New-York tribune., 1900-07-05
MINISTER CONGER'S WORK.
VALUABLE RESULTS FROM VISITS TO CON
SULATES IN CHINA

sULATES IN CHINA
! Washington July (SpeciaD.-The gunboats
Princeton and Monocacy were placed at Mr.
| Conger's disposal by the Navy Department and
| their commanders were directed to obev his
| orders during his tour of inspection last wear
at which time the photograph reproduced on the
hrst page was taken. On August 16 the Prince
ton proceeded from Shanghai to receive the Min
lister as passenger at Taku, where ceremonious
visits were exchanged with Chinese officials
Leaving Taku, the party sailed for New-Chwang
arriving there on August % Three DAYS were
! spent at this port. where the Minister made a
| number of official calls, and inspected several
american and other foreign mercantile houses
Inc Princeton next visited Che-Foo. steaming
INTO the harbor on August % where similar calls
| ana Investigations were made. After spending
| nearly a week at Che-Foo the Princeton sailed
| pack to Shanghai, and went into dock there to
| replace propeller blade broken in the shallow
Pei-Ho and to coal ship After a delay of
! eight days she left Shanghai on September 20
FOR Ning-Po Foo-Chow, Annoy, Hong Kong and
canton, arriving at these places respectively on
| September 13, Il, %, 2S and so
On the afternoon of September 80 she
| chored off the bar at Canton and the party
landed on the island of Shameen the foreign
! settlement, which is connected with Canton by
| bridge. At Canton there was a brilliant re-
NNPNiO4l "LlICH iIdu been prepared Dy NlCe-COn-
| sui Hubbard Smith, led by the battalion OF
| sailors and marines from the Princeton. Under
| command of Lieutenant Leigh the Minister and
MS party marched over the bridge to Shameen
and through one of the main streets to the
American consulate which is situated on the
top Of a hill. Approaching the consulate, they
marched between Chinese soldiers who were
lined up on both sides Of the street and who
saluted the procession in military fashion
ic
beautiful spots in China, improved by many
| handsome dwellings and set aside exclusively
for the occupation of foreign merchants and
residents. the business and residence portions
oelng IN separate parts of the island. The Amer
! lean consulate is imposing structure sur
rounded by COnsulates of other governments its
commanding location making it a conspicuous
feature Of the landscape. The Shameen bridge
mentioned above. although not drawbridge
provides security to the foreign settlement on
the island, as it is constantly guarded by Ii
Hung Chang's troops who have orders forbid
ding any natives to cross without passes from
the foreign authorities
Minister Conger's visit to Canton was made a
memorable occasion, and until four days were
spent in receptions he was unable to begin the
inspection Of the consulate On October the
PrinCetons party was escorted across the bridge
to Canton. where they boarded the ship for
River. From this place the Minister went on
an Investigating trip to Soo-Chow a small town
in the interior, where there is no consulate. but
which is rapidly becoming an important COM
merCial centre. He left this place about the
middle Of October for Wu-Hu. and thence to
Marking, where there had been a strong move
ment to re-establish the Chinese southern can
ital
AT Nankins the Princeton was ordered 10
Manila and the Minister and his party took
passage on an Oriental and Occidental steamer
to Shanghai, where he again boarded an Ameri-
can warship. the Monocacy. with Commander
George A. Bcknen, with whom he sailed up the
Yang-tse for a consultation with Admiral Sey-
mour. recently commanding the Picking relief
expedition from Tien-Tsin, who then at
Hankow.
Having completed his tour OF the, American
Consulates Minister COnger returned TO Shang-
hal, where he took the Chinese merchant
steamer Hsin-Pu to Tien-Tsn, arriving at the
legationSn Pekng on November q. after three
months absence
on this trip Mr.. ConCer was entertained by
more Chinese officials than any other American.
or perhaps any foreigner in recent years. He
strengthened in many respects the influence Of
the United States with the Viceroys and chief
subordinates Of the Imperial Government. and
thoroughly familiarzed himself with all that
part OF the Empire of Immediate commercial
Importance The receptions given TO him by
each Vceroy in the provinces visited were un-
precedented and the festivities at Canton and
other great cities far excelled all earlier honors
to foreign officials. The State Department
thorties expressed the highest satisfaction with
Mr.. Conger's complete reports of his tours. which
are necessarily Of a confidential character.
After returning 10 Peking Minister Conger
wrote 10 Admiral J. c. Watson. the commander
in-chief OF the United States naval forces on
the Asiatc Station. probably the latest COM
munication received from him. 1t is follows;
l take pleasure In informing you in accord
with the order mentioned In your COM
municati0n Of August last, l found the
United States ship Princeton off Taku August
81 and was formally received on board by Com
mander Knox. The several ports were visited,
beginning at NeW-Chwang and ending with
Hong-Kong. October 10.
on October p l boarded the MonoCaCy at
Shanghai and proceeded at once up the Yang
tse River, stopping at various ports. far
Han-Kow and returning TO Shanghai No
vember II.
take great pleasure In acknowledging the
constant courtesy of all the officers and men
during the entire trip Every kindness and at
tention were shown me by Captains Knox and
Bicknell, and every possible assistance rendered
me in making the trip interesting valuable and
successful. Too high tribute cannot he paid TO
their efficiency and aid.
Please, therefore, accept for yourself, them
and their officers my profound gratitude.
/ am making a report to the Department of
State and | am sure IL will gratefully acknOwl-
edge this courtesy from the Navy Department.
Trusting the Princeton reached Manila
early as she expected needed. l am sir your