张謇与新运河开凿计划

Zhang Jian and the New Canal Excavating Plan

民国初期,张謇鉴于苏北水利废弛、经济萧条而导淮一时难以成功,提议于串场河以东开凿一条与之平行的串场大河,并辅以相应的闸坝河堤工程,藉以改善苏北的水利、交通状况,助力滨海垦殖开发,缓解苏北社会困境。为此,张謇主持制定了详细的工程计划,并予以积极推动。民国十年,该计划得到政府允准,更名为“新运河”。然而直至张謇去世,新运河工程除勘测外,未能实际展开。其原因除时局动荡外,一则在于苏北内部利益诉求的差异,一则在于政府不任其事,款项难筹。相较于前者,后者才是该计划夭折的主因。开挖新运河的倡议与实践,一方面彰显出张謇经世济民的立世准则和勇为人先的担当精神,另一方面也折射出民国时期实业家的处世困境。

In the early period of the Republic of China(1912-1949),Zhang Jian(1853-1926),a famous entrepreneur born in Nantong city,Jiangsu province,proposed to excavate a new river running parallel to the existing Chuanchang River,which connects the 10 saltworks in northern Jiangsu Province.He made this plan in view of the obsolete water conservancy and economic depression in northern Jiangsu Province.The new canal was to be equipped by sluice gates,dams and dykes,so as to improve the water conservancy and traffic conditions,coastal reclamation and social development in northern Jiangsu province.To this end,Zhang Jian presided over the formulation of a detailed project plan and actively implemented it.In the 1oth year of the Republic of China(1922),the project was approved by the government and renamed"New Canal".However,until the death of Zhang,the project had not been actually started except for survey.In addition to the turbulent situation,one reason lies in the difference between regional interest demands in Northern Jiangsu;the other is the government's nonfeasance,especially the insufficient funding.The latter was the major cause for the abortion of the plan.On the one hand,the initiative and practice of planning the new canal demonstrate Zhang Jian's principle of establishing himself in the world,taking on social responsibility,and his pioneering spirit.On the other hand,it also reflects the predicament of industrialists in the period of Republic of China.