Page:Japan by the Japanese (1904).djvu/476

1899, estimates of 8,632,845 yen, including 4,500,000 yen for subsidizing the Wakamatsu Harbour Improvement Works. The amount of the expenditures appropriated for the establishment of the Works was thus increased to 19,200,000 yen approximately, by the addition of the working capital. Thanks to the indefatigable and unremitting exertions of the officials in charge, the construction works have been almost entirely completed, and the working of the No. 1 Blast Furnace and Open Hearth was commenced on the 5th of February and the 30th of May respectively. The Rolling Mill Plant also commenced work soon afterwards.

The Works are situated at Yawatamachi, Onga-gori, Chikuzen, Prefecture of Fukuoka, near Wakamatsu (well known for the exportation of Kiushu coal), and extend over an area of about 90 hectares at present, but are intended to be enlarged hereafter.

By sea the distance from Shimonoseki or Moji to Wakamatsu Harbour is ten English miles, and from the said harbour to the Works somewhat above two miles. Within the harbour of Wakamatsu the depth of the water is, up to the loading-place of the railway, at ebb-tide 15 feet, and from the loading-place to the quay between 10 and 14 feet. The former part is now being dredged, and will be made 20 feet in depth.

By the Kyushyu railway, which is connected with the lines within the Works, it takes forty-three minutes to go from Moji to the Works.

As to the water-supply, a conduit leads the water from Itabitsu River to the Works, and distributes it over all parts of them. The quantity of water thus supplied is, at the lowest water-level, 3,000 litres per minute, at the ordinary water-level 6,000 litres. Moreover, two reservoirs are now being built.

The loading-place is connected by railway-lines with the Kyushyu railway, as well as with each part of the Works. These lines being built according to the regulations made for the construction of railways in Japan, any train coming from any part of Japan may be led directly to any point of the Works. The length of railway-lines within the Works amounts to ten English miles at present, but will amount to seventeen miles hereafter.

Also the Works have now under construction a quay wall, which is 630 metres long, with a water-depth of 20 feet at ebb-tide. When completed, three or four steamers of 2,000 to 3,000 tons displacement will be able to load and unload cargo simultaneously alongside the wall. The basin for the accommodation of junks and shallow-draught vessels measures 49,000 square metres, and has a water frontage of 740 metres for handling cargo. The depth at ebb-tide is 8 feet.