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April 22, 1897.|
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CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT. to
the Queen's long reign, as neither bays (Deep Water, Stanley, and Tytam) are not this portion being doubled, by which we should Pole nor "Jehn's" letter give my protected like the Paper Mill and Brickworks get a gradient of 1 in 24 over this section. If opinions quite correctly, I should be glad by the Island of Applichau and the Lammas, the difficulty can be surmounted in this way, if you would kindly give me an opportunity of and any Inspector of Police who has been section five cannot be considered an insuperable correcting some apparently rather misleading stationed at Stanley during the south-west barrier to the successful accomplishment statements.
monsoon will tell you that during the greater this most important scheme. Even if thèse trak portion of this period all the villages on that sections bays, for the present, to remain un- side of the Island (east of Aberdeen) are practi- amended, the steep distance is only 1.60 mile cally deserted by junks and fishing boats owing out of between 23 and 24. This must be pro- to the strong gales and heavy seas blowing vided against by a skid upon the wheel, the right up the bays, making it almost impossible inconvenience of which is trifling. Indeed the for vessels of any kind to anchor, In my occasional variation of gradient in a road opinion no manufactory will be established where "used solely for recreation is more exhilarat- cargo-boats or janks cannot approach close to ing than a mere dead level. Any how, as the them and lay alongside wharves, &c., with safety steep inclines will be limited to less that seven all the year round and at all states of the tides. per cent of the total proposed length, I think The new road (if made) would not be used for that the statement of Messrs. Denison and Ram conveying either cargo, raw material, or manu- that "the roads are mostly on the level." may be factured goods to this side, as bringing them accepted as fairly true. round in that manner would be a very heavy additional and unnecessary expense. Once on a cargo-boat it is immaterial whether the goods are carried one mile or five miles.
Personally I have no objection to a new road round the Island, but you must re- member that the proposal before the Com- mittee was to make a "carriage road," is. a road by which the occupants of a carriage, starting from say the Club, could drive out westward, and return to their original starting point, from the east, via the Shaukiwan Road, and which road was also to be suitable for rickshas and bicycles. The width of the road, whether it should be 20 feet or 30 feet, at the present time is of little or no importance. The whole project, from an engineering point of view (and It was to give my opinion as an "Engineer" that I was requested by the Sub-Committee to attend their meeting), turns upon the question of "gradients." The steepest inclination on the proposed new roads should be such that carriages and other wheeled vehicles can drive up and down them (i.e. trot) with safety. This gradient according to all the leading authorities should not be steeper than 1 in 35. Such being the case,
the proposed carriage road should be laid out so that no portion of it has a greater inclination than 1 in 35. Can this be done if the line of the new road, as suggested by its *promoters, be recommended? I have not the least hesitation in saying that it cannot. There is no difficulty in making a good "carriage" road as far as Deep Water Bay, the cost of which would be about $130,000 From this point to Shaukiwan, the following would' be the respective gradients :- Third Section.
From east side Repulse Bay to Gap (170 feet high) between West Bay and Stanley. Length, 1:42 miles. Gradient, 1 in 68. Fourth Section.
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From the above Gap to Stanley. Length, 0.47
of a mile. Gradient, 1 in 21.
Fifth Section.
New Road from Tytam Tuk to Gap (517 feet high) on road between Tytam Tuk and Shaukiwan. Length, 1.13 miles. Gradient, 1-in 12. Sixth Section.
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From Tytam Gap (517 feet) to Shaukiwan. Length, 1.70 miles. Gradient, 1 in 42. You will notice there are two sections, riz., the fourth and fifth, which if made would be impracticable for carriage traffic, the last one (1 in 12) being really the "key to the whole Boheme.
It may, interest you to know that the steepest part of the existing Pokfolum Road is about 1 in 10; this road, as you are probably aware, is impossible for bioylces to ascend, and not safe for carriages to trot down.
In drawing your attention to these facts I have no wish to throw cold water on the project of this new road, which is no doubt an excellent one, if it can be shown that it is possible to construct it as proposed at not only a reasonable cost, but in such a manner and with such gradients as to make it really suit- able and safe for carriages and wheeled vehicles of all kinds. If this is not possible I respect fully venture to think it would be more advis able for the Committee to recommend some other project which would command the sup. port of the majority if not the whole of the community, and, further, I am of opinion that such public works as the construction of new roads, such as have been suggested, should be undertaken by the Government.-Yours truly,
Hongkong, 17th April, 1897,
WM. DANBY.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE "DAILY PRESS." SIR-Mr. Danby writes, "Personally I have no objection to a new road round the Island." "He that is not against us, is of our part" and I venture to claim him as an influential ally. His evidence is entirely to the point and invaluable. He tells us that the Pokfolum Road has, in one portion, a gradient of 1 in 10, which should, according to all the leading authorities be 1 in 35; so in the construction of a fashionable house he would specify that the risers of the How do the promoters intend getting over main staircase should not exceed 4 or, at mosty this difficulty? Messrs. Denison and Ram, in 5 inches; but in practice people often have their supplementary report read before the to lift their feet much higher. I have driven Committee, state in reference to this section all sorts of carriages on the Pokfulam Road that "from Tytam Tak to the Gap there is a almost the whole of which is unfortunately too steep road impracticable for wheeled vehicles steep for two wheels, and arduous and incon of any kind; " yet four lines after this and invenient for four wheels. It is not, however, the same report they say,"The roads from so much a matter of danger, as of horse flesh Aberdeen to Shaukiwan are now only about 10 and watchfulness in driving. Horses cannot feet in average width, but as they are mostly work steep gradients in Hongkong, and there on the level, they could be widened without is little pleasure in driving upon such on account any great expenditure." How do they reconcile of the preoccupation and fatigue which it in these two statements, seeing that the road from volves. The fact remains, however, that this Tytam Tuk to the Tytam Gap previously re- road, indifferently graded as it is, is constantly ferred to is a part of the road from Aberdeen to. used for jinrickshas and bicycles, and also Shaukiwan.
