い
November 4, 1901.]
not be possible now to increase the width of the rolling stock, which at present is too narrow for really profitable working; a defect which as traffic increases will grow continually worse. The greater portion of the lines are laid with only a single track, only one or two of the main lines possessing a thorough double line, and the defects of this early parsimony are beginning to make themselves felt. Rails, too, are light when compared with modern practice elsewhere, so that the railway system generally is worked under many disadvantages.
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At the beginning English locomotives were universally adopted. They were wel made and good specimens of the ordinary English type of the period, and were well adapted for the light traffic then passing over the lines.
Now all these conditions have materially changed, and on the main lines trains of twelve and fifteen or more coaches are ordinarily employed. The early engines have been found unserviceable for the growing traffic, and a large number of new engines have of recent years been ordered. Unfortunately, here economy of first cost has been too much the custom, while the comparative nearness of America and the greater facility for obtaining new locomotives there has led to orders having been recently placed in the States, to the almost entire exclusion of modern English engines. It cannot be said that the result is very satisfactory. Many of the American en- gines are, it is true, good specimens of workmanship, and do their work perfectly satisfactorily, but unfortunately the same cannot be said of the majority. While, however, an engine of a standard pattern can be laid down from America in some three or four months after the despatch of the order, some seven or eight will be re- quired for the arrival of one from England, and as engines are never ordered till the last moment, the result has not been satis- factory to any parties concerned, except the engine-builder. In its essentials the con- ditions of the lines more nearly approach the English than the American system, and English locomotives would certainly be longer-lived under the circumstances, besides as a rule being more economical in the way of repairs, as well as in consumption of fuel for an equal development of power.
With regard to the working of the lines, there are many defects almost inseparable from the conditions under which the lines have been made. As yet there is little ten- dency to the amalgamation of the lines, and most of the short lines are worked independently. Besides the Government lines, totalling a little over 800 miles, the statistics give no less than forty-four separ- ate organisations for the remaining 2,800 miles, or less than an average of 64 iniles, and of these the longest, though by no means the chief, line has only 330 miles under one administration, namely, the Kiu- shiu line. The consequence is that through trains are rarely to be found running even between important centres. To give an instance: Maebashi is one of the chief centres of the silk industry, and Yokohama is the chief shipping port. A loop line has been made round Tokyo to connect the Yokohama-Tokyo and the Maebashi line and to avoid the break which occurs between the two termini in the Capital. Even so the passenger has to change trains and carriages twice on the journey-at Shim- bashi and Akabane; the whole distance is under 100 miles, yet the time occupied is over five-and-a-half hours. If the passen ger desire to cross the island to Nangano or Niigata, another change of carriage at Takasaki is necessary, yet all these lines
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CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT. actually connect, and only a little change of concerning the Chinese Imperial Railways. system is needed. Again, as stated above, in North China, we might suppose that a there are three classes on all these railways; settlement that would afford much satisfac- the second is certainly no more needed than tion to Count LAMSDORFF might seem any- it has been found to be in England, and a thing but agreeable to Lord Lansdowne, change such as the Midland Railway intro- duced there would on all but a few suburban large, who have some little interest at stake or vice-versa, while to the British public at lines be found profitable to the companies. in the matter, it might well be that a settle- With regard to the actual working, the ment of a matter in which there was nothing Japanese demand a meed of praise. The to be settled might not be looked at as in rolling stock in essentials is kept in good nay respect a matter for self-congratulation. order, and carefully examined; true, the So far as Russia is concerned the questions interiors are not much attended to and with respect to Afghanistan were settled comfort is rarely studied. Naturally the upwards of fifteen years ago, when after the Japanese are clean in their persons, and are little Panjda incident of not over savoury very well disposed to make themselves memory, the frontier between Afghanistan agreeable, and a little teaching is all that and Russian encroachments was settled in is required in the little amenities of travel- ling life. Again, the locomotive stock is Power that never hesitates to-morrow to as clear a way as anything could be with a really very fairly treated; engines are kept break its plighted faith of to-day. Russia in good and substantial order, and the has exhibited lately a strong disposition to service suffers little from that gross careless-act the part of the village bully, and to ask ness that is the distinguishing feature of how much she is to have out of all interna- the Chinese. The conditions already spoken tional disputes to keep her hand out of the of narrow gauge, light rails, single lines- render rapid travelling difficult. Still, the upon herself as a kind of universal referee
