The times., 1899-01-09
Pushing Work of Construction
in the Northeast.
USE OF AMERICAN GOODS
Popular Demand for Locomotives
manufactured in the United States
observation-disclosures in Soutb Man
churin-From Pclsin to Iinni.ow.

negotiation and fewer still are actually
building. The country is making progress,
however, and already about $50 miles of
railroad are in operation. 1t is the pur-
pose here. with the aid of the small map,
TO show the railroads now built or build
ing and the most important projected
routes.
First among the roads now in full swing
must be mentioned the Tientsin line, ex-
tending from Tong-Ku, the port of that
great city, northeast to Shanhai-k kwan,
where il crosses the great wall of China,
penetrates thirty miles farther north into
the edge of Mongolia, and is still building.
The part of the line now in operation is
2l0 miles long. II has been building for
several years and if the Chinese managers
would only place the practical direction
in the hands of foreign railroad men the
road would yield good financial returns.
To the northwest of Tientsin extends the
single track road eighty miles long 10 Pc
kin, which has been carrying passengers
and freight for nearly a year. It is doing
a really excellent business both in freight
and passengers, and, though il is managed
by the Chinese themselves. it is already
one of the most profitable short railroads
in the world.
railroad of China which is to extend from
Pekin TO Hankow, has been completed from
the capital as far as Paoting. A little line
twelve miles long has been built between
Shanghai and Wu-Sung, but, although the
work was completed about the time trains
began to run TO Pekin. no rolling stock
has vet been placed on the road This
completes the list of lines in operation.
With the exception of the Wu-Sung road
fb
were constructed by Chinese labor under
the direction Of English engineers. MIR.
C. W. Kinder has been in China's service
for fifteen years as civil engineer and all
railroad building thus far has been under
his direction. The cars are Of the Ameri-
can type, and the locomotives on the Pekin
and the Paoting roads came from this
country. Railroad construction thus far
has combined British and American ideas
modified 10 suit local conditions. The WI
Sung line was built under the direction of
German engineers, but all the locomotives
have been ordered from America.
Passing now TO the projected lines. We
find that the Chinese government has au-
thorized Russia to build short cut from
the Trans Siberian Railroad across Chi
nese territory 10 Nladivostock. This line
viii be about 500 miles long, but as part
of the country is extremely rugged the
Eastern Chinese Railroad. Ostensibly it
viii be Chinese line, but the surveys
are being carried out by Russian en-
gineers and Russian money will build the
road. The Chinese have no part in it,
except 10 grade the Toadbed and work in
the cookhouses. Construction has not yet
begun and only a small part OF the route
has been surveyed. but the engineers are
pushing the survey in sections, and the
road viii certainly be completed in a few
years. 1t will be of great advantage TO
Russia. Manchuria produces vast Quanti-
ties of food for man and beast and this
railroad, running through rich part of
that territory and connecting with the
Trans-Siberian Railroad, will place Man
churia's vast resources within easy reach
of the Russians.
The railroad now in operation beyond
Shan hai-kwan will be extended north
ward to meet the Eastern Chinese road
10 Nladiyostock. Another projected line
which has already been the subject of pre-
liminary study is to extend from Pekin
via Kalgan and Kiakhta to Nerhnieudinsk
on the Trans-Siberian Railroad. Traffic
on this line will probably be important.
Along this route hundreds of thousands of
camels travel every year carrying tea 10
Siberia and returning with wool camcl's
hair and furs.
The road from Pekin 10 Hankow and
=
will be the principal railroad in the en-
pire. Various syndicates have been trying
for the past fifteen years TO secure the
concession 10 build it. Among them were
some American syndicates which imagined
from time to time that the prize was with
in their grasp, but it eluded them. The
Chinese government finally signed con-
tract year or so ago with a Franco Bel
gian syndicate under the terms of which
the syndicate agrees TO build and put in
operation the first section OF the road
tending from Pekin TO Hankow and the
Yangtse Kisng. The second section of the
line, from Hanlsow 20 Canton, has not yet
been farIned out by the Chinese govern
ment, though a number of companies are
anxious 10 get hold of the work 1t is ex-
pected that short branch roads will ex-
tend from the main line 10 the great coal
and iron regions which lie not far 10 the
east and west Of the route
There Is no doubt that this great trunk
line across China will be built in the course
of few years. There are a number of
other important projects. but as yet they
are all, more OF less. in the air. They are
being talked over and studied, and in some
cases applications for concessions TO build
them have been made 10 the Pekin govern
ment Nothing definite. however, has yet
been done The most important of these
projected railroads are the lines between
Shanghai, NankiH and Hankow. which in
the main will follow the couIse of the
Yangtse, and the direct line from Shang
hal to Hankow. Both roads will pass
through an extremely rich and densely peO-
pied agricultural country, but they would
have 10 share the business with the river.
on which thousands OF boats are plying
most OF the year.
The short line from Shanghai TO Ningpo
by way of the great city of Hang-chow
will cross a country where at least a mil
lion more people live than along the route
Of any other projected railroad. coast
line from Shanghai to Canton. crossing a
rich country which produces much tea
and rice has also been mapped out. An
other line is proposed between Canton and
the heart of the province of Kiangsi,
which has l.000.0o0 inhabitants. sun an
other line is to run southwest Of Canton
in the direction Of Tonkin.
Returning 10 North China. the Germans
are about 10 build a railroad across the
province Cf Shantung 10 connect their new
port Of Kiao Chou with the Grand Canal.
which il now the main highway on which
The products of North China are carried
Germany expects with this railroad TO
make the canal feeder for her export
and import business al the fine pOr; now
in her possession.
In the far southwest of China where the
province Of Yunnan, rich in all minerals.
marches with British territory on the ives,
and with French territory on the south
both England and France are very desir-
Gus TO have line traverse Yunnan as far
rs the city of that name. Thence the
British talk OF extending the road TO the