The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1898-02-16

death of an Emperor or Empress, and
the consequent funeral to Moukden,
would cost at least $1,500O0O. Such
expenses would be avoided if rail
road were in existence. Indeed it has
been somewhat grimly reckoned that
the deaths of a single unhealthy sea-
son at Pekin would entail greater ex-
penses than the cost of building the
railroad. And when China has to bor-
row money of foreign devils" it be-
hooveS her to be economical. 1t is an
other interesting circumstance that
the line is to be built under the direc-
ton of that same Mr.. Kinder who
built Lis first railroad and locomotive
out of scrap iron He is now direct
ing engineer of the whole existing rail-
road in the north of China. Russia re-
Gently demanded his dismissal and the
appointment of a Russian in his place
but the change has not yet been made
and is not likely to be.
The plans for the Russian railroads
in China are already familiar to all
readers. A branch is to be run from
the Siberian road from a point a little
east of Lake Baikal down through Mon
golia and Manchuria to Kirin, but not
touching the sacred city of MOukden,
which is TO be entered only by the Chi
nese line Thence it is to branch III
two directions. One branch will run
north and east to Vladivostock, and
the other southwark to Port Arthur,
there finding the terminal so long desir-
ed. A better could not be wished. The
port is a commodious one, already sup
piled with fine docks and shipyards. 1t
is always free from ice 1t is capable
of being fortified into a practically i'm
pregnable state. There is a good sup
ply Of fresh water at hand for ship
ping. Indeed it is an ideal place for
either naval station or commercial
emporium. If Russia could make the
approach to it along the peninsula Sc
cure she would be satisfied To make
it thus secure is the task she now has
in hand, and an uncommonly hard task
ii appears to be.
One of the most important new lines
projected by the Chinese Government
and will be about 900 miles long There
has been earnest rivalry between capt.
talists of various countries, including
the United States, for the contract for
building it. The route was surveyed by
erly chief engineer of the Wisconsin
Central and also of the 800" line and
who has now been engaged by the
Chinese Government as a director of its
railroads. But the contract for this
line has been awarded, according to
latest advices, to Belgian syndicate
which had the support of the French
ambassador at Picking, and also of the
tives of American British and Ger
man interests have strongly protested
against the award, however, and it may
yet be annulled, for China is a land III
which some curious performances take
place in business transactions.
Another trunk line is to connect
Shanghai, Woo-Sung, Hang-Chow, Soo-
Chow and Ching Kiang, and will be
some 2e0 miles long. The part Of it
between Shanhgai and Woo-Sung is
now approaching completion. 1t fol-
lows the route of that first and ll-fated
narrowgauge line which was torn up
twenty years ago. The new line, as
indeed all the projected lines in the
empire, is to be the standard gauge Of
four feet eight and a half inches. An
other short, but important line is to
connect the city of Hang Chow with
the end of the Grand Canal 1t will
be only ten miles long, but will doubt
less enjoy an enormous traffic. 1t is
now nearly finished. There are no
other seriously considered plans for
railroads in the northern part of Chi
ma. There is one for a great road in
the south, but that, as Mr. Kipling says,
is another story. 1t belongs TO another
system and involves other interests
The opening in China for Americans
seeking employment on railroads cannot
be described as good. There mignt ~e
a chance for them if an American COM
pany could get the contract for build
ing road, but of that there is little
prospect. The 300 miles of railroad
now in operation employ all told only
twenty-seven foreigners, of whom four
are engineers. All the rest of the en-
ployes are natives, with whom Ameri-
cans cannot hope to compete. Their
wages are very low The telegraph op-
orators are best paid. getting as much
as $40 a week. Engineers get from So
to SS a week, and the other train hands
not more than 50 to So And even these
miserable pittances are paid in silver
worth 30 cents to the dollar. On the
other hand, the railroad owners are
doing well, as the dividends are never
less thar 10 per cent. per annum.-New
York Tribune.