In order to move forward as quickly as possible with railway construction, Liu Mingchuan diverted funds from development of the provincial capital in central Taiwan, intending to pick up the pace in Jiaozaitu after the railway was in operation and generating revenue.
劉巡撫推動新政急如星火，進而將建築台中省城的經費「暫挪先修鐵路」，等鐵路有了營收「再籌建城分治」。