Mr, J, J. Mantell's Opinions on Shanighai-Nanking Railway Proposed Ferry Across the Yangtze Nanking, Feb. 7. a memorandum submitted to 'Mr. Sun Fo, Minister of Railways, by Mr, John J. Mantell, Adviser to the Ministry, regarding' the Intter's inspection of the Nanking-Shangaa Railway and the Shanghai-Ha chow-Ningpo Railway, the railway expert stated that the "rae way affairs were being handled on a very improper business basis," and that there was an apparent) "unnecessary waste of money."
"phose railways have not been developed," Mr," Mantell continued in his report, "in the manner in which they should have been for economic administration, transportation, dnd development of new busi ness, particularly goods business, and establishment of rates to meet the conditions of traffic, or in other words, to some extent what the traffic will bear.
"The goods wagons on the above railways have been seriously neg lected in the matter of painting, and they are deteriorating rapidly by corrosion. There should be no exeuse for a situation of this kind.
With the great amount of labour and over-stating which is evident, 4 small percentage of the cars can the released to go to the shops at Woosung, and at concentrating points for cars. These cars could easily be wire-brushed and given cent of paint, "There is a tremendous waste of coal on the part of firemen in stoking locomotives. 'The firemen Ihave evidently never been instruc! ed in scientific firing. The fire men, as well as some of the division' superintendents, have no idea with regard to grate'dratt, fire door draft, ete.
Selontifie firing combustion and burning of gases are not There is an estimated from 16 to 20 per cent.
duo to lack of proper prnctca) instruction of firemen, doubt the railway files woald show. "The only difference te that Mr. Mantell's report has been published and its predecessors, on which it was never possible t3 get any action taken, have not.
But in respect of expenses and management Mr. Mantell's report is distinctly interesting, though it will searcely be popular with the present experts in charge of the railway. During the past year the Chinese! authorities have acquired practically the whole control of the railway. This is confirmed by the letters addressed to the Ministry of Railways on January 22 last, which take the "furtherance of the policy of direct operation of the railway! by the Ministry" as the basis for considerable modifications of the original agreement. The Board of Commissioners still exists but has obviously no powers and all author. ity kas passed into the hands of Mr, Jun-ko Choy, Chinese managing, Mr. Mantell's charges are epitome ized in the three following sent-
"The railway affairs are being handled on a very improper business. basi There is an apparent "unnecessary waste of money;"
"Over-stalfing whielt is evident and proper rates the traffic of the railway can be defeloped"—plainly implying that the present management is not intelligent.
On the question of over-staining, at no time in the past 15 years has the foreign staff of the Shanghai-[Nanking Railway been increased, and Jduring the past year it has been' considerably reduced.
Br. Clear's resignation may have been balanced by Mr, Tuxford'
Mr, Wayne and Mr. rappenden have tribute more than all nation of cost is the adapting of the railways (o new conditions of goods traffic, and the full utilization of the railways by securing additional -traffic to the utmost. The method of creating rates on ditference of cost of service is a Continual rate adjustment Among the recommendations made by Mr, Mantel were the purchase of six locomotives of the Mountain Type and the appropria tion of $280,000 for the strengthening of the railway bridges.
'The double-tracking of the railway between Shanghai and Nanking was believed unnecessary, 'The statement of nine years' busin according to Mr, Mantell, would not indicate a necessity for doing this for the next ten years. It is be-Ueved, however, that with) intei-Jigent management and proper ratea, the traffic of the railway can be developed, as well as the traffic fro tthe North with installation of a car float service at Nanking. Thea there will be a necessity for double tracking within the next seven or eight years.
The problem of the Nanking-Pu-ferry was also. diseussed_ in My. Manéel's memorandum, "The direct Tine of the railways between Shanghai and Peking," he stated, ig" broken at Nanking on account of the Yangtze river." Tt was fair-estimate that 25 or 20 years would go by before a bridge could de considered preferable to a ferry in the vicinity of Nanking. The absence of physical connection at thi place constituted a very serious di fect in the railway system as Whole, and under authorization from the Ministry plans were being sent from America, showing method effect in crossing the Missi which in many respects is simile the Yangtze—Reuter.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.