The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-07-24
RAILWAY LINES N CHINA.
IMPORTANCE or THE CONCESSION
HELD BY AMERICANS.
The Road. When Completed. VIII he
Of Great Value, II. Coast Termi-
ms BeiaG But coo Ntles Frea
Manila-Reaches Heart Of E.mpare.

WASHINGTON. July 2-Tne proposed
american railway line sn China wiu. il
existing agreements are carried cut. and
tie Inc constructed, prove an important
Ink IN q system connecting all of China
with all OF the outside world Railway
lines now existing. under construction. or
projected. form q great circle swoapsng
ifom Paris across Germany, Russia and
Siberia 10 the Pacific. thence sorthwars,y
through China. skirsing the Pacific coast
thence easfwardiy through Bursnah ana
India 10 the Indian ocean and Arabian
sea, and pushing thence for passage way
through Persia 10 complete the grand cir
Gle or ali the continent OF Europe and
Asia
Recently published statements by the
treasury bureau OF statistics show that
TOE canton Hankow line which the Amer
han syndicate has agreed 10 construct.
and which agreement IL is now asking the
chinese government TO confsrrn, s.ref >hes
nor'h"ard from Canton TO Haakow, the
PRINCIPAL interior city Of China s,rns GU
miles, and that a Belgian syndicate has a
concession for construction OF a road frou
Hankow north to connect with the exist
ing line row reaching peking. the capital
or emma; also that the American syusii-
cate has an option for the RICH, To con.
struct this Hankow- Picking line, provsa-
Ing the Belgian syndicate shall omit 10
take advantage OF its concession. From
Picking road VIII connect with the Rus
sian Siberian line. which is now under
construction to Port Arthur. thus making
the proposed American line an important
INK In great system which VIII stretch
nom st. Petersburg, by way Of Siberia
and Port Arthur, through China 10 Can
ton, on the coast Of China, immediately
opposite the Philippine islands. only Go
miles away.
From Canton westward through South
ern China. British interests have project
ed railway lines 10 the southwestern exc
tremity of China. where they will con-
meet With the present railway system
OF Burmah. and In turn with that OF
India, where 2o.oee miles OF railway are
now In operation. From the western
terminus of the Indian railway lines AT
harachi To the point in Persia toward
which Russian engineers are now push
Ing surveys for railway lines is but a
few hundred miles--a gap easily filed
whenever British interests find Ii adj
vantageous to encourage direct railway
intercourse between India and the rail-
way systems OF Southern Europe Thus
the proposed American line into China is
TO form an important link In what prom
ises to be In the comparatively near fu-
ture grand railway system skirfinc the
shores of the continent of Europe and
Asia and bringing the Orient into direct
railway communication with all Europe
by both northeriy and southerly
route
This great intercoioniai belt line will
touch the Pacific at Canton. the entrepot
az the most denseiy populated part of
China, at a distance OF about 1880 miles
by rail from the great commercial CEN
tiers of Europe. measuring by way OF
the great Transsiberian road now ap-
preaching completion. From Canton 10
the Philippines Is but GOO miles and TO
San Francisco s.3si miles: and to New
York by way of a Nicaragua canal. an
ail~water route but II $50 miles Thus,
whether by rail connection or the less
expensive method of transportation by
water. the interest OF the United States
in the commerce Of the Orient increases
materially with the developments of the
year and prospective developments un-
der discussion and serious consideration.
Interest in the commerce OF China IL in
creased materially BY the recent develop
ments in regard 10 transportation and
privileges OF foreigners. recent puoi-
cation OF the treasury bureau OF statistics
shows that over s,eco miles OF railway are
now projected I'm China, over 3,ao miles
81 telegraph In operation, and that by re-
cent acton Of the Chinese government the
waterways of China. It's most important
means Of Internal traffic at the present.
have been opened 10 foreign commerce
and foreign vessels. A recent edict an
nounces that foreign vessels may navi-
gate the streams OF all provinces ~ shira
In which treaty ports are located. ard as
treaty ports are now distributed praca-
caily over the entire empire this means
that foreign vessels may navigate tne
streams OF substantially all parts OF that
great country and carry with them the cit
liens OF other countries and their products.
The natural waterways OF China agera-
gate. IL Is estimated. fully 1900 miles In
length. and this. combined with the pro.
posed railway systems. when completed.
will offer 20 other parts Of the world COM
rserc.ai opportunities Of great Importance.
whether reached by rail from the cofu-
mercial centers of Europe or hs water
from our Pacific or Atlantic ssaboards.
EZRA MEEKER OFT OF LUCK.