The San Francisco call., 1899-05-30
AMERICA DOES
NOT REALIZE
HER FUTURE
Should Watch Trend
of China's Trade.
PARTITION CLOSE AT HAND
HANGKoW RAILROAD TO BE
BUILT BY AMERICAN CAPITAL.
William B. Parsons, Chief Engineer
of the Brice Syndicate, Returns
After Eight Months in the
Heart Of tie Empire.
PARTITION CLOSE AT HAND
HANGKoW RAILROAD TO BE
BUILT BY AMERICAN CAPITAL.

William B. Parsons, chief engineer of
the Br!ce railroad syndicate of New York
CITY, was among yesterdays arrivals
from Hongkong on the steamer China.
Mr.. Parsons has spent the past eight
months in surveying the route OF the $50
miles Of railroad which it is the inten-
tion of the Brice syndicate to build be-
tween Hankow and Canton. His labors
have taken him into the principal cities
OF the empire and have brought him in
close contact with those men of all ma
tions who are just now doing politics and
making history over there.
Mr.. Parsons duties have also taken
him and his five assistants through the
toughest and most inhospitable region of
the country, and he has come out of IL
much impressed with the future ii holds
out to America for profitable trade. Just
now said he last evening, England is
holding the empire together. Were 1t not
for her it would be divided among the
powers next week, or the week after a.
the latest. Or on the other hand ii the
United States were to make common
cause with England the division would
be accomplished as quickly, and L think
the United States would come out with
as good slice as almost any Of the
others.
The friendship displayed by the Eng
lish for the American residents of China
is one of the most remarkable conditions
that exist at the present time. 1t Is no.
tiCed and commented upon everywhere,
and by everybody, and by some nationali-
ties in no kindly manner. AS the ineVi-
table partition of the country approaches
national rivalry and jealousy become
more apparent. No one knows when ii is
% come. 1t may be this summer, maybe
not for years, bur come it Will and if
there is to be trouble over it IL Will be
begun from the outside. The Chinese will
not begin it even in defense.
You will not find an American or an
Englishman there who Will not agree as
TO the advisability and desirabilty of this
country participating in the breaking up;
neither Will you flnd one who thinks this
country will. They would like to see il
but do not expect to.
America does not realize yet what her
trade advantages and possibilities are
there. The Chinese generally wish to
favor Us. had one day an opportunity
10 see. / walked through the market dis
empire with the president of the NUM-
lpality, an Englishman Notice the
markings on the boxes, said he. l did,
and three-fourths Of the stuffs on sale
American locomotives are in use on nearly
all the railways and as the demand in
creases, American machinery is getting
the upper hand in the market.
Concerning his own road Mr.. Parsons
had little TO say. He said he could not
say when actual construction would be
begun as he is just returning to New
York with his reports and until they have
been considered no action will be taken.
IT may never be. for the reason that when
the partition begins 1t is apparent now
the Russia Will acquire the section
through which the surveys run, and unless
some deal were made with the Russian
Government the American road would be
quickly shut out by the Russian Man
churian system now building. Mr. Par
sons leaves to-day for New York.