The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1897-01-15
The S. P. AF TER DIGNITY
All the Other Railroads to Be
Left Lonesome in the
Cold.
A Chinese Embassy OF Sixty High and
Accredited o. ticiaIs Due Here
in Few Weeks.

In few weeks there is to leave Hong
kong a distinguished company OF sixty
high Chinese officials, draped in yellow
gowns and decorated with nodding
feathers OF various but not less variegated
degree than the imperial peacock plumes.
This EN- bassy, its feet encased in gondola-
shaped shoes, its figures willowy in 1ow-
ing sllken robes and kowtowing right and
left on land and sea, is coming TO take
possession of the Celestial quarters main
tanned at Washington, D. c., to represent
the power of. the Chinese empire and the
dignity of the Manchu dynasty.
There will be great retinue of servants,
body-guards. secretaries, cooks, hair
dressers and chopsticks, all OF whom must
also be transported to Washington to
grace the incoming of William Mckinley,
the advance agent of prosperity, in the
rear of the kowtowIng high officials.
This is said to be plan of Mark Hanna's
The present representative of the Manchu
dynasty at Washington is to take his turn
as Em AMBASSADOR at the court of ST. Peters
burg to haggle with Nicholas as to the
number of square miles of China that is
to be added to the large section OF Oriental
earth over which the Gar is still Gar.
Nicholas may learn a trick or two in
railroad transportation manipulation for
use on the great Siberian line, when it is
spiked into Vladivostock, by a pleasant
little competition that is now going on
among American railroads for the honor
and profit of carrying the distinguished
Chinese delegation from San Francisco TO
CleVeIandville, Mckinley County, D. c..
AS to particular information Nicholas
may get il by applying 10 Lii Hung Chang
and one Coils P. Huntington, late of
Washington, D. c., and California.
Some time ago the Southern Pacific and
the Central Pacific railroads, and the
Eastern lines running out OF Ogden, united
in the establishment and m maintenance of
a harmonious oriental agency at Yoko-
hama, in the Flowery Kingdom. T. d.
Mckay, an experienced railroad agent,
was made chief of the oriental bureau, the
object of which Is to turn the tide of
passenger and freight traffic to America
via San Francisco and the California coast
as much from via Brindisi and the Suez
Canal as possible, and more from the
Union Pacific, Northern Pacific, Great
Northern and Canadian Pacific lines to the
north, and on the Columbia River and
Puget Sound.
Mr.. Mckay, who is stationed at Yoko-
hama, with transportation on anything
and everything that floats on the Yellow
Sea- is aware of the approaching trip of
this imposing array of Chinese officials
and is doing his best to route them in ac-
cordance with the general plan so that all
the railroads will secure share of the re-
ceipts. 1t was intimated yesterday, and
quite accurately, that the expense of the
trip of this EN- bassy from Hongkong to
Washington, D. c., including first-class
sleepiilg-car and other accom- modations
from San Francisco, will be fully $l0,00
which is neat sum to pick up any day,
even by railroad.
1t tTanspired yesterday that the elusive
Southern Pacific Com pany has gone on a
still hunt for this $40, 900 bag of business.
The aim is to route the Chinese en- bassy
over the "Sunset Limited" from San Fran.
cisco to New Orleans. This would not
only be a considerable advertisement for
the "Sunset Limited through the en-
bassy travelling in state, but Mr.. Hunt
ington's active agents would be able to
turn into the Huntington Golfers almost
the entire $4,000
OF course the Southern Pacific would
not plunge across the narrow iron bridge
! between the headquarters OF its two roads
at Market and Montgomery streets to pro-
test against the share it might receive
| going to its present master. The howl
would come from the Eastern lines run
/
cent. The consequence may be tranycon-
tinental passenger agreement eruptions OF
q seismic nature.
Furthermore, the Southern Pacific has
sent special Chinese emissary to act as
the envoy extraordinary and minister
plenipotentiary from Messrs. Mills, Good
man and Huntington to the court OF Pc
king to route the en- bassy via the "Sunset
Limited" Mr.. Huntington is said to
have a powerful friend and ally within
the sacred precincts of the Manchu court.
Recalling LII Hung Changes recent visit to
this country and that notable interview
Mr.. Huntington had with him in New
York it is not so difficult as an algebraie
problem to guess whose peacock feather
it is at Peking that bows low before the
throne for Huntington.
Ii Hung Chang cordially invited Mr..
! Huntington to come over to China, Join
him in DO vi of rice and build few rail.
roads 10 develop the Celestial wilderness
Mr.. Hun tington is reported to have re-
! piled TO LII that he would come and tc
have made him a present of an up-to-date
! New York companion coffin for use at the
time they might be buried side by side