The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-09-17
CHINA'S CONCESSION TO
AN ENGLISH SYNDICATE.
Sole Right TO Work Coal Mines. OPP
crate Railroads. Etc. In Ger
tain Distrtcrn Granted.

NEW YORK. Sept ia dispatch 70 the
Tribune from Washington says:
Consul James W. Ragsiale. at Tientsin.
China reports the first concession ever
granted by the Chinese government 10
foreign syndicate. by the terms of which
Tie foreigners have the right to open and
work mines and construct and operate rail-
ways entirely free fran Chinese conrc!
other than the payment Of a royalty and
conformity with the general laws OF the
empire as applicable TO foreigners
On May y there were signed N the pres
ence Of the nliG ssers Of the tsung ii yanlsn
articles OF agreement which coded to the
Picking Syndicate. Limited. Of London. the
sole right 10 open and work the coal and
iron deposits OF Central and Southern
Shansi, and the petroleum deposits OF the
entire province, also the right 20 construct
and operate all necessary railways. 10
maintain trunk lines and nayigabie waters
for exporting the mining products The
agreement. was signed by orders issued In
an imperial edct, stamped with the seal OF
the .sung II yamen as "a :!s.hle sign OF I'M
per1al sanction and authority, and the
whole proceedings were verified and rau-
fed by the Eritish and italian ministers to
China.
The signing OF this contract marks the
most important epoch in the industrial
established of allowing foreigners. for
commercial purposes. 10 own real estate
In the interior OF China. open and operate
mines and construct and maintain rail-
ways There have been many so-calied
railway concessions granted in China. oui
none OF them are worta the paper they
are written on. OF the railway concessions
only one the Belgian syndicate, for the
peking-Ha ukow railway. has passed be
yond the preliminary state, and in none is
th4, syndicate more than the financial
agent OF the Chinese. This railway syn
d.cate has no voice n the management
and none too much security for its money.
AS a matter Of fact. up 10 date neither the
Belgian syndicate nor any other has fur-
nished one cent Of money.
Following IS synopsis Of the agreement
between the Picking syndicate and the Chi
uese government: The right TO open and
work coal and iron deposits III certain
named districts of Shans: and the sole
right TO all petroleum, the right 10 exist
for sixty years is granted. Private lands
are 10 be purchased and on government
lands the syndicate IS TO pay double the
present land tax All matters Of admin
is;rat!on, exploration. management OF en-
ployes ana finances shall be controlled by
the board of directors of the Feksng syn
dictate Each mine is 10 have foreign man
ayers and one Chnaman 70 arrange dis
be kent by foreign methods. but audited
annually by native OF China. All sal
aries are 10 be paid by the Picking syndi-
cate. and ail receipts AMI payments shall
be controlled ~ foreigners.
All damage done TO private property In
prospecting is 10 be paid for. cemeteries
or ulortuary sariues are not 10 be dis
turbed.
TIE Chinese government Is 10 receive
3 per cent. production tax on the actual
cost of extracting coal. iron or other ma
ter!al The syndicate is 10 receive s per
cent. interest on the capital Q; The COM
pany and per cent. shall be set aside as a
sinking fund with which 10 repay the
capital. or the balance net profit the Ca.-
nese government Is to receive p per cent.
and the Picking syndicate y per cent. All
future c0al or iron mines worked with fc-
eign capital shall pay The ue~ cent. pro-
duceTs' tax. The Chinese government =
MOI 10 be held rcsTons bic for losses. All
imported machinery and uateria. shall pay
one ard one~han TIE regular maritime
customs duties but no hken taxes. Prod
ucts imported from seaport shall Qsy
regular du;y.
~ the expiration Of s,xty years al ma
ch.nery. p.au-. buildings, railway, etc. re-
vert gratis 20 the Chinese government.
The syndicate shall establish A school
% civ.l engineering and mining for TWEEN
~ Chinose students. Chinese may buy
shares IN the company. The imperial chi
neSe government has reserved $2Jo.ts0
worth Of shares. for which i: pays III cash
the par value
when Chinese own g per cent 81 any
one mine they may redeem Ire remainder
fran the syndicate and operate the mine.
Private n.res ROW IN operation raay.coc-
TRUE II work or sci out 70 the SvadI-
cafe. TIE syndicate has the riEat 70 build
ali necessary roads and bridges. open or
dee pen canals or rivers. ard construct
all railways TO connect with mires and
trunk railways Or nav3xahle waters.
In case China gees t. wa the syndicate
VIII ORGY tire oF8srs of ihe Chinese govern
rle0t prohibiting ala 10 tire enemy
The ps6ing syndicate x coupose3 q
tsw men who cnD-ro immense capital. ara
who have obtained the most valuable con-
ccssious Chtra could make The areiin-
trary work has been IN progress tor over
TWO years The concessions VII b worked
~ tire .AuE. o-I.aiian Syailsate. with cap
i;ai ~ s. 'Ao.tssa The sggaesS 81 this enter
prise * due. f3~st. - the fat that The syo-
d5rafe was wfl,trs - spend money ~ The
CHARGE u getting a concession a1i hat
after <erA!ng thsiv general agent - China
trey simply as.eSs5 afrs = manage affairs
ard kert hi0l supplied WITH money. The
agent 4 i.uset... has shown won iert,l!
tact 20 3eslag w!ta Chinese ois~.als f1iz-
usrs {s sste-t1rE rs assistants ara utt5sz-
I0E al available means - success aCi VI
ctrt.G rsvSaEe~4Er..