'A group of business men of Canton have conceived the idea of laying down a short local line, about ten miles in length, to bring " very populous district outside Canton in closer touch with the capital, and hence with Hongkong, by means of the KowloonCanton line At pre sent, as far as we know, nothi further has been done than to sur vey the country, and raise funds} 4,' for construction. But advices have been sent on to Peking, endorsed by the local officials, and from these there appears every probability that this work will be undertaken in the near future. It is certainly a step in the right direction.
As far as the promoters can at present estimate, the cost of the line, with rolling stock, will about $200,000. The project provides for a narrow gauge line, about three and a half feet wide, English measurement. The large villages through which the proposed line will pass, are numerous, an some of them important. Lately some attempt has been made to join up some of these villages with Canton by means of ricshas, This has given pedestrians a lift, and they appreciate this advantage; but after all, this is a small step, and berefts only the few wealthy travellers, It does nothing towards getting the produce of these rich fields nearer to Cant n, and so making it easier to feed the people.
Those who have surveyed the district say that there are no difficulties, for the country is quite level, and there are no waters of any importance to necessitate bridges.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.