New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-05-18

CHANCE FOR AMERICAN CAPITAL
HOW THE CEIEsTIAI.s MIGHT PAY THEIR M
MENsE WAR DEBT-A FORTUNE AWAlIIN"
GOOD DENTIST IN PEKING.

are wrangling with each other and the Tsung III
Yamen in the effort to secure the building OF rail-
roads in this country. there is good opportunity
for the United states Minister 10 back some Amer
lean firm in the endeav0r TO have the Chinese
open their mines Gold coal and copper exist III
abundance within several days journey from
Picking and so far mining worth speaking OF
has been attempted. Under Chinese management
no mine can be profitably carried on. but under
foreign direction the Government could secure
vast revenues and private firms become opulent.
Just al present. when the Government are reach-
ing out in very direction for some means Of pay
ing the interest, to say nothing Of the principal
of the japanese war indemnity. the building Of
railroads, the buying of ships, the opening OF
mints and all other expenditures condemned
by the large conservative body of Mandarins and
officials in the capital If 1t could be concusively
shown to them that in their mines exists ready
means Of cancelling their Indebtedness and giving
them large balance in their Treasury. and If they
could receive the assurance al the same time that
their mines would still be their own after the
tract period had expired, and that the United
States Government through American firms
would honestly administer the same for them
no doubt an immediate contract could be secured
The Chinese have not the same fear Of Americans
that they have of the English, Russians and
French who already encroachng upon their
domains; consequently Americans would have an
immense advantage over other nationalities.
True IL is that an American adventurer swindled
them badly few years ago al the Ping Tu gold
mine in Shantung by selling them machinery at
an enormous price. but he was an irresponsible
person. employed not by the Government, but by
General Ii Tsung Tai and a company Of Chinese
spectators. This mine, although extremely
rich is now entirely unworked. II a company
were organized in New-York elsewhere In the
United States OF entirely responsible men. and the
state Department instructed its Minister here to
ask for the company the management for term
Of years Of the entire mining interests in China.
just as Sir Robert Hart administers for the Gov
eminent by means OF a foreign staff OF over 100
men the collection of customs the chances are
that the Americans would obtain the work.
Chnas mountains rich in mineral wealth 50
far they have been prospected and by far the
greatest amount Of country has not even been
visited by foreigner
The president of the Board of War said 10
me few days ago that he wondered why some
foreign country had not seriously made a pro-
posal to this effect. Sir Robert Hart although
he has given China honestly administered
and comparatively inexpensive customs service.
try. and the Chinese are beginning 10 realize
It, II in his position with the advantages OF
constant intercourse with the members Of the
TsuLg La Yamen and presidents OF the Boards,
he had used his Influence for the upbuilding
Of the country he might have at least pre-
vented the easy victory of the japanese last
year. The loss OF Formosa has not seriously
crippled China. but the enormous indemnity
paid TO Japan will not easily be made good by
China with her present resources. Indeed. un-
less the country goes into the hands Of an
honest receiver II Is doubtful II the money
borrowed from Russia. England and Germany
will ever be repaid. Many are inclined To think
that the mortgage will be foreclosed and the
country divided up to clear the debt, leaving
perhaps little province or two In the interior
for the present Emperor IN which to hide his
diminished head.
The Reform Club reopened by Sun CHA Ma!
with the EmperOr's approval has 80 far done
nothing. The OF the former tod me YER
terday that his father was having hard time.
His Advisory Committee Is too large to be ef,
fective One pulls this way. another that. and
dire confusion Is the result. Mr.. Fryer, the
translator at the Shanghai Arsenal. has been
requested to come TO Peking 10 translate scien-
tifc works for the club, but v Is considered
Improbable that he will do So Or. {. w Ma
teer, OF Ting Chow Flu. Is mentioned as a likely
candidate for the place.
Chang Yin Huan. ex-Minister 10 the united
States. had an interview yesterday with Herr Won
Brandt. exMinlster 10 China from Germany and
in the Of the conversation asked the latter
II Chinese porcelain could find good market IN
Europe America to-day. Herr Won Brandt IN
reply said that. although the art had been ac-
CURED from China In the first place. the wares
now produced by the potterics Of Germany ana
France far surpassed those of China: that the
knowledge OF chemistry in the West had made
vast and beneficial changes % method ana ma
terial and that II would be good thing FOR the
Chinese 70 send some OF their best potcrs abroad
to study. Chang much surprised a. this
and doubtless incredulous also.
The desire - acquire the English language has
grown greatly since the japanese war. The Pc
king University. an institution started by the
Methodist Mission with charter from the state
OF NewYork. has largely increased class TINS
term and many inquiries Indicating n still larger
class next term. "The Peking and Tlen-Tsin
Times" a small sheet published In Tlen-Tsin,
ridIcues the Idea OF New-York chartering a Uni
versity in China to grant degrees 10 the Chinese.
American diplomas looked upon with scorn
by those possessing European degrees but IL Is To
be remarked that the brightest and most re-
epected physicians In any community here are
those who hail from the United States.
The Picking and Hankow Railroad II still n
bone OF contention TO the European Powers all
anxious to get IT, all afraid that some one else
will. II the dizziness Of the streets is any indi-
cation there will be as severe an epidemic Of
cholera this year as last, When the population
was decimatcd.
Summer will soon be here The long process
slons Of camels carrying coal and lime are be-
ginning to look shabby indeed. camel Is never
either handsome or graceful. but when he loses
his long, soft wool and only his naked black
hide covers him. he looks a detected and hideous
creature. People In Picking are looking anX-
iousy for the semi-annual visit OF the Shanghai
dentist as we have none resident here. a good
dentist from the United States who would take
the trouble to acquire the language could make
his fortune In five years. Dental work here COM
mands fabulous prices. A physician of my ac-
ouaintance who had two teeth filled with gold
and several cleaned was told by the dentist
that as they were professional brethren. he
would make him only nominal charge l. O..
81 taels 90 gold dollars. The doctor wondered
what he would have had to pay II he had not
been a brother professional rich priest showed
me double set OF very inferior teeth for which
he had paid $50 taels. ! wish l were a dentist
LOUIS GODDUS CASE.
Publication of the following communication has
been requested: