The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-07-31
Facts ,Hbodt The
Middle Kingdom
From the Chicago Times.IIerald.

From the Chicago Times.IIeral
n HINAs political status with the world be.
1 fore the presen: disturbances began was
~ somewhat complicated Her territory had
been encroached upon and she had been
compelled to sign treaty after treaty relin-
gushing control over vast sections Of her coast
wise land. At Che Zoo on the sth Of May,
1895, she signed away the island Of Formoso to
Japan. The Germans in November, 1897, seized
kiau Chau, an important port on the coast Of
the great province OF Shantung, and on the first
OF the following year they compelled China to
sign ninetynne years lease Of the harbor, the
town and the whole district Russia, early in
the spring of 1895, forced the imperial govern.
ment to sign agreement by which Port Ar.
| thur and Ia Ii En- Wan, with their contiguous
waters and lands were leased for twenty five
years to the car, with the stipulation that the
contract might be extended at Russia's pleasure.
Russia was given absolute control Of this part
OF China, with the liberty Of building whatever
forts, military posts and docks she deemed ad
visablc A zone Of land was reserved to the
north OF which 10 Chinese troops were TO be
quartcred without the consent OF the debating
power. Great Britain was not idle meanwhile
| China forced to sign a compact with her
| giving her control Of Wei Hal Wei for term
contermnous with that Of Russia, and under
| similar provisions. She has also a nncty.nine
years lease Of the mainland opposite the island
of Hong Kong. In April 1s9s, China gave to
| the government OF France a ninety.nine years
lease Of Kwang. Chow.Wan and it's bay the
| island Of IIainan and last November this gift
was enlarged by the ccssion Of two islands com.
mandng the entrance to the bay Italy was in.
sisttntly demanding a share Of the Chinese coast
when the Boxer uprising suddenly diverted at
tcntion from the land.grabbing processes that
had been going on in China for five years.
In the imperial government the supreme power
is vested in general council. Imperial affairs
are under the direct control Of the cabinet called
nei.ko. This consists of four members, two Of
| whom must he Chinese and two hauChus. The
cabinet is advised by two men from the Great
| College. Tho capacity of these two assistants is
purely legal and literary Under the cabinet and
! the council are seven great boards, which nc
! lively direct the affairs Of the government Each
of these boards has for its heads MancnL and a
Chinese. The functions Of these organizations are
| described in their titles, which are: The board
of civil appointments, which looks after the pub
! lie srvice and its local officials; the board OF
revenues, which manages imperial finances; the
board OF rites and ceremonies, dealing with Gus.
toms and obseryances the military board, in
charge OF defense the board of public works;
the judiciary, and the admiralty. Extraneous
to the seven great boards is an organization Of
censors composed OF fifty members, with Man
chu and a Chinese for presidents. Members Of
| this board may bring any complaint whatever be-
fore the emperor, and a censor is always present
at meetings Of the seven great boards of the en-
pire.
', C,, A.. .,.,.,..; !, s,.i,.I J..
III N"I.H piopei wy Gt.. :" SLt,I
| Shans Homan, Kiangsu, Nganhwei Kiangsi
Chchliang, Fukien, Hupeh, Human, Shensi Kansu
! SzcChcn, Kwsrgtung, Kwangsi, Kweichau and
'P''u "'s' VIZ '-'I't " a.,
Iou,'''e' W y. '"e oI Nv. "
Ih'eu o'a'e' HIe '"en o'I'lN ~
genera VI ee,.' WV "s' s-i. tnuc' I ,,,S .r.
pio'' ,,S uOSuIusG ,.,;.,at' -, ~ a.. En
'ul,s 'ne plo,,,,'n,.t 1i.1 ,;.,, - ~, g..
Pu''"rm's' nl''al' !u,'.'L'i ] ""I ~
Glal. me 'Ne'oS ms o"otivv 'o','i,UeSu VI " "a
nclais Nno "''tTu " o"t """'S " .,,Gaos iutr
ps"'sI uepa' ,'us' s,hN NJi,;iaI 49, I;s,rio,,
P't'eo'u,eS, VIM" are ,,t'u nv u's,'
anu e"eI us''Ie' "a' ''S iN'e. A'' 'oN''o , "I,
','iSses ~ ha,e '''''P'' S''e'''"'"'
Vi 'hel' o""'
an oi 'he rai'oaa coDS,'uc''oh u, In NINA
nmlteu 10 the hortn' mere Is une ITO"
To the coast at iaKu' t"ehtySeVen miles \
line IRON Iangku 10 shah'hsi .hWah' run
through the coal district ior liL miles. ana III
miles iarther aIohs the coast 10 the Gun OF Lla'
1uhg' In all emma mas ABOUT Wv mHes o
rallroad track. rlahs ior upward OF @'Vuo mlie'
had been laid when the revolt put an end u
constructive industry. Inc Chlnese government
has taken more kindly 10 the electric telegraph
than TO the railway lhere is communication
between all the great cities, and the system i
on the increase over all the empire "lthI
the borders OF the country there are more tha'
5000 miles OF telegraph line IN operation re
No country in the world is so rich in natura
resources as is China. and in no country ar
these resources so neglected. In one province
alone there is sufhcient coal TO supply the worl'
indefinitely at its present rate Of consumption
All Of the provinces OF China proper contain
coal. The mines at ksi Ping, in the northern
part of China, have been worked by foreign cspi
tai and have been very productive. This Goa
is of excellent quality. In the province o
Shans one field Of anthracite covers an area o
part Of the same province a field Of bitumnou
coal is OF equal extent In Human there ar
hard and soft coal areas covering nearly % 90
square miles Iron, copper, lead, tin and tn
precious metals are also abundant.
In the scheme Of the Chinese government III
emperor has absolute power, and is PERSONAL
ture being REQUIRED for the most insEnifcan
papers of state 2xcept when he gives the prea
seal of the enuire to a minister This trinke
transfers his power to the holder. Succession t