台灣省東西橫貫公路
Taiwan east-west cross-island highway
1954 ✦ ──── 民國 43 年 the 43th year of Republic of China era
美援對於戰後的臺灣重建與經濟發展十分重要，當時美援為了有效運作，實際執行是透過美國的工程顧問公司 J. G. White Engineering Corporation（簡稱懷特公司）參與對臺灣的經濟、工業、社會發展等建設的規畫與監督。在1950-1957年間，J. G. White公司在臺灣的企劃經理是狄寶賽（Valery S. de Beausset）先生。
狄寶賽先生對於規劃各種臺灣建設，均以無比的耐心與毅力，親自作事前的勘察，建設過程中也常常投身工場之中，是道地的「實踐家」。例如，在建議美援資助臺灣東西橫貫公路的建設之前，狄寶賽先生曾兩、三度親自走勘尚未開發的臺灣原始東西橫貫路線，其路程中多有驚險之處 (請參考影片 1 )。在狄寶賽先生即將離開臺灣的1957年，東西橫貫公路之建設工程終於動工。當時蔣經國先生問狄寶賽先生最想要的臨別贈禮是什麼，狄寶賽先生直說，陪他走一趟中橫。蔣經國先生於是陪著狄寶賽先生走完橫貫臺灣東西的路線全程，狄寶賽先生得以親眼目睹興建中的中部橫貫公路。
臺灣的橫貫公路在過去幾十年間，的確發揮了聯通臺灣東、西部之功用，直至幾年前的幾次嚴重坍方，才使道路中斷。橫貫公路現在雖然只有部分路段尚可通車，但因為過去橫貫公路的開發，使得太魯閣的聲名大噪；其周遭的自然奇景，是臺灣旅遊觀光的重要景點，也是臺灣地質教學上的一大自然教室。而狄寶賽先生在幾次走訪臺灣山林所拍攝的彩色電影帶，具實記錄了狄寶賽先生的臺灣足跡，更提供我們了解尚未開發的中橫與太魯閣之原始樣貌。
為什麼美援臺灣建設要投資興建臺灣的東西橫貫公路？請聽狄寶賽先生本人的現身說法 (請參考影片 2)。
影片擷取自國立臺灣大學圖書館製作出版的歷史紀錄片 DVD《美援臺灣與狄寶賽先生 = Valery S. de Beausset and U. S. Aid to Taiwan》，該影片為中、英文雙語版，影片內容從光復初期的臺灣經濟與美援背景，談到美援臺灣與第一個四年經濟建設規劃的理念、以及狄寶賽先生參與美援臺灣建設的實例，見證臺灣近代史中的中美合作歷史，榮獲2009年「第一屆國家出版品獎」入選獎。
US foreign aid was very important to the reconstruction and economic development of post-war Taiwan. For the purpose of effective implementation of US foreign aid, the US Government employed J. G. White Engineering Corporation (hereafter J.G. White) to take part in drafting and carrying out economic, social, and industrial development policies and the follow-up overseeing works. Valery S. de Beausset was the planning manager at J.G. White in the period 1950-1957.
Mr. de Beausset showed incomparable patience and willpower during the planning of Taiwan’s infrastructure. He would make investigation inspections by himself before work began and often took part in worksite. He was a genuine “practitioner”. For example, before proposing the construction of east-west highways in Taiwan using US foreign aid, de Beausset made several visits to the undeveloped course of the to-be East-West Cross-Island Highway, taking many risks along the way. (watch Video 1).The construction work of the East-West Cross-Island Highway had been started just prior to de Beausset taking leave of Taiwan in 1957. At the time, Mr. Chiang Ching-guo asked de Beausset what would he like as a farewell present, and de Beausset said he wanted Chiang to accompany him on a trip along this Central Cross-Island Highway. And so it was that Chiang accompanied de Beausset giving de Beausset the opportunity to see the under-construction Cross-Island Highway with his own eyes.
Over recent decades the cross-island highways have definitely opened up transportation between the east and west of Taiwan right up until recent years when extensive rockslides have cut the roads. Although the cross-island highways are only open to traffic in some areas, however, the opening up of the roads in the past helped Taroko Gorge and its natural scenery become an important tourist destination in Taiwan. Besides, it also enabled people and scholars, teachers and students to be able to get close to this special geology site. The color films made by de Beausset when he visited the undeveloped mountain areas are a record of his exploration in Taiwan. They also provide a record of the original look of the Central Cross-Island Highway and Taroko Gorge before development.
Why was US foreign aid used to construct east-west highways across Taiwan? This is de Beausset’s answer. (watch video 2).
The images you see here are from a DVD documentary produced by National Taiwan University Library, Valery S. de Beausset and U.S. Aid to Taiwan. The bilingual film, Chinese and English, begins with background of Taiwan’s economy and US foreign aid. It talks about the concepts behind the economic and infrastructure development policy in the first 4-year plan under the support of US aid for Taiwan. It also gives examples of de Beausset’s participation in US aid-funded projects. Its witness of the modern history of US-China cooperation was recognized and was bestowed a 2009 “National Publication Award”.
