The herald., 1896-11-13
Will Boss Construction of Chi
nese Railroads
THE AMERICAN SYNDICATE
Fails in the Effort TO Secure the Con.
tract
The Massing of Russian Troops in the
Vladivostock District a Menace to
English influence in China.

Associated Press Special Wire
PEKIN, Nov. 12.--The tsung Ii yamen
has received a secret edict appointing
Sheng Taotai director general of rail-
ways and granting him permission t.
construct the Hankow Canton Somehow
lines 1t also authorizes him to borrow
10000, 600. taels, 10000 900 taels to be fur
nished by the tsung Ii yamen from the
last loan, the northern superintendent
to furnish 1000. 900 taels Altogether 40
600, 900 taels will be required for the con-
struction of the lines. Native material
must be employed as far as possible on
the Hankow line, but foreign engineers
may be engaged.
1t is rumored the American syndicate
tenders for this work have not been &C.
cepted.
Sheng Taotai 10 the head of the tele-
graph administration in China and was
lately taotai of Tien Tsin. The edict of
construction of the Pekin- Hankow line
was promulgated several years ago but
on the recommendation of Chang Chat
Tung. the viceroy of the two HUI pro-
vinces, from whom Sheng Taotai has
purchased the Han-Yang iron works,
construction was delayed. Chang Chat
Tung was anxious that no orders should
be placed in Europe for material neces =.
sary for the line. declaring that in a few
years time this could be supplied from
the Hang Yang iron works. Hitherto
these have been a failure and it is said
that more than one attempt has been
made to sell them to Europeans. AS no
orders have been placed in connection
Dol Il,
view of the special requirements of the
edict that native material must be en-
ployed as far as possible, it is supposed
the new director of railways expects to
be able to utilize these iron works for
railway construction.
RUSSIAN INFLUENCE.
SAN FRANCISCO Nov 12-The Bull
letin says: A letter containing dupli-
cate of mail advices sent by the regular
correspondent of the Hongkong press at
Vladivostock was received by the last
China steamer and was turned over to
the Bulletin today. The communication
shows that the car is massing troops
+. in the Vladivostock district and has a
| large number of naval vessels concen-
trated in northern waters
The principal details of the situation
are contained in the following para
| graphs:
Although the Russian government ex.
| plains that the massing of troops in the
|. Primorsk and Eastern Siberia is due to
| exchange of army divisions" it is
! learned that in all the divisions of Vlad-
livestock there are not less than 112 ,0OC
| men of arms. which monster army is
| looked upon as "A menace to the peac;
! of Asia.
| The correspondent, further comment
! ing on the situation. states that while
! it is confessed that Russia is entitled 70
| some outlet to the Pacific the continue
| Gus and Warlike preparations are any
| thing but reassuring
The frequent presence of Russia's
engineers Port Arthur and their opera
| tons in Manchuria, with the tacit con-
sent of the officials of China, are highly
; significant indications of the relations
| between Russia and China and point
unmistaktbly to the common object OF
| Russia's Warlike preparations.
| 1T behooves the British government to
! investigate this very important matter. ~