Evening journal., 1896-09-07


NIAGARA FALLS, Sept THE special
Train bearing Ii Hung Chang and his par
~ has arrived at this place, and the Chi
ese envoy has been delighted with two
hours inspection of the wonders Of Mag
ara, visiting all the principal points of in
terest on the American side.
At the electric powerhouse Of the Mag
nra Fails Power company the distinguish
ed visitor had his first experience with
American electricity, the result being as
spIrtling as it was unexpected. With his
usual curiosity and desire to make person
al investigation of the machinery before
him, he poked at a switchboard with his
walking stick. The metal ferrule closed
circuit instantly, and Lfs stick was vio-
lently thrown from his grasp. he was
naturally much astonished at the effect OF
the sticks contact with the switchboard,
but fortunately he suffered no damage be-
yond q good scare However, he decided
that he had sees enough, and he won't to
his rooms, where he remained until bed
timo.
On the journey TO this place ii and his
party passed their first night in an Ameri-
can sleeping car Previous to this novelty
they enjoyed dinner in a dining car This
meal, which was especially prepared by
the Pennsylvania railroad dining car peo-
pie, was quite elaborate The menu card
was decorated with American and Chinese
flags intertwned and a facsimile OF the
autograph of Earl Ii, done in yellow
While en- route Ii sent for George W.
Boyd. assistant general passenger agent OF
the Pennsylvania Railroad company, who
lpilotod the train over the lines of his com
pany ii spont about two hours question
ing him about railroads. He had 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 se-
oedod from the Union. II asked particu-
'larly about the battles In which Grant
.participatod and all OF them were indi-
catod on the map for his benefit. He dwolt
long on this subject and marveled that, al
though the southern forces succeeded In
approaching quito close TO Washington.
they were never able to capture that i'm
portant point The story Of the assassina-
tion of Lincoln also interested him great
ly He inquired what became Of Booth
and whore Lincoln is buried and then
queried:
"Do not the American people regard
Lincoln as a very good mani"
May Buy Railroad Equipments Here.
Tho deep interest he shows in railroad
matters convinces 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 a view to the adoption of
some Of the features in proposed general
extension Of the Chinese railway system.
In fact, the viceroy intimated that he is
negotiating for the services of an Ameri-
can civil engineer, who, If he accepts the
offer made him, will 90 to China in the
near future and take charge OF tho railway
extension scheme now being outlined. J.
says there are only about goo miles OF (sin
gle track railroad In China at present
Only three trains are run each dny, ant
there is no traffic at night the system be
ing SO crude and the liability TO aociden
a constant menace.
At Canandaigua the special train lof
tho Pennsylvania line and passed on t.
the tracks of the New York Central road
the connecting line to Niagara Falls. Th'
only change was the substitution of a 10
comotiye OF the latter company and a new
train crew. At Rochester General Passen
ger Agent George II. Daniels Of the New
York Central and Edison !. Weeks, hi
chief assistant, boarded the train Thesl
gentlemen were presented to Ii, and h'
settled himself comfortably in his arm
chair in the observation compartment o
his car, and. with Mr. Boyd and Mr.. Dan
4els on either side and Interpreter Mark
at his elbow, indulged in his favorite pas
time of cross questioning for nearly thre
hours. After ascertaining Mr.. Daniels
ago and salary no inquired how muo
President Depow received and was aston
ished to learn that his salary is equal {
that Of the president of the United States
Ii said that If he had some money h
would invest in American railway stOch
He declared he was ''too poor and coul
not raise $40, ,0OO." This statement froI
the man popularly regarded as the riohe.
person in the world caused smile.
General Manager J. N. Toucey of II
New York Central was at the station I
meet the party, and after III paused Ion
enough TO ask him his age and salary Il
procession started for the hotel. All wei
intensely interested in "TR-Po-Tu," Il
Chinese for ''The Great Falls, - and SON
Of the party summoned carriages almo
Immediately and started out in the rain
see the sights.
Ii Is Not Teetotaler.
Contrary to the general impression. ]
Hung Chang is not teetotaler. Ho dram
single glass of claret with his Dime
Al bedtime he takes n small quantity
Chinese wine famed for its medicinal va
ne. His secretaries declare that he cann'
understand English at all He has learnC
the words How do you do, - and alwa,
greets his visitors with this sentence. OF
of the party said in explaining the mon
tary condition Of the Chinese empire th:
In order to raise funds TO pay the linden
nifty of noarly 5000, 600, 600 TO Japa
Ii Hung Chang has hypothecated the ca
toms revenues at the ports on the Goa
where import duties are collected and thi
an increase of the customs charges wou
probably follow. This was the only W,
20 raise she money, as 1t would not be pc
itic 20 obtain it by increasing the take
Only a small portion of the population
aware of the fact that there was a WI
with Japan and that the Chinese fore
were defeated The levying of a tax won
be the means Of spreading the informatio
and dissatisfaction with the governmo
would arise, possibly rebellion.
At 8 O'Clock this morning ii Hun
Chang and his party crossed the river
Canada. Sir Henri G. Jolly do Lotbinie
welcomed tho travellers on behalf of Il