The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-04-24

last year, the only railway in actuat
operation i'm this vast and denselyo pop
ulated territory, One-hfth greater ,hah
the whole continent OF Europe, was a
Lint about 200 miles in length connect
ing Taku.. Tientsin and S~han-hai-
Kwan. But to-day, revolutionary
changes ere ia progress.
OF, course nothing is done in an open
and straightforward manner; that
wouldn't he Chinese Every step Is
hampered by Oriental intrigue and dis
honesty as well as by the jealous rival
nv of European powers. Nevertheless.
great companies have been organized,
road-beds are in process OF construc-
ton, and steel rails are being spiked
down: the land Of Confucius VIII soon
be meshed with tracks. Think OF TIA
railroad map OF China.
1t Vas reported not long ago that a
Belgian syndicate. strongly backed by
Russian influence. had obtained a prac-
teal monopoly of railway construction
throughout the empire. In consequence
however. of the enu protests OF
other powers. especially Great Britain.
the concession granted was limited to
the Pekin-Hankow line; but even THIS
Is a big thing for the parties interested.
The Russians, of course. are mani
Testing great activity. The Eastern or
china Railway company, with the APP
prevail of the czar as well as the IN
ZION OF the SuiifcrS SoNti iiiiNh'' -
about to construct a line from a point
in the province of Lei Loun TITAN to a
terminus i'm the province OF Guirene.
This is to connect with Russian lines
which will he extended to the Chinese
frontier as soon as possible. The work
must be completed within six years.
The Trans-Manchurian branch of the
great Trans-Siberian r~ailway-by
means of which the distance will be
shortened at least $50 miles as COM
pared with the route originally planned
will greatly increase the I'VE OF the
car in Northern Asia, n VIII PROB
ably be attended with important ron
sequences to China. An to
start from the vicinity OF kirin n
And an outlet at Port Arthur has been
projected. Apropos of these develop
ments, James Young Simpson. an au-
thority on this subject. recently said:
They practically mean Russian ad-
ministration of the whole of Northern
China, probably ending with its acqui-
sition. They open up to Russian capi
tai and enterprise a country renowned
for its gold and rich in ine pasture
land. Finally. in connection with GER
tain purely Chinese railways that are
being constructed. they bring us within
measurable distance of the time wnen
the Trans-Siberian railway will find its
eastern terminus not at Nladivostock
but on the miIder shores OF the Gull OF
Pechili, which is the ultimate koai IN
the vision OF Russian railway extern
sion"
Germany. II Is stated. has secured a
virtual monopoly. Of the railways-and
with them of the mines-in Shantung
II is also reported that an agreement
has been signed conceding an exten-
sion of the French railway system in
| TO Kwangsi and on towards Yunnanfu
together with important mining priv
leges. To the English the Chinese gov
eminent has granted h opening OF
the waterways of their country Il
British and other TO TAXI
effect next June: and this concession
will doubtless have no small inhuenc'
on the development OF railway
throughout China. by giving rise to
demand for better facilities for commu
nication between different parts of tn
country Moreover, the Chinese gov
eminent has pledged itself Tin tn
Anglo Chinese treaty. article Kill Z
consider whether the conditions o
trade justify the construction OF rail-
ways in Yunnan." and further. in IN
event of their construction to connec
them with the Burmese lines. Shoul
this he done. il would undoubtedl
have an immense effect on trade bot
in China and Burmah.