ENGLISH AND FOREIGN ENGINEERING.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 9817, 28 August 1897, Page 7

ENGLISH AND FOREIGN ENGINEERING.

The last British Consular report on the railways of Japan states that out of 230 locomotives running on the Japanese railWays, 224 were made in England and six in America, in October last, moreover, tenders were invited for eighteen locomotives, with the specification that they were to be of English make, six well-known manufacturers being named. The contract was secured by a French firm, but unadvisedly, for the specified English manufacturers were too busy to execute it. The French firm lost its deposit of 10 per cent., say, £5000. There is the set - off that owing to the active condition of the business of English locomotive makers, orders have to be sent to America, although the six American locomotives now running on Japanese lines do not, according to Consul Low titer, give satisfaction. For the construction of the Kmbabeh Bridge English tenders were altogether out of the field, and a. French firm eventually got the contract for £81,200 But when the bridge was completed it unconscionably broke down, and had to be strengthened at a. cost of £33,000, bringing the total up to £114.200. This sum is, however, less than the English tender of £138,000, but then there is tho consideration that a putched-up bridge may break down again.