Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1906-09-08
RAiLRoAplNG in CHINA.
Plans Adopted by Chinese to Render
II Failure.

IT Failure.
4 The construction Of the first rail-
way in China was due to the enter
prise Of a few European residents in
the Shanghai district, who combined
! 10 form company with the object
+ Of constructing line between Shang-
bal and its outer roadstead at Woo
surg Opposition to the scheme was
manifested by the mandarin class
from the outset. and it was only win
the greatest difficulty that the str p
of land required was obtained AS
most Of the district trayersed was
purely agricultural the differences
raised were fewer than would have
otherwise been the case. The WORK
was finished and the railway opened
on June so, 1876. Contrary to eXpec-
! tation, the attitude assumed by the
natives was one Of friendly curiosity.
| They fiocked to the railway In greater
numbers than could be conveyed. But
| the management had not reckoneu
with the mandarin.
A coolie, who had been brihed by
the offer of a handsome payment to
his family. walked in front OF the train
/ end was cut TO pieces. Demands were
| forthwith made by the Chinese Off
Gals that the driver of the engine
should be given up to them on the
| life for life principle A lengthy cor
respondence ensued, and the mandarin,
finding no impression could be made
on the railway people, worked on the
feelings of the native population so
as to cause them to remain in state
Of incipient revolt against the new
mode of progression.
It was just when the attitude of the
people began to cause uneasiness in
on the understanding that the Chi
nese government offered to buy the
railway, and acting on the advice OF
the British Minister at Pekin, the
railway company accepted the offer
on the understanding that the Cni-
nese should continue to work the line,
which, despite the organized opposi-
ton, was being largely patronized by
the natives. The transfer was accord
ingly made, and the mandarin ran the
trains for a while, when suddenly
| without any reason or formal notice,
the rolling stock was put on board a
couple of steamers and sent to For
mosa, while the rails were pulled up
and thrown into the sea. A few years
later, however, the road was recon-
structed. Its control was taken over
from the Chinese Imperial Railway
administration and invested in the
Beard Of Commissioners Of the Sha ng-
hai-Nanking Railway in 1905.
The United States and China, the
two great continental co ltries lying
in the temperate zone, are both iaeal
lands for gigantic systems OF rail-
ways, but while the former has one
mile of railway for every $50 inhab-
itants, China has about mile for
every 10000 Inhabitants 1t was
stated in 1900 that there were 10000
miles of railway in Asia two-th-r~s
Of which belonged to British India.
The Trans-Caspian and TTansSibe-
iian Railway accounted then in its un-
finished state for 1900 miles, Japan
bad 1900 miles, French Indo-Chlna,
100 miles; but in Cochin China, An
nam and Tonkin they were soon 10
have 2,400 miles; Java had 1000 miles
Turkey, in Asia 1900 miles finished
and GOO projected or under construc-
ton, and Russia was to join Astra-
khan to the general Russian railway
system, while China at that time had
only 800 miles completed and owned
by the government, which it was stat
ed were very remunerative, and Eu-
ropean syndicates had obtained con-
esssions for $500 miles Of railway In
China, the construction Of which is
already well advanced. Thee VIII
traverse regions rich in mineral and
agricultural products.
The splendid waterways afford great
facilities for transit, and China is bet
ter supplied with waterways, both ..at-
nral and artificial, than any other
country in the world, except, perhaps.
Holland, but away from them carriage
by land is often expensive. 1t some
times costs fifty cents per ton per mile
to take coal by land in China. while
in Great Britain the cost is from one
to two cents a mile ton, and in the
United states half cent fer the same
distance.
The coal fields in China have been
laid down on a grand scale. To in
stance only one, that OF Shansi, with
from fifteen to forty seams. has con-
tinuous field 1880 miles in area
equal to the best Pennsylvania anthra-
cite. There is also rich bituminous
deposit in the same provi-ce. So that
in the mere carriage CT coal there
should be fine future for railways
outside Of passenger traffic, freight
trains and market produce.