The times., 1898-10-02

south to Canton and thence to the sea-
coast, opposite Hong Hong. There will
be 800 miles OF road with such branches
as trade seems to demand and there will
be tributary to IT a country having a
population of 200 0e0,0OO Two of the
provinces through which it runs contain
SO. 00.G00 people-more than the population
OF the United States.
I'VE have spent 100000 investigating
the conditions in China" said Mr. Brice,
and deposited with the imperial govern
ment a forfeit of S1O0 O00 Our agreement
with the Chinese government is that we
| shall construct 500 miles of road at cost
| which is estimated at $50 600, coo TO $40, 000-
, 000 the government to issue bonds which
| viii cover the cost of building and equip
| ping the road. These bonds we have to
| place. When the road is completed we
| will operate it in connection with the gov
ernment of China-that is, according to
! the just and reasonable requirements of
| the government, which is no more than is
required Of company building a rail-
road in this country"
British and American Capital.
Mr. Brice said he could not say how
much of the capital TO be expended in the
construction of the road would come to
this country for supplies. He said that
bined with American in the enterprise
made that uncertain. The labor, he said,
would be Chinese; first, because the Chi
nese labor was the cheapest to be had;
! and, second, because the employment of
natives would dispose the Chinese people
favorably toward the road.
LAS TO its patronage he said. that is
not a matter of doubt. Where railroads
have been constructed in China they have
found that the demands on both freight
and passenger equipment have been
greater than they could meet.
THE government of China wants rail-
roads" said Mr.. Brice. ''It wants both
railroads and telegraphs. because it
knows that by their aid revolution can
be prevented or subdued. President Diaz
has maintained himself as president of
Mexico all these years because the coun-
try is covered with railroads and tele-
graph lines. 1t used TO be that if rev.
olution started in a remote part of the
country il was two or three weeks, per-
| haps. before the government heard of it,
and as much longer before troops could
be sent to put down the uprising. Now
il a revolution is planned the govern
ment knows it within an hour, and in a
| day ii can have troops on hand to sup
] press it. The Chinese have frequent up
risings in different parts of the great
| empire. They realize that by the aid of
the railroad and the telegraph they can
uphold their authority. The proposed
railroad from Canton to Han Kow. COM
bined with the railroad which the Bel
gians are to build from Han Kow to
| Pekin viii give the government a means
| of inland communication, bringing the
| principal points in the empire in close
touch with each other. but so remote
from the sea as to be protected from at
tack by any of China's enemies.
Control of the Yangtse Valley.
/ Han Kow, which will be one terminus
of the road. is 400 miles from the coast on
the Yahgtse-Kiang River. That stream
is navigable practically all the year round
for vessels drawing forty feet of water.
! The finest steam vessels ply on it now.
/ Beyond ii smaller steam vessels navigate
the upper waters and the branch streams
and reach a vast territory. The valley is
! Tot only populous. but fertile, and it will
furnish an immense business for the new
road.
rs there any danger that in the parti-