The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1896-09-10
THE DISTINGUISHED CHINAMAN
VISITS THE GREAT AMEIi-
CAN FALLS.
GOT A SHOCK IN The POWER HOUSE
Investigated the Switch Board With His
Walking Stick-Asked Many Cues
tions About the Late War-Inter-
ested in Railway Building.


here today. Rain was falling at the time
and the visitors dampened their silk
bouses and gold lace somewhat in the
journey to the Cataract house, where
rooms had been engaged
At the electric power house of the
Niagara Falls Power company the dis
tinguished visitor had his first experience
with American electricity, resulting as
startling as it was unexpected. With his
usual desire TO make personal inyestiga-
ton of the machinery before him, he
pokcd at switch board with his walk
ing stick. The metal fcrrule closed Il cir
cult instantly and Lis stick was vio-
lently thrown from his grasp. He was
naturally much aStonished ut the effect
of the sticks contact with the switch
board. but fortunately he suffered no
damage beyond good scare. However,
he decided that he had seen enough and
went to his rooms, where he remained
until bed time.
Last night Ii and his party passed their
first night in an American sleeping car.
Before the novelty, they enjoyed dinner
in dining car. This meal, which was
especially prepared by the PennSylyania
railroad dining car people, was quite clab-
crate. The menu card was decorated
with the American and Chinese flags in
tertwined and fac smile of the auto
graph of Earl Ii done in yellow. After
eating Il rather hearty supper Ii sent
for George W. Boyd, assistant general
passenger agent of the Pennsylvania. who
piloted the train over the lines of his
company. and spent about two hours
questioning him about rallroading. He
had II map of the United States before
him. and once he branched off to the war
of the rebellion, asking the names of the
states that seeded from the Union. Ii
asked particularly about the battles in
which Grant participated, and all of them
were indicated on the may for his bene-
marveled that although the southern
forces succeeded in approaching quite
close to Washington, they were never
able to capture that point. The story of
the assassination of Lincoln also inter-
ested him greatly. He inquired what
became of Booth and where Lincoln is
buried, and asked the question do not
the American people regard Lincoln as
Il very good man"
The deep interest he shows in railroad
matters convince those who have paid at
tention to the subject that his principal
object in visiting this country is to study
American railway construction and man
agement with view to the adoption of
some of the features in a proposed gen
eral extension of the Chinese railway
system.
In fact, the viccroy ntimdted today
that he Is negotiating for the service of
an American civil engineer, who, if he
accepts the offer made him, will go to
China in the near future and take charge
of the railway extension scheme now be-
ing outlined. Ii says there are only
about 200 miles of single track railroad
in China at present. Only three trains
are run each day and there is no traffic
ut all. the system being so crude and the
liability to accident Il constant menace.
Ii slept during the night in bed made
especially for him with a soft, downy
mattress more than foot thick. He de-
clared when he arose this morning that
he rested better than in Il hotel bed.
The preparation of his toilet occupied
an hour and then he ate some bird nest
soup and drank II cup of tea. At $50
he was ready to receive visitors. At his
request no effort has been made at fast
running. speed of about thirty miles an
train the earfs personal body guard slept
outside the door of his state room. Con-
trary to his usual custom he took Il morn
ing siesta, sleeping soundly from I
o'clock until s. At o Il. m. Canaan Daigua
was reached. Here the train left the
Pennsylvania road aud passed onto the
tracks of the New York Central, the
connecting line to Niagara Falls. The
only change was the substitution of a
1,tt
new train crew. At Rochester General
the New York Central and Edison j.
Wcekes, his chief assistant, boarded the
rain. AS soon as Lii awoke, these gen
!lemen were presented to him and then
he settled himself comfortably in his
armchair in the observation cOmpart-
ment of his car and with Mr.. Boyd and
Mr.. Daniels on either side and Inter
prefer Marls at his elbow. INDUCED in
his favoritc pastime of cross question
ing for nearly three hours. After ascer-
tanning Mr. Daniels age and salary he
inquired how much President Depew re-
ccivcd and was astonished to learn that
his salary is equal to that of the presi-
lent of the United States. Ii said that
il he had some money he would invest
In American railway stocks. He de-
clared that he was too poor and could
not raise $4,000. This statement from
the man popularity regarded as the
richest person in the world caused Il
smile.
The run to this point was without
special incident. General Manager j.
NJ. Lucy of the New York Central was
mt the station to meet the party and after
Ii paused long enough to ,sk him his
age and salary the procession started for
the hotel All were intensely interested
in "La-Po-Tu." the Chinese for The
Great Falls" and some of the party sum-
moned carriages almost Immediately and
started out to see the sights.
Ii Hung Chang is not tcetotaler
He drinks single glass of claret with
his dinner and ut bedtime takes small
quantity of Chinese wine. famed for its
medicinal value. His secretary declares
that he can not understand English nj
all. He has learned the words How
do you do and always greets his visi-
tors with this sentence.
One of the party said today. in eX'
planning the monetary condition of the
Chinese empire, that in order to raise
funds to pay the indemnity of nearly
5000 100000 TO Japan. that Ii Hung
Chang had Hypothetical the customs
revenues ut the ports on the coast
where import duties are collected. and
that an increase in the import duty
charges would probably follow. This
was the only way to raise the money, as
it would not be polite to obtain it by
increasing the taxes: Only small por