frequently for carriages. So with such roads in hilly districts all over the world. Some of the roads in the Isle of Wight down which the stages are drawn by four horses at a gallop are probably as steep as 1 in 10,, a good skid, or In my estimate I included the cost of willen sometimes two even, being carefully applied. ing roads and bridges, lengthening drains, and. Such roads are, however, well nigh useless in. improving streets and sharp turns in the vil-Hongkong, where horse power is materially lages of Aberdeen and Stanley, to adapt them lessened, and man power altogether inadequate to carriage traffic. It will be interesting to to traction, except upon the level or very gentle know if this item is included in the other esti-gradients, mates.
1
My estimate of the cost of the first section round Mount Davis is $108,000 and not $150,000; its length would be 4.32 miles and not 3 miles.
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I note your remarks on the matter of open ing up manufacturing sites on the south side of the island. I know, I think, not only all the suitable manufacturing sites in the colony, but also what is required in connection with them, and have no hesitation in saying that there is no ground suitable for this purpose on the south side of the island and to the east of Aberdeen? The coastline east of Aberdeen is exposed to the full force of the south-west monsoons, the small
Mr. Danby considers his 4th and 5th sections impracticable for carriages. The former can- not, I think, be fairly so considered. The gradient of 1 in 21 for the short distance of 0.47 of a mile is really nothing, especially when we see carriages of all kinds making occasional use of the Pokfulam road graded in part to 1 in 10. Then, with regard to the fifth section. This is 1.13 mile long, and has a gradient of 1 in 12. Mr. Danby does not say whether the. surrounding contours admit of the length of
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I have put the words "used solely for recrea- tion" in inverted commas, and have in a former letter taken the position that the making of the road is abundantly justified upon this con- sideration alone, were there no others, on account of the indispensable character of recreation, expecially in Hongkong; but here again Mr. Danby comes to our aid, and by show ing that communication with the other side of the Island is next to impossible by water. during a great portion of the period of the south-west monsoon, he emphasizes most emphatically the pressing importance of the speedy construc- tion of some alternative means. It is thus shown that if these villages, with their large surrounding areas of level ground, are ever to become flourishing centres of native population. it is essential that adequate means of communication during all seasons of the year be established between them and the harbour side. Mr. Danby is probably correct in saying that the new road will be little used for conveying cargo, raw material, or manu- factured goods. Hence its gradient is not of supreme importance. What is important, however, is that," where possible, the gradient should be extremely moderate; so that, even- tually, the road may accommodate a tramway, Then it will be time to rectify the imperfection. of the short distances, together 1.60 mile, the cost of which will be lessened by comparison with the large aggregate expenditure, probably to be undertaken a few years hence in the completion of the Jubilee Memorial by a railway round the island. The capabilities of Hongkong can never be considered as developed until this has been accompished.-Yours faith- fully,
JEHU
• ©
Hongkong, 19th April, 1897;
ANOTHER JUBILEE SUGGESTION.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE "DAILY PRESS.” DEAR SIR-I wish to call attention through the medium of your valuable edition to the dilapidated condition of the Government build- ings, Post Office and Land Office. These points attract the attention of visitors and compare very unfavourably with the appearance of such fine edifices as the Bank, new Club, etc. This is not likely to strike the highly salaried officials who have become rooted to the place, but is. a terrible eye-sore to visitors and has been remarked upon on several occasions (to my personal knowledge): I would suggest that part of the money which is sure to be devoted this year to jubilation be set aside for this purpose, and so remove a blemish which I am sure every one in the colony will be glad to see done. Yours truly,
VISITOR.
Hongkong, 20th April, 1897.
ON THE QUESTION AS TO THE BEST “FORM OF JUBILEE MEMORIAL.
MB.
1.
G......M S......T loquitur:--
L
Your nurses and your hospitals, I swear,
For the Jubilee are not,we "can do"; But if the answer true you wish to hear,
This it is-solvitur ambulando. ·
[Left walking.
WEALTHY MERCHANT loquitur:——
You want my cheque, but tell me now, I pray, Why subscribe for a road should a man do? I do not ride, or golf, or bike, so say
If it's not, solvitur ambulando?
[Walks off,
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