The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-09-18
AMERICANS N CHM
Syndicate to Build 900 Miles
of Railroad.
THREE HUNDRED MILLIONS
Of People in the Provinces 1t
Will Cross.
THREE HUNDRED MILLIONS

New York. Sept. T.-Regarding the
proposed new railroad to be constructed
by an American syndicate fromHan how
to Hong Kong, China, distance OF y"
miles, ex-senator Calvin S. Brice said to
Tribune reporter:
1.-THE American syndicate believes that
1t has fair data for estimating closely the
cost of the work It now as on hand on
the property a part Of its engineering
forces; is sending as rapidly as it can De
equipped a corps of engineers and other
officials who will make te survey, begin
ming at Han Kow and extending TO the
city Of Canton and thence to Hong Kong
and also beginning at the southern end
and coming north, maging an Independent
line, for the purpose of securing as good
location and grades an0 as favorable
construction as is possible. That work,
it is estimated, will consume six months
and will probably furnish us basis Tor
making further calls upon the syndicate.
THE character of the syndicate may
best de sown by a glance at the list OF
names. There are in it seven representa-
tives of the Vanderbilt interests, and
three of the Standard Oil company, John
D. Rockefeller, William Rockefeller and
the president OF one of our largest banks;
also presidents of several of our large
trust companies. Levi P. Morton, George
T. Bliss and the officials of thte Carnegie
Steel company. The new Federal COM
pany will also take an interest in the
syndicate. The contract of the syndicate
is absolute and subject to no slips or cas-
ualfties, as the whole ground work has
been done and money to a large extent
expended and will be expended. As fast
as more money is needed it will be paid
In. a
THE cost of the road" continued Mr..
rice, lis estimated at minimum of
81, 900, 900 and a maximum of $500, 900, to
from about $50 900, 900 TO s40OOO.OOC. Our
best opinion is that it will cost between
$50, 900, 600 and $40. OO0, 900 according to the
standard adopted and the amount of extra
expenditure required. The syndicate Will
undoubtedly control the road for a,period
of four or five years, during which it is
subject to negotiations. which may
change its character.
The provinces through which the road
will pass are the most populous in China,
having a population of 300 100000. Two of
the provinces through which it passes
have a population greater than that of
the United States"
In addition to the information given by
Mr.. Brice, it may be mentioned that the
American railway will, by having its
northern terminal at Han Kow, create a
direct line from PelSiLg to Hong Kong
by means OF the new road which is to be
built by Belgian-French capital. and con-
corning which so much has been said in
connection with the ecentLAnglo-Russian
troubles in China 1t Will be remembered
that the charge was made that Russia
was furnishing all the money for the road
and was using the Belgians simply as a
figurehead. The road runs through what
is called 1.-The English sphere of inf1u-
ence" It was also limited yesterday by
those in close touch with the affairs ofo
the American syndicate that it was not
improbable that the latter might own the
proposed road from Tien Tsin to Han Kow
in the end.