The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-08-30
CHINA'S new ERA
Government Shows Unmistak-
able Signs of Progress.
Generous Rewards Offered For
All Kinds Of Inventions.
TO BUILD RAILROADS.
Dismissal of the EmperOr's
Cranky Tutor
Responsible For Display of En-
ergy by the Ruler.

Tacoma, Washington, Aug 3O.-AIail ad-
vices received from the Orient state that
an important change has come over the
Emperor of China since the recent dismiss
sal of Weng Tung-ho, his former old and
cranky tutor. 1t consists in the eager
ness with which the emperor is fnquiring
into all sorts of western information and
seeking knowledge in sources from which
he was formerly excluded with jealousy
and suspicion by Weng Tung-ho. His ma
jesty is beginning to have foreign news
papers translated to him regularly, and
displays intelligent interest in their
contents, especially in their political news,
concerning which he seems to have a per-
fectly Unsuitable curiosity. The cOnvic-
ton is said to be steadily growing him
that there is hope for China, save in
the introduction of a purified system of
administration, modelled on foreign lines.
A Few weeks ago the emperor deterTnin-
ed to go to Canton soon as the railway
pleted. Having made that decision, he
is impatient of the delay, and recently
eral of railways, with edict telling him
that he must move speedily in railway
number or Of contracts for materfaI and
started construction work on the project
chief engineer of the SauIt Ste. Marie,
railway, has been appointed consulting en-
gineer to the Chinese railway adminiStra-
ton, with headquarters at Shanghai. Cap
tain Rich will be in charge Of all railway
direction of Sheng Tajen.
The Chinese emperor has just issued
the most important imperial decree of
years. 1t promises immediate copyright
and patent laws for the Chinese empire,
and instructs the Tsung-II-Yamen to
make them effective at once. The edict
Now that we have entered upon the
high road toward the education and en-
lghtenment of the masses for the purpose
of making our empire strong and wealthy
like other nations, our first duty should
be the ENCOURAGEMENT and employment OF
men of genius and talents. We, there
fore, hereby command that henceforth if
hereafter write a useful book sub
Jects, or who should have invented any
new design in machinery or any useful
work of art and science which will be of
penent 70 the country az large, SuGn per
son snail be honored and rewarded by US
in order to serve as an encouragement
and exhortatton to others Of S! similar n ar
found that such genius have also real
point them to substantive posts as a re-
ward, or grant them decorations or fine
persons Who have gained honor By their
talents and genius; while they shall also
labors by being presented with papers
empowering them to be the sole manufac-
of time. Again, to such as have admins
trative talents and the necessary funds
works for the benefit of agriculture, or
ali of Which viii be Of great benefit to the
men shall be rewarded on the same scale
who have gained distinction in
the army or navy. in order to give such
persons special encourag cement to work
for the good of themselves and their coun-
try. We hereby further command the
Tsung-Li-Ya men to draw up the regula-
tions which shall govern the various mat
ters noted within this edict and report to
Another imperial edict appoints the ex-
tutor of the emperor's late father to- be
Rersity at Pekin. the rules and c1rricuium
of which have been copied from western
full discretion to select professors and
tutors for the university. foreign and Chi
nese scholars being equally eligible The
edict commands the board of revenue to
+ 'i1T ~ ,7,iyI,S3IS - az 60 ~ "
form clubs established after the late war
are commanded to amalgamate with the
university. Similar universities are to be
established IN various provinces, one to
A letter received in Shanghai from Ia
lien Wan states that all the lands about
bought up by Russia, value per title
deeds. and sales are made compulsory
port of Ta-Iien Wan to Foreigners for
three years. In the meantime the harbor
cost pc of o. BBT TeaRwate Ieet ana
landing stages, costing 100000 more. are
harbOr will be for the use of Chinese and
south side for foreigners only.
The whole Orient seems to be entering
upon on area of mining development /
Hong Kong papers state that the Philip
Of which are on exhibition at Hong Kong.
Coal commands high price in both 5 China
ment of the Philippine mines is looked for
The Uling and Lutac mines, near the
coast of the island of Cebu. were worked
forty years ago by two men, who died
when development was fairly started
Their concession reverted to the govern
ment, which did nothing with 1t until last
January when it was advertised for sale.
The rebellion prevented carrying out this
plan. A railroad eight miles long. from
the coal vein to the port of Tinaan, on
the east coast of Cebu, would permit the
development of these mines on a large
scale
London and Rotterdam syndicates are
successfully boring for petroleum the
southeast coast of Borneo and on a neigh
boring island called Pulo Miang. Thfr-
teen wells are now in operation in BOrneO
and large storage tanks are being built
Eight tank steamers are already in use
for transporting the oil from Cote to Sin
gapore, Bangkok and other cities Ex-
periments are being conducted to see if
the oil can not be used as fuel by steam
ers in the East Indian trade. Samuel 6.
Co., a London firm, is at the head of the
opposition to the Standard company's hold
in the Orient.