The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-09-02
RAILWAYS FOR F()RNOSA
AMERICAN-BUILT LINES WILL SOON
OPEN Up THE
ISLAND
WATER TRAVEL IS WRETCHFD
A Railway Now Being Constructed
From the Principal Port to the
Capital, Twelve Miles Dis
tant-0ther Roads.

American engines, American rails and
American ears will soon open I'D the
length and breadth of the big island OF
Fermosa to progress and trade. Formosa
was part of the spoils which japan re-
ceived after her successful war with
China Great quantities of tea are ex-
ported from the island to the United
States and Europe. The chief port of
Formosa is Tamsui, and the capital of
the island is TaiholIu, about twelve miles
up the Samsui river From the port to
the capital city railroad is now being
constructed. While the railway is in pro-
cess of construction the traffic between
the capital and the port is carried on by
steam launches.
The representative OF the United States
at Tamsm is James w Davidson. The
consul, in recent report to the state de-
partment relieves his mind regarding the
river traffic. He says:
River travel for such a short distance
does not in itself seem specially disagree
able; but. owing to the wretchedness of
the launches and the shallowness of the
river at low tide.- it has obtained a mean
calmly expressed With the exception of
japanese 'sidewheeler' put on by the
Osaka Shosen Kwaisha and a very com.
Portable little launch run by the Douglas
Steamship company on. steamer day, the
river trade is controlled by some six Chi
nese launches, carrying altogether about
AGO passengers a day.
t'A1l classes of passengers and all kihas
of freight including several varieties of
live stock, obtain easy entrance and re-
ceive equal treatment aboard these
boats. One may have a Chinese In silk
as neighbor on one trip and a crate
Of young pigs on another With the ex-
ception of a few low benches, scarcely
sufficient to accommodate a fifth of the
passengers, no seats are furnished; and
if traveller wishes to enjoy such lux
uries he is expected to bring a chair
with him. Should he forget the latter
article, he may be so ortunate as to OBJ
tain a finch seat on side rail crowded
between Celestials, or he may be special
ly favored with a seat on the roof of the
little boiler room-a true delight in win
ter, but quite another thing in summer.
The Chinese launches have no special
hour for starting. Passengers are So
Hcited by a continuous shrieking OF
the whistle and when a sufficient number
gets under way.
Ordinarily, the river trip is made in
an hour and half; but frequently, to
the great disgust of the suffering pas
senger, who is generally unprotected from
the rain or sun save by an abbreviated,
tattered roof awning, the little craft seats
herself securely On a sandbank and
some times three hours are required be
fore the tide has risen sufficiently to float
her.
In the health resort Of HolSuto, in North
Formosa, the consul however, finds
something to console him for the hard
ships of the journeying to and from the
capital and the port, and he also speaks
favorably of Maruyama, picturesque
park on the Kelung river. much fire.
quented by Japanese me1rymakers.' lie
says of these places:
.Hokuto (Pak-taD is village at the
entrance of the well known North For
mosa sulphur district. There is an excel
lent Japanese inn hcre-perhaps the best
in the island-ar1d the sulphur springs
provide hot mineral baths, healthful and
delightful The Japanese have recognized
the value of the place as a sanitary re-
sort and extensive barracks and bath
houses for the troops have been erected.
Beyond the springs lies a gorge reeking
with sulphurous fumes. The ground ap-
pears to be but a thin. ashy crust, vege-
tatin does not exist, the rocks are burnt
out and ashlike, and sulphur has perme-
ated both rocks and earth.
'4Nuemrous geysers, roaring and Kissing
like the escape valves of hundred steam
boilers throw out quantities of hot sui
phur and steam The effect on enter
ing the gorge is at first somewhat terri
flying; but later as confidence is regained,
the scene becomes one of great interest,
and numerous visitors are attracted to
the place. Hokuto is the scenic resort
of North Formosa, and with railway COM
munication will doubtless grow greatly in
popularity. From this district is shipped
monthly some 200 tons of sulphur, the
product Of two Japanese extracting
plants.
The sulphur spring district, as well as
Maruyama, present many attractive res
idential sites: and if the train service is
convenient. 1t is quite possible that III
city business men may elect TO have their
residences at one or the other Of these
interesting Places
In regard to the new railroads the con-
sui reports as follows:
''In connection with the railway build
ing through the Island, six locomotives.
considerable general rolling stock mate
rial, sixty mixes Of sixty pound rails and
fastenings and AGO tons of bridge work
will be shortly purchased by the railway
Office. Thare arc at present four large
Baldwin locomotives here, giving spIen
did satisfaction, though the chief engi-
neer informs me that there arc very few
Forrosa trains sufficiently heavy to OBJ
tain full value from them. and the six
locomotives now desired are to ba lighter
and consume less coal. Although tho
speciica tons for the new engines will
cali for some parts Of Amirican design.
the general type WIFI be more in conform
ity with the English machine; and. unless
nome manufacturers are prepared to fai-
low the specifications, the order viii prob
ably go to England. The raids and most
Of the bridge work are it is reported, to
M 1-a,>e PEG, f1.o JT,,;t