mess. She appears to be tempted to look trains, to the credit of the management be We can comprehend a suggestion on the it said, are more than fairly punctual, and part of Count LAMSDORFF that in return the train as a rule keeps time at the inter- for being permitted without questions mediate stations to the minute. There asked to plunder someone else he should appears to be a regulation against making promise to refrain from making an offensive up for lost time, and this perhaps is carried display about the frontiers of Afghanistan, rather to an excess; as a factor of safety but in such a deal the terms are not equal. this is an error on the right side. The If England gives her word, say not to object Japanese stationmasters and guards, it is to Russia's ways in Manchuria, she is pleasant to notice, are at all times polite, morally bound to her engagement, as her and the traveller will generally find little character for truth is of more importance things done willingly to ease any discom- to her than even a temporary check to fort. Altogether, considering all the cir- Russian ambition in Northern Asin. The cumstances of the case, the Japanese can case is, however, widely different with Rus- afford to be a little proud of his managment sia. Russia's word is valueless to her, for of his railways; they are not perfect by a the very reason that no one will accept it long way, but they by no means bear out in the open market. The transaction would the remarks we heard as to their mismanage. be equivalent to the exchange of a Bank of ment from a recently arrived American England note for a flash note of hand drawn tourist at Akabane station. In many re- spects indeed, in the words of the person accept REUTER's information as but another on Aldgate Pump. We must, we fear,
to whom the remark was addressed, the Japanese could teach their would-be critic That the constituents whom REUTER loves case where the wish is father to the thought. a lesson.
to tickle in the East would be delighted that England would make some specially foolish pact with Russia, we have some reason for surmising, but we doubt if any such pact as is suggested by REUTER would be acceptable by the British nation at large. Arrangements may be made with regard to frontiers and other important details in Asia, and the Public would welcome any sign that showed a disposition on the part of Russia to become a better neighbour than she has recently shown herself. The time is yet distant, we fear, when Russin will consider her best interests to lie in friendly co-opera- tion with her neighbours, and till that time arrives we cannot expect her of her own
in the telegram. There has been no sign motion to make such a pact as is suggested of any influence other than friendly having! been brought to bear on Russia with regard to Afghanistan, and as Russia, at least in her present temper, is not likely to be moved by friendly considerations to commit her- self to a friendly act, we may well, until further news arrives, postpone our congratu- lations.
RUSSIA AND ASIA.
we
(Daily Press, 29th October.)
daily sending of the more important news Reasonable it might be supposed that the of passing events by telegraph to the East, especially seeing the few words allowed, would afford but little political scope to the packer to display his political proclivities. As a matter of fact most papers in the Far East have from time to time noticed a tendency on the part of REUTER's European offices to impart a tinge to the telegrams sent. in the universal competition we are not al- As fortunately together dependent on REUTER, and as have besides learned his little peculiarities, this small display of partiality does not grievously harin us, even if it have not its accompaniments of utility. It was thus that a few days ago REUTER informed us that the Afghanistan succession, and all questions arising out of it, had been settled between the Governments of Great Britain and Russia in the most completely satis factory manner. This doubtless, as far as it goes, is important, and certainly to those concerned most welcome news." REUTER has, however, forgotten to tell us the pith of the matter, and has left us completely in the da: k as to whom the satisfaction has been given or what is the matter that has afforded such unmitigated satisfaction to someone. Judging from the recent Blue- book issued about certain transactions,
that, owing to the postponement of almost all A correspondent writes to the Yushin Nippo the projected Government works in Formosa, business is completely paralysed. Happily at Kelung harbour construction works are being continued, and trade is slightly better there than at other places. The situation may be improved if the work of railway construction prospect for some time of the prosperity in be resumed. There is, however, at present no trade which was experienced about five years ago.
T
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