The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-06-22
ENTERPRISE IN CHINA
Eject of the Development OF Rail-
ways and TeIegraphs

Shect OF the Development OF RnfI-
ways and TeIeEraphs.
Telegraphs and railways appear to be
among the causes of the anti-fcreign riots
now in progress in China. 1t is known that
the Chinese are bitterly opposed TO in
novations OF any kind. The development
In China is described in considerable de-
tail in a recent publication Of the Treas
ury Bureau Of Statistics. entitled. Com
mercial China in 1899" Il shows that
the telegraph system Of China included
in 1889 about 5000 miles OF lines in opera
ton, and that the railroad system in
cluoed $50 miles of road in active opera
ton and over 1900 miles projected
The telegraph system connected all of
the capitals Of the Provinces with the
national capital. Pekin. and in turn con
nected with the Russian trans-Siberian
telegraph line and the ocean cables; but
II appears from the recent reports that
these lines have in many cases been de-
stroyed BY the ant-fcreign nCbs and
armies.
The railways thus far constructed be-
long 10 the Chinese Government and were
constructed under its control and di7ec-
tlon and at its expense. They connect
Fekin. the capital. with TieltSin. which
lies al the head Of the Gulf Of Pechili.
aid Is the seaport OF Pekin. while other
lines run northwardiy from Tientsin TO
SEanhaikwan. and still others extend
southwardly from Pekin as far as Paot-
Ing. the capital OF the Province q Chill,
IN which Pekin is located From that
point southwark 4 railway was being con-
strueted in 1888 BY Belgian capital. though
II was suspected that Russian influence.
and perhaps Russian capital. was asso-
ci2ted in this work This line was ex-
pected 70 extend to Hankow. which may
be described as the Chicago Of China, be-
ing its best and largest and most pros-
porous inland commercial city. IocaLed
800 miles up the Yang-tse- Kiang from
Shanghai, which lies az the mouth Of
that river Hankow is city OF nearly
100000 Inhabitants. aid II was expected
mat the Belgian line would connect Pekfn,
which lies well at the north. with Hankow
located near the centre and that an
American line would extend stu further
south from HaDkOw TO Canton and Hong
kong -f-z v-
The American line was surveyed by ?
corps Of engineers under ". r. Parsons,
OF New York. IN 1893 ard 1893. under a
concession granted by the Chinese Gov
ernment to Calvin Brice. Hugh J. Grant
ThurlOw Weed Barnes. and others. and this
line, like all others for which concessions
have beene granted. was after a term o;
years 20 become the property % the Chi
nese Government II was expected that
this American line running from Hong
kong and Canton northWaTd to HankOw
and connecting at that point VIII the Bel
gian line which would extend 20 Pekia.
would form On extremely important artery
OF internal commerce from Ckina's most
important southern city. Canton. and its
most important central city, Hankow. and
thence 20 its capital al the north. Pelrin.
from which point 1t would connect with
the Russian railway. system which enters
China in AznchuTia al the extreme north
Numerous other railways have been sur
Veyec and some Of them were under con-
stTuctiOn. TIE German Government has
been encouraging the construction OF rail-
ways in the Province q Shantucg II which
its port OF KiaO-Chou is located. while
concessions 10 British companies author
ICES the construction OF lines along q large
share OF the eastern coast and extending
Up the valley Of the Vest River to the
borders OF Bgrmah where l. was expected
they would finally connect with the rail-
way system OF India
The railways projected in China and for
which concessions had been granted con-
tempalted a length Of more than 1900
miles and II was confidently expected that
Siberian system Of Asiatic Russia into
touch with the tracs-InCiaR system OF
British India, which in turn would finally
connect with the railway systems Of
southern Europe and thus give 70 The
world an international belt line stretchiNg
rorthwardly from northern Europe through
Russia and Siberia thence s0uthwar,1!y
through China, thence westwardIy again
through Burmah. India. Persia and Tur-
key in Europe to a connection with the
railway systems OF southern Europe
What the effect Of the hOstiIities in China
with reference 10 works % this character
viii be cannot now be foreco!d- Russia
controls a long stretch Of territory aloha
her Asiatic frontier TO the north ana Eng
land the territory Of British India and
BUruah al the southwest Railway lines
existing OF projected extend from the ter
rltory OF both Of those countries into the
very heart OF China and intermineled with
and an important link among these is the
great American enterprise already alIud-
Cd 10. upon which 4 company had. accord
ing to the statements Of accepted authori-
ties in railway matters. arranged for the
expenditure Of accepted authorities in rail-
way matters. arranged for the expendi-
ture Of $4,000 coo OF American funds