As early as 1013 the road problem was tackled by the Government of the young Republic, and in that year 5 kilos. of road were constructed in Hunan, Internal trouble prevented much further progress being made until 1918 when the Ministry of the Interior officially commenced a programme of roads, Tt was not unt two years later, however, that stormmed start could be made and since that time the Kilometrage earth roads has steadily increased.
The roads were later, by decree, placed under the Ministry of Railway fand from 1920 to 10981 the construction programme, which had lagged since 1927, was accelerated, sau of Roads 1032, however, marked a new era road construction, for in that year the National Economic Couneit decided to organize a Bureau of Roads, and to make a grant of $1,000,000 for the purpose of Joining up the provinces of Kianysu, Chekiang, and Anhwei, Tt was also in November, 4082, that the "Interprovineial Highway Trae Commission" of the above-mentioned provinces and the municipalities of Nanking and Greater Shanghai came into being, thereby bringing under a ce-ordinated control the road trae and motor transport of those provinces.
The Bureau of Roads has done splendid service in transport work and also in construction not only of earth roads but especially of surfaced roads for motor trafic.
As. this work. ts comparatively so new to China, several expert advisers from the League of Nations have been employed, 8 well as others engaged directly by the National Economic Council The Silk Road rose with yearnings for romance will readily be thrilled by the road Row under construction between Sianfu, the railhead, and Lanchow in Kansu, a distance of 600 kilometres. for this road follows a part of the route of the ancient "Silk Road" by which Chinese silk travelled to] Greece and Imperial Rome.
This road was cut, nearly two thousand years ago, by the diversion of the rivers feeding Lok Nor in Sinkiang, but these streams resumed their original course a few years ago and. the great road—the world's Tongest—may one day be restored.
'The Sian-Lanchow road is, as many Know, a great, engineering' problem, for Ik passes' through loess country and its successful completion will be fan event in road history. Many set backs have been encountered but the problems are being tackled energetic. ily and surmounted one by one and there is every hope that success wil! finally crown the efforts of the engineers. Already bus lines are operating over the route in fine weather and the journey of six weeks even now reduced to three days.
completion of the permanent road this latter figure will, of course, be still further reduced.
Tt will be generally conceded that these Chinese efforts with Chinese funds made ina time of unique political, financial, and _economie stress, deserve the very highest praise, for they do good to all and harm to none—a rare avis int these times.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.