The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1876-07-27

but the Chinese authorities refused 70
grant the necessary permission. Fiat
terry, bribery, the abuse OF the English
local papers, all failed to move the stub
born administration. At last IL was de-
termined, without consulting the chi.
nese, TO form a company for exploring
the forbidden route. The requisite cap
itai was subscribed without delay, ana,
on the survey being made, il appeared
that, with the exception Of three little
creeks which IL would be necessary to
bridge over, and q few hollows which
would have TO be filed up, the line pre-
sented no ''engineering difficulties" OF
any kind.
1t was then determined to 90 on, at all
risks, with the railway. Toe Governor
Of the District was prevailed upon 70
give his authorization Tor the making oil
'ssuitabIe road" which he did tue more
willingly inasmuch as large numbers OF
wOTk-peOple had constantly to make the
journey from OussOOn to Shanghai. Then
the land had to be bought; also the right
OF building bridges over the creeks. The
Chinese prOprietors were afraid 10 sell
without first obtaining the sanction Of
the authorities, but as some sort Of road
was wanted by every one, no objection
was made to the proposed purchase.
Having acquired the ownership OF the
land on which il was intended to con-
struct the railway, the Shanghai mer-
chants sent to England Ior rails, which
in due time arrived. Meanwhile the
woodwork had been completed, and in
the middle oil January last the engineers
began to lay the rails down. StIll the
officials looked calmly on; until, on tine
the 18th of March, il was found possible
10 make trial "trip along the line of rail-
way three miles in length.
Ihe English Directors and sharehold-
ers Travelled in the carriages, and the
luggage vans were filed win Chinese,
VINO seemed to make the journey with
great satisfaction to themselves, the
more SO as, besides being carried for
nothing, they were, according to the
Russian correspondent, further propl-
IIated with ''r0ast beef and snerry.''
| When the Governor OF the district Mas
Informed that the railway was partly
IcOmpIeted, and that the engines were
running over a portion of the line, he al
first treated the report "with contempt
But IL was confirmed again and again
by eye-wltnesses; and ultimately tht
great man went out to see for himself
aud, in presence OF an excited crowd
ordered the rails to be taken up. Tht
Chairman of The Company, however
LI0n OF such an extreme measure, K
consider the matter in private; anC
the Two went together TO The Gov
ernment House, wnere the Governors
own permis Jon to construct ''suiI
able rOad'' was shown TO HIM. The dis
cussIOn was thus narrowed 70 the Ques
ton whether the road of iron between
OussOOn and Shanghai was really
..suiIable'' one; and the Governor at las
consented TO submit this point to In
, superior officials at Pekin. Before al
answer could be received, trains wer
running all the way from Shanghai I
0ussOOn.
L. was rumored yesterday" con
GUIDES the correspondent (tnat is on tn
26Lh of Aarchl, that an authOrizaliO
= mad arrived from Pekin TO tolerate wha
the foreigners had already completed
which gave them the right oil keepin
open the entire line. Two Chinameu
imprisoned for having aided the Iereign
ers in the construction of the railway
1ad been suddenly liberated, and il wa
Il thought that the Chinese Government
= | - oulL, IN the end, purchase the line s.
Is to keep il entirely under their OWI
control.
: In any case the hostility of the Ch
nese Government to railways no lOnge
! exists IN its old force, and locomotive
l. NAV ere long be looked upon as no NOR
DANGEROUS than steam vessels. Alread
Jour thousand Chinese are traVelin
uaily between OussOOn and Shanghai
Tor the most part by The .third class-a
a charge of only cents for the journey
: The correspondent remembers the ruI
ming OF the first railway train in Russi;
between St. Petersburg and PauiOysky
T when it was the general opinion of IL
: IOOkers-On hat tine devil Was inside II
i engine, and ne can not heIp thInkIn
, that the Chinese Of the towns in II
present day are more intelligent tha
. were the Russians OF ST. PeIersDuT
in 1S40.