original scheme was prepared, and that during that period there has been a great increase in the cost of labour and materials in the Colony, an increase which I estimate at 35 per cent.
12. I have already indicated the great changes which have been made in the scheme, but will recapitulate them here with reference to the various items of the estimate which have been affected by them.
Item (1). An alteration has been made in the site of the dam causing an
increase of 30 feet in the height of it, and masonry and cement concrete have been substituted for earth and clay puddle in its construction.
Item (2). The original proposal provided only for intercepting a stream from a side-valley below the dam; the present scheme provides for a large catch water along the Northern slopes of the Kowloon range of hills, intercepting the drainage from an area of 400 acres. Item (3). Owing to the reduction in head, resulting from constructing the dam lower down the valley, the main to the Filter Beds has had to be increased in size.
Item (4). Filter Beds of more than double the area originally proposed are required to deal with the increased supply which is contemplated under the new scheme.
Items (5) to (9). The increases are required to cover the enhanced cost of ma-
terials and labour only.
Item (10). The amount originally stated was merely assumed, that now stated is based upon actual survey and measurement.
Item (11). The road diversion is rendered necessary by the altered position of the dam which will interfere with the old path leading to Tái Pó and other villages. The original site of the dam caused no interference with this path.
13. With regard to (10) "Purchase of cultivated ground" I may mention that compensation was paid for cultivated land required for the construction of the Tái Pó Road generally at the rate of 1 cent per square foot or $436 per acre. I consider this amount altogether excessive and have taken a rate of $225 per acre or about cent per square foot in the estimate now submitted.
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