RAILWAYS IN CHINA.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 3184, 8 May 1909, Page 3

RAILWAYS IN CHINA.

From time to time cable news has been published regarding the jeopardising of British interests in some _of the railway undertakings in China but none of the accounts have portrayed so unfortunate a condition is that published by the London "Times" last month, from its Pekin correspondent. This had reference to the state of the Shanghai-Hang-chow-Ningpo railway, in which some H millions ot British capital has been invested. The loan agreement, for this line was signed on March 6th, 1908, the contracting parties being, on the one hand, the Waiwupu-and Yuchuanpu, and on the other the British and Chinese Corporation, Limited. The line runs from Shanghai to Hangchow, and thence to Ningpo, altogether 238 miles. The original agreement provided for the appointment of a British engineer-in-chief, and for the purchase of materials in the open market, but, other things being equal, the preference to be with English manufactures. If materials were purchasable in China,- other things being equal, they were to be purchased there, in order to encourage Cninese industry. This original agreement was brushed aside by an Imperial edict of April Isth of last year, when permission was given for the construction of the line under private, instead of official management. The result seems to have been deplorable. One hundred miles of track are laid between Shanghai and Chientang, and over 71 miles of this track trains are now running. However, sven on this portion much work remains to be done. The British engineer-in-chief rihas ;ni> authority, and is not premitted to interfere with the work; with what results may be imagined, when it is stated that only Chinese are employed 6n the work, many of them having no previous engineering knowledge. The individual in charge has only a rudimentary knowledge of such work. Native rails of obsolete section are used, spiked to softwood sleepers, that are quickly -destroyed. Each director orders rolling-stock in turn, so that, as may be expected, there are many more varieties' than are required. But the most'interesting points are connected with bridgebuilding hy^these "engineers." In one instance a bridge was built on land, owing to x he difficulty of throwing the span across the stream,' and a diversion channel was then cut for the riveri to make it pass under the bridge. This, it must, be admitted, is ingenious, but hardly what might have been expected of one of the oldest nations in the world. ;:"In another case, difficulty being experienced in making a midstream pier for a bridge, the expedient of making an island in the middle of the river was adapted. Having made an island the pier was built on it; This kind of work in connection with/ streams' as deep and swift €?. many of the v Chinese rivers are, and liable as they are to change their courses, is nothing less than remarkable, as it might loe thought their ancient skill with masonry structures would prevent the adoption of such extraordinary methods.