The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1897-01-07
TO SQUEEZE CHINESE.
An American Syndicate After VAL
liable Concessions.
SENATOR BRICE Is AT ITS HEAD.

lie, with Ex-senator washburn, Clar nee
Cary, and Others Is Negotiating for the
MonopoIies of the Telephone, Telegraph,
and Railroad Systems of the Celestial
Empire-Expect to Reap Immense Prof
its--Russia Opposes the Grant.
New York, Jan. 7.-Senator Calvin
S. Brice, at the head of a close syndi-
cate of United States officeholders, and
capitalists, has nearly concluded ar
rangements for the establishment or
monopoly of railroad. telegraph tele-
phone systems of China. Ex-United
States Senator William ID. Washburn
of Minnesota and Clarence Cary, an at
torney of Wall street, this city, are now
in China as representatives. of theNsyn-
dicate. With them is Mr.. Bach, pro-
moter, formerly living in Washington,
but who for some years has.sbeeh IN
China, where he has great iphuence
with the officials Of the government.
The preliminary arrangements hsVe
been made with the utmost secrecy, ana
only the most intimate friends or MI
Cary and ex-senator Washburn were
told of their destination when the two
men left this city just before Thanks
giving day Even up to today the Sc
cret was jealousy guarded. The hrst
negotiations for this huge monopoly
were made when Ii Hung Chang was
/ in this country. BY their official con-
nection with the government some or
the memers of the syndicate were able
TO get much closer TO him than was
possible to the ordinary citizen
Russia stands in the Way.
Only one serious obstacle stands in
the way Of the success of the work.
This obstacle is the opposition of the
Russian government, which has IN
structed its representative at Pekin 10
do his utmost to force the Chinese gov
ernment to defer the final signing or
the contracts. When ex-senator Wash-
burn and Mr.. Cary left this city they
went direct to Vancouver There they
took massage for China, sailing on Dec
8. on reaching Shanghai they were
ioined by Mr.. Bach, who had peen
awaiting them. Mr.. Bach's first task
was to introduce ex-senator Washburr
and Mr.. Cary to Sheng Tao Tai, minis
ter of communications, who has author'
itv delegated him by the tsung or hom'
office. to negotiate with foreigners II
regard TO the construction OF railroad
and other improvements. From Sheni
Tao Tai the matter will be turned owe
to six commissioners, who are to b.
named by Ii Hung Chang. and actini
together one contract will be for
line of railroads from Hankau to som
point within a few miles Of Pekin. tn
latter city is not a treaty port and con
seouently It is not permissible for rail
road to come directly to 1t.
Anticipate Immense Profits.
, From Hankau TO PelIin is distanc
, of q little more than 700 miles, and a
the rates usual in this country the prof
, II arising from the co~9ct would b
|, great. But things are @ naged differ
. emily i'm China and the -embcrs OF TN
syndicate expect to make several time
,he usual profit by the deal. They fs
, ure out that they are perfectly justine
i'm charging the Chinese ten times IN
regular price for his railroad, Tor, the
. saw. no matter how much 1t costs nm
he benefit arising from it will be vast
y ly greater A monopoly of railroads
a not enough, however, to to satisfy IN
q financial desires of the members OF IN
syndicate. They want the sole contr'
of the telegraph and telephone system
and incidentally of the banks, The
n are now preparing to make extra effor
). 10 secure these rights as they have az
i cided that the profits from them wou
e be much greater than from their raj
It roads. Senator Brice has left the Gil
e for Washington and could not be see
'e in regard to the plans of the syndicat
5. r. r. Leland, his confidential man, Wi
lie found at his Office in Broadway and az
n mitted that the story was substantial
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