The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-02-07
RAILWAYS I'm CHINA.

Truth About Misunderstood Subject-Op-
portunities for American Capital and Skill.
Pekin Letter in New York sun.
1t has been widely published in America and
Europe that the Chinese government has recent
ly negotiated a loan for forty million dollars
from English capitalists, to be used for internal
improvements. and that it had entered into an
agreement with Manchester firm of contract
ors for the construction of certain lines of rail-
road. So far as your correspondent can learn,
no newspaper in either continent seems to have
doubted the truth of these statements The
London Times has given them circulation, and
yet they are absolutely without foundation.
No such loan has been made or offered, and no
such contract has been authorized or entered
into. 1t is true however, that the subject OF
railroads and other improvements connected
with commerce and the national defense is re.
ceiving careful consideration on the part of the
imperial government, but it must be under
stood that it does nothing in sucn matters di-
rectly. Its operations in regard to them are
carried on by imperial command mainly
through the agency of LII Hung Chang, Viceroy
of the province of Chilli. senior grand secre-
tary of state, superintendent of trade for the
northern provinces. tutor to the Emperor and,
since the death of Tso Tung Tang, the hero of
the Kuldjah campaign. He is incontestably the
ablest most highly respected. and most power
ful man in the empire Like his friend Iso
Tung Tang, he claims to be ''only poor scholar
of books, but he is at the same time the first
soldier and the first statesman of China and the
leader of the party of progress.
The memorials submitted by him to the i'm
perial government in 1881, and the Last Dying
Words" of Tso Tung Tang, whose funeral serv-
ices have but just closed. leave no doubt as to
the fact that the uses and inestimable value of
railroads are fully understood by the leading
minds of China 1t is also certain that the EN-
press Dowager, the aunt, and the Seventh Prince,
the father and guardian of the young Emperor.
who will reach his majority within two years,
strongly in favor of the early construction of
a system of railroads primarily designed for the
national defense, and that they will do all they
can in accordance with their system of govern
ment to promote that end.
But notwithstanding the support of these pow
erful advocates, public sentiment in China is not
by any means unanimously in favor Of railroads.
Here as elsewhere, the first great question con-
nected with the subject is that of ways and
means and the Imperial Board of Revenue. it is
understood, is divided in regard to it. In addi-
ton, the Board of Censors, which seems to have
the right to express it's opinion unasked upon all
public questions, is an exceedingly conservative
body, and it is now known opposes the introduc-
tion of Railroads.&c. least for the present. While
it is not probable they can defeat the plans of
Empress DOwager the Seventh Prince and the
Viceroy LII, they are strong enough. backed as
they by the natural tendency of the Chinese
people to 'let we'll enough alone" to induce the
authorities having the railroad question under
consideration to proceed deliberately and with
great crcumspection. But, withal, the best
opinion is that they Will begin practical opera
tions at an early day, and that line from this
city to Tentsin, at the head of steamship navi
CATION the Peiho, and thence to Chin kiang
Oh the Yang. tse-kiang, with branch line from
Tientsin to Taku at the mouth of the Peho. in
all about 800 miles, will be- the first railroads
built.
Inasmuch as no loans or contracts have as yet
been made and the Chinese authorities have
had more or less serious troubles and compiled
tions with the Euronean powers, it is quite GER
tain that the engineers, manufacturers and
bankers of the United States have just as good
a chance to secure employment for their skill,
experience and capital, in connection with the
construction of railroads in China, as have those
of any other country. Colonel DENLY the new
American minister has arrived here, and has
produced a most favorable impression upon all,
whether foreign or native, with whom he has
come in contact In accordance with custom,
he entertained all the American missionaries,
some forty IN number. at his house on Thanks
giving Day. and, il addition to making them
most felicitous address, gave them most hearty
and friendly American welcome.
There is no doubt that Colonel DENLY is keen
ly alive to tine Importance of railroad and other
internal improvements in this country, and will
do all in his power to secure for his countrymen
fair share of all business connected with their
construction, equipment and operation. In this
he will doubtless be efficiently assisted by the
powerful American house Of Russell & Co., and
perhaps by others on the ground.