Lungchow, Dec. 16.
The building of the motor road from Lungechow to Naamkuan, the border post between Kuangsi and Tonkin, is well under way. The main work is that of rebuilding, romnt Secs: and widening the road built a num-"of Sears ago by Marshal So Kung-k'o. The material used in ted the road for the greater part of the distance is red clay which in dry weather is, hard and firm, but which after a heavy rain or two becomes soft. It is proposed to re-surface the entire road with stone to protect it from the rains. Several automobiles have made the -trip from the border to Opptsaitaau, a distance of about 40 kilometres, and with the exception of finding the road soft in places had little difficulty in travel. Several steep grades are met with in the trip and for low powered cars it is almost impossible to make the grade when carrying passengers. The most difficult part of the work is but 10 kilometres from Lungchow, where the road runs close to the river. The former road has caved in in several places and these places have to be rebuilt and widened. Much blasting is necessary because of the road being cut into the face of several mountains. Two stone bridges are included in the programme and will be commenced shortly. 7 At present there are about 400 men working upon the-road under the supervision of Annamese foremen. M. Shults, a French engineer, is in charge of the work and makes regular visits of inspection, coming from Tonkin in a car. It is estimated that the road work will cost about $100,000 in Kuangsi notes, and will not be finished for several months.
The rebuilding of the buildings which were demolished by the Cantonese is being rushed. The schools which were destroyed are being repaired and opened. Officials who left Lungchow upon the arrival of the invaders last year are returning and are being installed in official positions.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.