The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1902-12-05

The main line is to be TO miles long.
extending from Canton to Hangkow on
the Yang-Tse river, and added to this
will be about 200 miles of branch lines.
The road win connect at Hangkow
with a Belgian railroad already in OPP
Grafton, which has its terminus at Pc
king. This will form practically
trunk line through the center of the
Empire.
''Mr. Porter Boyd, formerly OF Homo
lulu, is with our company in the capac-
ity of secretary to the general man
ager," said Mr.. Ashmead. THE only
trouble we had in establishing our rail-
road in China was the procuring of an
Imperial edict therefor. This was fin
ally issued on July II, 1902, and the
work will proceed rapidly. although
the entire road will probably not be
finished within five years. Construc-
ton work is at present limited to
branch line from Canton, through
pottery and silk district.
There is coal there, too; but it is the
main line which will open up vast coal
fields. Some Investigators have said
that they are as great as the Pennsyl-
vania fields, and the latter seem prac-
tically inexhaustible. These Chinese
fields have never been developed, and
the topography of the country is adj
suited for a railroad. There
is anthracite, soft, and camel coal, the
latter of as fine grade as is found in
Indiana, although this may possibly be
only a matter of opinion.
"The opening of these coal fields will
be of vast Importance to the CONNER
cial development of the Chinese En-
pire. The Japanese coal deposits are
limited, and will give out in the course
of time-a short time-and these Chi
nese deposits will then supply the mar
kets formerly fed from Japan. This
will extend almost to the Mediterran-
can AS to the quality of the Chinese
coal, it is far superior to the Japanese,
and will be admirably adapted for war
ships.
"Honan province has hidden its
treasures until recently. Travellers sell
dom went through it, and it was be-
1ieved that the natives were extremely
hostile to foreigners. However, must
say | found them very kind and, for
a coolie class, they are a fine people.
We had Chinese soldiers to accompany
us, but l really don't think we were
in need of them as protection.
"The brightest man in the Empire
today in Chung, Director General of
Railroads, Telegraphs and other de-
partments. He is man of liberal
ideas, and will aid in the development
of China under the new stimulus given
it. l am not sure that WI Ting Fang
will accomplish all that he says he
will. WI is not quite as wise as he
is given credit for. 1t is his English
education which gives color to the
story of his being the foremost Chi
nese of the day. l do not think he
approaches Chung, and certainly not
Ii Hung Chang.
"The Americans have the best stand
ing in China today, Notwithstanding
our exclusion law Our action in re-
gard to the indemnity and the invasion
when Peking was relieved gave us a
good name, and the Chinese are there
fore inclined to be very liberal to
Americans and their enterprises. The
Russians have a hold upon the people
in the north and it seems that the
Chinese reciprocate the interest OF
the Russians. In the lower provinces,
the Americans have the better hold,
although they own no territory. The
British and Belgians are not well
thought of.
Despite all that travellers, mission
aries and others have told of China, it
seems they have never arrived at a
definite knowledge of the enormous
commercial advantages which China
possesses. In her interior provinces
there is enough trade to keep the world
busy if it is only handled right, and
it is the Americans who can do this.
Gas to the future of the country,
there is feeling that political changes
are certain to take place, and soon.
There is an interesting story there re-
garding Chinese superstitions. Before
the Boxer troubles the bamboos sprous-
ed twice in one year and the Chinese
said there is going to be some trouble.
There was. This year there have been
two crops of lichees, and the natives
take this as a forecast of more
trouble"