The Newtown bee., 1898-04-29
RUSSIAN DOMINANCE IN CHINA,

Ehe complete ascendency of Russia
over China forms one OF the most singu-
lar and most pregnant chapters of recent
history. It is so complete that when the
great Belgian railway concession (Which
would give Russia far more southerlv
terminus for her great railway than she
now has) was offered to the Russians re-
Gently they refused it at moderate price.
| and when the minister who did this was
asked why he missed such q chance, he
Is said to have replied that he could get
whatever concessions he needed for moth
ing Before this occurred it was stated
Ia very high circles that the published
arrangement between Russia and China
for the Chinese portion of the Siberian
Railway could only be fragment of a
wider agreement procuring for Russia
the ultimate possession of Port Arthur:
and it is now the opinion of the best-in-
formed European agents in China that
Russia has gained the important provin-
ces OF kiriD and Leaotong; and not only
those, but a practical protectorate over
the frightened and Inundated old EN-.
pire itself. This PROFESSIONALLY takes
the form of an alliance, in which Russia,
in return for the acquisition of the prin-
cipal naval port Of China, promises to
defend northern China against all
corners, without asking anything of the
same nature from that empire. This
treaty, signed in 1896, and brought
about by Count Cassini for Russia, is
supposed to have been the result of the
fear of the Chimes Emperor for the safe
ty OF bis throne and the continuance of
the present dynasty. OF course there il
not and has not been the slightest men.
ace to either, and if the Emperor and the
real ruler of China, the Dowager EN-.
press, have been made to belive In such
dangers, it is not hard to see who must
have aroused the alarm, and for what
purpose the bugaboo was conjured up.
THE RUSSO CHINESE RAILROAD.
The Russians have published what
they are pleased to make known of the
terms of the Russo-Cbinese agreement
concerning this new division of the
great railway on Chinese land. The
sh .reholders are wholly Russian and
Chinese, and the fiscal agent of the rail.
way is the Russo. Chinese Bank. The
raison d'etre of the bank is the construct
ion Of the railway. When the books
were opened for subscriptions for stock
ia the new railway they were almost i'm.
mediately closed, because more than the |
money needed was at once offered. The
length of the railway is to be 1880 miles, |
946 of which are to be in Manchuria. |
The route is chosen not because it short |
ems the Siberian Railway, for the
branches to it from the finished sections |
made necessary the construction of 1859 |
miles more than an entirely Siberian
route would require. But the Manchu-
ria route is cheaper to build, and is 400
miles further south, in a better climate
and richer country. China reserves
the right to purchase the road at the end
Of thirty-six years, or to take it without
cost at the end OF eighty years. Goods
shipped through Manchuria are to be
tree from Chinese taxes, and goods
brought into China or ont OF it by the
'ailway will pay third less import and
luties than il brought in or out at Chin
,se seaports. La Manchuria the railway
9 TO be policed by Russian constables.
rHE CONSTRUCTION OF THE NEW SIBERIAN
RAILROAD.
As to the construction of this great
ailway, all authorities agree that it ID to
70 perfectly modern railway, equipped
lot only with sleeping and dining cars,
tut il is even to carry church-car on les
through trains. IL Ia promised that Its {
permanent way will be rock-ballasted /.
nd heavily rallied, and that It's stations
nd equipment generally wi be Of the 4
eat and latest patterns. This Is not the
ase to-day. 4 am aware that In the val !