The International Development of ChinaSun, Yat-sen
History
The International Development of China
Sun, Yat-sen
China -- Economic conditions -- 1912-1949; Railroads -- China
To improve the East River for navigation in the Canton Delta we should
concentrate the current of its estuaries into one single outlet by
using the right channel which joins the Pearl River at Davids Island,
thus deepening the channel as well as shortening the distance between
Canton and the East River districts when the upper part of the river is
improved.
Another improvement in the Canton Delta for navigation is the opening
of a straight canal between Canton City and Kongmoon so as to shorten
the passage of the heavy traffic between this metropolis and the Szeyap
districts. This canal should begin by straightening the Chanchun Creek
south of Canton as far as Tsznai. Then crossing the Tamchow Channel it
should enter into the Shuntuck Creek and follow this creek to its end
emerging into the Shuntuck Branch at right angles. From there, a new
canal must be cut straight to the turn of the Tailiang Channel near
Yungki, then the canal should follow this channel through Yellow Reach
as far as the Junction Bend. Here another new canal must be cut through
to the Hoichow Creek, then it should follow Kuchan Channel to the main
channel of the West River, and crossing it enter into the Kongmoon
Branch. Thus, a straight canal can be formed between Canton and
Kongmoon. In order to understand the improvement of the Canton Delta
more clearly see Maps XIV and XV.
Third, the problem of reclamation. A very profitable undertaking in
the Canton Delta is the reclamation of new land. This process has
been going on for centuries. Many thousands of acres of new land are
thus being added to cultivation from year to year. But hitherto all
the reclamation has been effected by private enterprise only, and
there are no regulations for it. So sometimes this private enterprise
causes great detriment to public welfare such as blocking up navigable
channels and causing floods. A glaring case is the reclamation work
just above the Moto Islands, which blocks more than half of the Main
Channel of the West River. In the regulation of the West River, I
propose to cut this new land away. In order to protect the public
welfare, the reclamation work in this Delta must be taken up by the
State and the profits must go to defray the expenses of improving
this waterway system for navigation, as well as for the prevention of
floods. At present, the area that can be gradually reclaimed is large
in extent. On the left side of the Canton Estuary, the available area
is about 40 square miles, and on the right side, about 140 square
miles. On the estuaries of the West River from Macao to Tongkwa Island,
there is an available area of about 200 square miles. Of the 380 square
miles, about one fourth would be ready for reclamation within the next
ten years. That is to say about 95 square miles could be reclaimed and
put to cultivation within a decade. As one square mile contains 640
acres and one acre six mow, so 95 square miles will be equal to 364,800
mow.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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