The San Francisco call., 1904-02-26
American ConSuIS
to ManChuria
Are Here.

James Wheeler Davidson OF Austin.
Mimi. the newly appointed United
States Consul to Antung. Manchuria,
arrived at the Palace last evening and
viii leave on the steamship China to-
day for his far away post Consul
Davidson was selected for his future
position by reason of his previous eX-
perience in the consular service. he
having held a position Of a similar ca
pacity in Formosa under an appoint
ment by former President Cleveland.
Upon all matters of a political char
acter he declined last evening TO enter
into a discussion, but during a talk
concerning the country for which he
is now bound he gave information that
clearly showed that he was thoroughly
acquainted with the situation in Man
churia and well understood just how
far the Russians had encroached on
Chinese territory and exactly what
their occupation Of that territory meant
TO the United States and other foreign
nations. from a commercial standpoint.
"Antung is the most important ship
ping point on the Yalu River" said
he 1T is situated on the banks of
the Yalu. directly opposite Win.
Korea, which was recently made an
open port under a treaty. The popula-
ton Of Antung is $1,000 and it has a
floating pOpulation-that is. people who
live in boats-of about 1900. Its junk
and shipping business is so extensive
that frequently you can find between
400 and 500 small boats along its water
front. There have been stationed there
for a long period many Russians. who
own and operate a large lumber com
pany about eight miles below Antung.
which is known as Yongampho. The
latter place is the scene of Russian ac-
tivity, they having been cutting the
forest along the river banks. Steam
ships drawing from to feet of water
can reach Antung at high tide and
when / was last there there was a line
Of small steamships running between
Antung and Chefu and another from
Antung TO Port Arthur. There are no
foreign buildings there. and in view
Of that fact the Chinese Minister at
Washington recently sent a communi-
cation to the Chinese officials of the
town to place a temple at my disposal
until a consulate and other buildings
necessary for the accommodation of
myself, the Vice Consul and our staff
can be constructed. The Vice Consul.
L
who has been attached TO the United
States legation at Peking as student
interpreter"
That the authorities in Washington
long had in view a position of respon-
sibility for Davidson in Manchuria is
plainly suggested in the fact that last
August he was suddenly relieved from
his consular post in Formosa and
started Immediately for Manchuria.
y l,o 10
towns. their connections and the roads
and other improvements then being
made by the Russian Government
After this tFip Davidson returned to
Washington, presumably to make full
report, and the next heard of him was
when his appointment as Consul to
Antung was announced. In speaking
Of his four months trip through Man
churia Davidson said last evening:
When / journeyed through Manchu-
ria the Russians were in occupation of
all the towns on and off the Manchu-
rian branch of the trans-Siberian rail-
road, but they had not at that time
constructed permanent buildings at any
point off the railroad line. They had
done a great deal Of improvement in
the different towns. especially in the
way Of sanitation. lighting the streets
and building roads. There have been
country regarding the fiimsy condition
of the Manchurian railroad, but these
stories are not correct. The Russians
laid S2-pound rails, constructed their
bridges Of steel and threw up a roadbed
that is equal TO many of the roadbeds
of the Western roads in this country
The road is capable of handling heavy
traffic, and when l was in Manchuria
thirty trains were daily running in and
out Of Harbin. The passenger traffic
was so large that the railroad company
could hardly handle il. It is very prob
able that the frequent reports regard
ing the poor condition of the main line
of the trans-Siberian road have con-
fused people, who think that the Man
churian branch is in a similar condi-
ton"
Consul Davidson. while comparative
ly a young man, has had many varied
experiences abroad. He is a graduate
Of the Northwestern Military Academy
of Highland. III. In 1894 he was
member of the Peary Arctic expedition
to North Greenland. and later served as
a war correspondent in the Japanese
Chinese war. He was also connected
with the Botel Tobago exploring party.
While in Formosa, where he first served
as a special correspondent. he received
the decoration of the Rising Sun from
the Emperor of japan for services rem