CHINA’S RAILWAYS TO PLAY VITAL ROLE IN NATION’S GROWTH

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 6889, 20 April 1929, Page 10

CHINA’S RAILWAYS TO PLAY VITAL ROLE IN NATION’S GROWTH

SOKE 6000 MILES OF TRACKAGE AND MANY BRIDGES TO BE BUILT IN TWO YEARS. SHANGHAI. With the arrival here of Dr. J; A. L. Waddell, a new period of Tailroad corf•traction is to commence, vMr Sun Fo, Chinese Minister of -Railways, is pushing his proposals for programme which will ahiaoct double the existing mileage of railroads in the. country. Some 6000 miles %£ railroads will be built in three gtages of two years at a cost of 400,060,000 dollars, of which half can be •aised from the Boxer indemnity funds returned by the powers and allocations Jlrem' the increased customs revenue, the balance to be raised by a bond isime. ' The State Council at Nanking, is •arefnlly considering the proposal. Gan: ten will be linked np with Hankow and Nanking, Ssechwan Province will bo opened np, and direct communication from the south to the north will be provided. ; Dr. iWaddel has approved of the Minister’s proposals and is enthusiastic Of the possibilities promised by the undertaking. He declares that the majority of the railroad bridges in China need rebuilding. Ho advocates the establishment of several plants for manufacturing girders for bridges, pointing out several strategic places where sueh plants could be started for Bieeting the sectional needs.