The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-09-01

Mail Communication with the United States
Mineral Wealth Of the Empre-The Coal
Fields and Foreign Enterprise-Wrecl Of the
Steamship Bcnares--The Civil service nnd
Emigrant Aid.
SHANGHAI July a. 1858.
The last United States mail via San Francisco left
here on the 26th OF May; we have therefore, had q
pretty long spell without opportunity OF writing
home direct. / can assure the popularity Of your
great Pacific Mall Steamship Company Is beginning
TO at this distant extremity of their line for
cannot see why so long after its Inauguration, II
should not work with greater regularity. We an
ticpated a monthly mail, and trusting to this
promise many Of our residents sent home insyruc-
tions for all their correspondence to be forwarded by
that route. How disappointed they feel you can i'm
aCine when they see three mails, via England by
which they might have received letters arriving in
the interval between the Pacific Mail Steamship Com
pany's steamers.
For come time past rumors have been gathering
thicker and thicker that gold and silver mines have
been discovered close to the open port of Cheoo In
the north Of China latitude 81 degrees IS minutes
&c seconds NORTH and longitude 121 degrees %
minutes IS seconds easD Hitherto except as a
eanitarum during the hot summer months, Chefoo
the most salubrious Of open ports has been but
little visited Its trade Is not extensive, consisting
chiefly of cereals, pulse, tobacco, drugs &C, to-
gether with peculiar description of silk obtained
from wild silk worms which feed on the leaves OF
the oak and other trees; but the staple articles OF
trade In so far as Europeans are concerned are
beans ard bean cake, for I'll shipment of which mer
chandse to southern markets Chefoo Is the principal
port
The silver mine now discovered Ia situated but
very short distance from Chefoo, some fifteen miles
or so, in souhwesterly direoton the gold mine is
about one hundred and twenty-five miles further in
the Interior. Several foreigners havealready visited
the locality, and report favoraby the ease with
which they could be worked If the Chinese authori-
ties would but sanction the undertaking. Our com.
munity here numbers several who have had expe.
rience in California mines who are snorting like
war horses, impatient to be OF there. They have
despatched one Of their number prospecting
tour to report progress for them, and advertise
ment in q local journal for five hundred picks
and shovels begins to look like business.
The latest news from the locality is that upwards
OF ten thousand Chinese, impatient OF restraint,
have on their own responsibility gone to work In
the gold mines and deded the authorities by threat
ening to turn rebels II they are interlered with.
These mines will doubtless bring China and Califor-
MIA into closer contact, and fully expect to see an
army Of your diggers revolutlonzing this old em-
pre. trust however they viii not act too hastily,
for 20 arrive here before formal permission to work
Che mines has been accorded would be little less
than runation. Those interested In the subject
would do wen 10 keep an eve this way.
Next In importance and In some respects OF even
greater Importance than the gold and silver mines
have alluded 10 above, come tho coal fields OF
China. To open these also to foreigners desperate
effort has recently been made resulting at present,
however, in nothing but failure. The coal mines
nearest 20 US ere situated near ChinBang one OF our
open ports on the YangtsZe river. These the Brit
ish Consul Markham, used his best endeavors 10 In
duce the viceroy at Nankn TO open at once. but un
successfully The importance OF q coalng station
30 close TO Shanghai the Liverpool OF the East, and
IN the track OF our magnificent feet OF steamers
that navigate the Yangtsze Is most obvious; but the
officials among whom we are doomed to live VIII
not grant us the slightest assistance. Consul Mark
ham has been removed to Chefoo where he can
and Chinkang as far "a British interests are con-
cerned, has been reduced from being the seat OF a
fun blown Consul to be offshoot OF tho Shanghae
Consulate, in special charge Of consular assistant
only.
than whisperlngs OF northern coal fields easy OF &C.
cess nom Tentsn, the northernmost OF our open
ports In China proper, were waited TO our willing
ears. Steamer after steamer confirmed the glad
tdings that not only was there coal In plenty, but
that permission to work the mines would under
tain conditions be accorded to Foreigners. These
hopes, like the others, proved futile.
Native experts are appointed by the Tsun9 II va.
mum; or Foreign once to report on the feasibility OF
making a good cart road from the Chaitang coal
mines to Tentsln the result being announced by the
British Consul Mongan to those interested In the fol-
lowing terms:-''The road cannot be made according
10 the report first on account OF engineering dim.
cutes secondly because the local popular feeling Is
AGAINST IT, and thirdly because It's construction would
tnJure the Fungshui. II might be shown perhaps on
the other hand that the engineering difficulty Is sur.
mountable and the popular dislike Is only partial,
the third objection therefore il insuperabie.n
With the powerful Fungshui argument brought 10
bear against the opening OF the Chatang coal mines
you can fancy the difficult position we stand In; but
one would fancy a British Consul In the nineteenth
century would have some better course TO pursue
than Turkke 70 accept his kismet fold his hands In
euperabe.
already prospected Il are thoroughly convnced the
mines are situated at distance of slxty.nve miles
almost due west Of Pekn. They are even now
camels being the only mode OF transport, and from
one hundred and 1fty to four hundred pounds form.
fng q load, u cannot be delivered In Pekin at a
smaller cost than from Ga 90 tl7 per ton The M.
will OF the people IL an argument often raised 70
prevent the innovations proposed by foreigners; "
Traced, however, to Its source IL would almost n.
variably be found TO be u mere excuse OF tue
officials. II our Ministers bring necessary pressure
60 bear on the officials at the capital promptly the
opening OF the Chaitang mines TO foreigners will
soon be u,l C1u dccompl The British, however,
At this crisis the advent OF our new Minister J.
Ross Browne, Is by all parties anxiously looked for.
Coming from mining State as he does, aud per.
sonay acquainted from actual experience as COM
missioner 10 report ON your mineral interests, we
IN the right place. 70 develop the great mineral re-
sources OF this vast country.
Whilst on this subject should also mention that
among other minerals discovered IN this empire
come specimens OF graphite have been received
from Mr.. sands, the American Consul at Chingkianp,
which. on being analyzed 10y DIR. Mcgowan Tor the
TaOntae, have proved 70 I've as valuable az that OF
Brazil, being almost pure carbon having but trace
OF iron IN It's composition
The Pennsuar and oriental steam Navigation
COMPANY have met with heavy loss by the
wreck OF their fine steamer Benares, which
left here with the homeward mails on the
2ad ~ May and struck on rock or the Fisher
mans group OF islands AZ eleven p. NJ Of the
same night Every endeavor made 10 get her
or or al any rate 10 save her engines and machinery
b. three steamers OF the company which were In con.
st9nt attendance, but all proved unayang, aud at
laei she was sold by auction a. she lay there and
realized 5000 only. A naval court, held OF the
British Consulate the % inst, to inquire into the
Circumstances attending her loss, acquitted the
master. Captain HcCullOch, Of all blame and threw
ths responsibility on Mr. H. Cumberland and Mr..
Benry nedgell. the officers OF the watch by whose
negligence The ship was lost. Both OF them had
thor certificates suspended for six months.
Tie numerous disasters which have recently hap.