New-York tribune., 1907-06-24
ANXIETY In SHANGHAI
Electric Street RaiIzcay Strongly
Opposed by the NatiUes.
[Correspondence Of The Associated Press.


Shanghai May pa feeling of apprehension eX-
lists among the foreign residents of Shanghai that
serious disturbances may follow the opening of the
electric street railway system which will take
place in July. The tracks are laid, but there
has been some delay in the delivery of cars and
other equipment, and this writing no definite
date for the beginning Of service has been hAeo'
It is difficult to say just how widespread the an
ticipation of riots Is or how well grounded For
some time the native press has been agtated over
the installation of the electric car lines ana ire
Quent articles of a highly infammatory character
have appeared. These have been reflected IN the
tea houses and in the street talk of the native
city until a general uneasiness perVadeS the
foreign quarter. A recent article in 'Ihe 9outl
China Gazette which has, perhaps. the largest
circulation of any native paper In the empire -
characteristic of the sensational tone Of the YER
nacular press This article describes the evils
which may be expected to follow the installation
the railway system, and proposes a boycott
with a subtle suggestion of more drastic measures
should the boycott prove Intellectual. The article
points out the danger which Will result from SO
many tinriksha men being thrown out OF employ
ment, and also emphasizes the probable loss 20
commerce because of the inability of pedestrians
to use the streets which the tamWay runs
After making the statement that five thousand
to six thousand persons have been killed by the
electric railways in Toxic, the writer take up the
matter Of live wires, and with a wise show OF
technical knowledge, says:
trcIty of the cars and that Of the air will unite
and passengers on the trans VIII De ulapte Ie ~
leave them, whatever efforts they make II ne
should take precautions. and should ne carry
any metal article. such as an umbrella win an
iron handle etc. and should touch one or ths
overhead wires the electric force will descend his
brain fbres will be dsintegrated, ana he Will IN
cOntinenty perish"
Careful inquiry among the older foreign residents
in China who familiar with the language and
enjoy facilities for obtaining a fairly correct re-
fection of native sentiment discloses a general
feeling of uneasiness. Many of these men frankly
admit that they anticipate rlotng, especially IT, as
is to be expected, two or three natives should ne
killed injured by the when they first begin
The view is shared by number OF
the intelligent young Chinese reformers
They anticipate riots but do not believe they VIII
assume the proportions of a serious outbreak AS
the foreigners we'll advised of the situation ana
there are always gunboats In the haRbor. It is hard
ly likely that any trouble could get out of hand
While electric railway system was installed In
Tien-Tsin without any demonstration on the part
Of the natives. It should be remembered that con-
dtiOns different IN this city In Tien-Tsin the
native element still remembers the visitation of the
allies, and then too, large part or Doth the ioi-
elgn concession and the native city was destroyed
by fire in the Boxer uprising. II was rebuilt on
more open lines with wider and straighter streets.
giving plenty of for traffic well as for the
railway tracks. Shanghai. the contrary. Is
closely built populous. The native city, which
is still surrounded by walls. has not sngl street
over fifteen feet wide, while many of them are
from six TO ten feet.
In the foreign city the Bund is the finest and
broadest thoroughfare. The street proper is from
fifty TO hfty-five feet wide. and is jammed with
Jinrickshas ana carriages IN the daily traffic. Two
tracks Will through this street. and viii GER
tainy drive about half the jnrickshas and car
riages from the Bund. Broadway. another inpor-
tant street. has a width Of twenty feet for the
street proper Nnghong Road. down which the
streetcars Will run, also a crowded street from
enable the cars TO pass a space Of less than four
feet Is left between the streetcars and the side
walk. All the streets which the teen
with people and traffic. The sidewalks only
narrow strips Of paving. ana IN sections there
are none. The presence OF tho cars Will naturally
cause much congestion. and the probability Of ac-
Cidents Is great.