The chief reason assigned is the facility of moving troops.
To the Kaiping Railway Company are assigned the contract and authority to
build the road. The reason of this preference is the securing of coal for
the fleet.
As I have advised you, an effort was made to consolidate this company with
the syndicate represented by General Wilson. It seems from this memorial
that this scheme failed. The Kaiping Railway Company has already advertised
for 2,000 tons of rails and fastenings, to be delivered at Taku ninety days
after June 15th next.
[Inclosure in No. 348.]
memorial from the board of admiralty.
A memorial to the Empress, submitting a proposal for the
experimental introduction of a railway at Tientsin and other places, in
order to facilitate the movement of troops and the transport of material
of war, and to increase the profits of the mercantile classes.
The introduction of railways has been under discussion for several years.
Some have argued in their favor, and others adversely, so that no
definite conclusion has been come to. The memorialist, I-huan (the
seventh Prince) has frequently heard these oft-repeated opinions, and
his own views were at one time opposed to the innovation, but since the
recent campaign, and since ho himself visited the northern sea-ports, he
has become aware that these adverse opinions are not in accordance with
the true interests of the state. When the prince with Li Hung-chang and
Shan Ching inspected the sea-ports the question of railways frequently
formed the subject of their deliberations. Moreover, when he presided
over the Tsung-li yamên he obtained a clear insight into affairs, and
considered thoroughly the means of remedying the difficulties of the
time.
Tseng Chi-tse (the Marquis Tseng) has been ambassador in foreign
countries for eight years, and has himself studied the railway systems
of other nations, their utility in providing for the transport of troops
and material, their immense benefit to the people, the large issues they
involve, and the very great advantages to be derived from them, and he
has seen that they not only afford protection to the frontier and a
stimulus to the trade of the people, but at the same time are in no way
attended with danger or impediment to the state. Since his appointment
to the Tsung-li yamên he has devoted much thought to this matter, and
made many inquiries, which have resulted in his entire agreement with
the views set forth in this memorial.
In our deliberations we have duly recognized the fact that the
circumstances of China have from ages past differed widely from those of
other nations, and while we are fully cognizant of the many and great
advantages to be derived from railways we have not been blind to the
financial difficulties nor to the objections that might exist to an
unsightly network of railways being spread like a web over the land, as
is the case in many countries.
On the other hand, when we consider the important advantages to be gained
in the facility and rapidity with which troops and material can be moved
from place to place, we are convinced of the desirability of taking the
best measures in this direction. One should not look at only one side of
a question.
[Page 209]
In the midst of our deliberations on this matter a report was received
from the Tientsin salt commissioner, the taotai, and the officers in
command of the various garrisons, to the following effect:
The sea-board of Chihli, stretching for a distance of some 700 li,
consists for the most part of shoals and sand-banks, though there are
many places where small craft can reach the shore; but, besides Taku and
Pei-t’ang, where steamers can anchor near the shore, along the whole
coast, from Shan Hai Kuan to Yang Ho K’ou, a distance of over 100 li,
there is not a single place where the water is not deep and the waves
high.
The port of Taku is distant from Shan Hai Kuan about 500 li, and in the
summer and autumn the coast roads are so covered with water and
obstructed with mud that the carts laden with merchandise can not travel
more than 20 or 30 li in a day; indeed, in some places the road is often
quite impassable; so that it is to be feared that in, the event of a
surprise we should be slow in meeting the emergency. Moreover, the
northern and southern garrisons are too widely separated, and it would
be difficult to come to the rescue in time of need. We can not,
therefore, neglect to station troops at the most important and exposed
places, occupying beforehand those points where the first struggle will
take place, thus displaying the might of the nation, as it were, before
her gates. But on the portion of the sea-coast nearest to Peking, from
Taku and Pei-t’ang northwards for a distance of 500 li, the garrisons
are few in number, and the gaps between them are a great source of
danger. If they were united by a line of railway, in any case of
emergency troops dispatched in the morning could arrive at their post in
the evening, the soldiers of one garrison would suffice for the
protection of several places, and the cost of maintaining the army could
be greatly reduced.
