The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-09-18
. RAILROAD FOR CHINA
The Line Will Be Constructed by
an American Syndicate.
NO CHANCE FOR A SLIP
Standard Oil Magnates and the Wander
bits Are Interested IN the Scheme.
The Contract Is Absolute-Pe-
III TO Hong Kong.

New York. Sept. 1T.-Regarding the
proposed new railroad to be constructed
from Hankow 10 Hong Kong, China.
by an American syndicate. ex-senator
Calvin s. Brice said 10 a reporter: THE
American syndicate believes that II has
fair data for estimating pretty closely
the cost of the work. II has now on
and on the property a part Of its en-
gineering forces, and is sending as rap
idly as IL can be equipped a corps Of
engineers and other officials. who will
make the survey. beginning at Hankow
n extending to the city of Canton
n thence to Hong Kong, and also be-
ginning at the southern end and COM
ing north, making ar Independent line
for the purpose of securing as good loca-
zion and grades n as favorable actio1
as possible. That work, IL is estimated,
viii consume six months. and Will prob
ably furnish us a basis for making fur
Their calls upon the syndicate. The char
acter OF the syndicate may best be
shown by a glance at the list of names.
There are in IL seven representatives Of
the Vanderbilt interests and three Of
1he Standard Oil company, John ID.
Rockefeller. William Rockefeller and the
president of one Of the largest banks,
also D~TtSlutnlS OF several VI our idfEt
trust companies, Levi p. Morton, George
IT. Bliss and the officials of the Carnegie
Steel company. The new federal COM
pany will probably also take an interest
in the syndicate.
The contract is absolute and sub
feet TO no slips or casualties, as the
whole ground work has been done. and
money to a large amount expended and
will be expended. As fast as more
money is needed it will be paid in.
THE cost of the road is estimated at
n minimum of "a 600, 900 and a maxi
mum of es, 000. 900, or from about 500
600. 900 to $40. 600, 600. Our best opinion
IS that IL will cost between $50, 900. 600
and $40. 900, 900, according to the stand
ard adopted and the amount Of extra
expenditures required. The syndicate
will undoubtedly control the road for n
period of four or five years. during
which 1t is subject TO negotiations
which may change its character. The
provinces through which the a viii
pass are the most populous in China,
having a population of 300, 0hO, 900. Two
OF the provinces through which IL
passes have a population greater than
that of the United States"
In addition 20 the information given
by Mr.. Brice. II may be mentioned that
the American railway will, by having
its northern terminal at Hankow. Gre
ate a direct line from Pekin to Hong
Kong by means Of the new road which
Is to be built by Belgian-French capital
and concerning which much has been
said I'm connection with the recent An
glo-Russian troubles in China. II viii
be remembered that the charge was
made hat Russia was furnishing all
the money for the roa and was using
the Belgians simply as a fgurchead
The road runs through what is called
the English sphere of influence. II was
also limited yesterday by those in close
touch with the affairs of the American
syndicate that IL was not improbable
that the latter might own the pro-
posed road from Tien Tsin To Hankow
in the end