In the seventh year of Kuang Hsii, the Kaiping Mining Company laid down
20 li of railway. Subsequently, to facilitate the coaling of vessels of
war, the line was extended 60 li to the southward as far as Yeng-chuang
on the river Chi. This line occupies the central portion of the road,
between Pel-t’ang and Shan Hai Kuan, a tract of the highest importance
as regards military transport. If this railway be carried through
southwards to the north bank of river at Taku, and northward to Shan Hai
Kuan, the 10,000 men under the command of the General Chow Shêmpo can be
moved backwards and forwards along this distance of several tens of li,
and serve all the purposes of several times their number. Should this
appear to be too great an undertaking, or the difficulty of furnishing
the necessary capital be found insurmountable, it is requested that the
80 od4 li of railway from Yeng-chuang to the north bank of the river at
Taku be first constructed, after which the 100 and more li of road from
Taku to Tientsin can be gradually completed. If something over 1,000,000
taels can be raised, this work could be carried out indue course. The
Tientsin-Taku railway once completed, the line from Kaiping northward to
Shan Hai Kuan can then be taken into consideration.
This is a matter of the very highest importance for the defense of the
sea-board. If the capital can not at once be collected from merchants by
the issue of shares, it should be furnished by the Government, and
soldiers should be employed to assist in carrying out the work, in order
to secure its speedy completion.
Moreover, the coal used by the Pei Yang fleet is all obtained from
Kaiping, and it is, as it were, the life and pulse of the navy. If the
Kaiping railway is extended to the north bank of the river at Taku, the
coal can be conveyed from the mines on board the ships in half a day,
and if the line is continued from Taku to Tientsin, it can be utilized
for the carriage of merchandise, and the freight received from the
foreign traders will help towards the maintenance of the railway.
If this scheme is authorized the work should be placed in the hands of
the Kaiping Railway Company, so that economy in expenditure and labor
may be secured.
It is further requested that a high official of unimpeachable integrity
may be appointed to undertake the supreme administration.
This joint petition was received by the memorialists.
The memorialists find that the railway proposed in the joint petition of
the salt commissioner, the taotai, and the officers of the garrisons,
which would run from Yen-chuang to the north bank of the river at Taku,
a distance of more than 80 li, would lie mostly at the back of Taku and
Pei-t’ang, some tens of li from the sea-shore, and there is evidently no
fear of its becoming an object of attack by the enemy, but funds will be
necessary for its permanent maintenance. They therefore request that a
line may be gradually constructed from Taku to Tientsin of 100 or more
li, which may be relied upon as a means of obtaining the funds in
question, and thus both military and commercial interests will derive an
equal advantage. The country will be protected at ordinary times, and in
special emergencies defensive measures will be facilitated. In case of
defeat the rolling stock can be withdrawn, the line taken up, the
military stores buried, and the advance of the enemy need not be
feared.
The memorialists have attentively considered this petition, and they now
request the scheme may be sanctioned. They beg that it may entrusted to
the Kaiping Railway Company, and that the former provincial treasurer of
Fuh-kien. Shên Pao-ching,
[Page 210]
whose services have been retained in connection with the northern
squadron, and Chow Fu, acting salt commissioner, superintendent of
customs at Tientsin, may be appointed conjointly to administer the
affair and direct the officials and merchants connected with it.
In the autumn of this year, the new war vessels ordered from England and
Germany should reach China, and nest year the memorialist, I-huan, will
proceed to the seaport, and with Li Hung-chang and his colleagues
arrange for the formation of the first division of the navy. They can at
the same time inspect the railway. If it is found to be useful and free
from objections, they would suggest that similar plans be put into
operation in the various mining districts of the country.
The memorialists venture to present this memorial to Her Majesty the
Empress, being moved thereto by the necessity of the times and their
desire for the welfare of the nation.
A memorial from the Board of Admiralty, dated Kuang Hsii, 13th year, 2nd
month and 22nd day (15th March, 1887).
Rescript granted.
