The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1908-12-09
CHINA aiDss BY oAy.s
colored Glass Saves Celestial Heads
In Railroad Cars.


in on mules and camels and In OK
carts and wheelbarrows Even now
wheelbarrow coolies come with load
a distance of 450 II, or about 150
miles, says Engineering News.
The Belgian line is about 76S miles
long and the section of II from Pc
king to Paoting-fu-both OF which
are in Chill province-is about 100
kilometres. 1t Is constructed be-
tween these two points, both as a
roadbed and openings. for double
track line. although but one track
has been laid. It is OF standard
gauge feet Sh inches-which the
Chinese authorities have wisely re,
uuired In all concessions for railways
In all parts Of the empire, with the
exception of the French in the south
toward lndo.China.
Though the fiat country of the
north, across which strong winds
blow willows have been planted for
protection against drifting sand and
dust. There are growing well. To
Paoting-fu and for 100 miles south Of
II the roadbed now seems compact
ana smooth riding speed Of forty
miles per hour is sometimes made
between stations--the average, how
ever, is probably not more than
twenty-five miles an hour. as longer
stops are necessary at stations than
In America. The Chinese carry huge
,f haanana Ialaya ara
frequent.
With the exception of the terminal
ond divisional points, at which larger
quarters have been erected, the sta
tions along the whole line are Of
brick with tile roof, apparently well
constructed, and with plenty of room
for the present needs. In addition to
separate rooms or sections divided
by fences, or the three classes of pas.
sengers carried, there axe small bag
gage or freight room. an Office and
living quarters usually one room)
for the French-speaking Chinese
ticket agent.
All the rolling stock is light and OF
the ordinary Continental European de-
sign, with the exception Of the third
class passenger cars. This is true Of
all the rolling stock at present used
in China, except that used on the
formerly) American Canton-IIankow
railway in the south-the passenger
and freight cars there being OF Amer.
lean design. On the Belgian road the
10Th txpu ~
10 to 12 metric tons capacity, with
four wheels and the couplers and
chains used on the Continent Of
Europe. The road has. however, a
few cars OF about twenty tons ca.
pacity.
The third class passenger cars
have long wooden seats on each side
with another long one sometimes
placed in the middle of the car. The
inside is ceiled, and the racks are
placed above the seats-most OF the
baggage is, however, placed between
the feet and legs of the owners, as the
possibility of loss causes each Chi
nese to want his belongings con
stantly within sight. Other third
class cars have no seats or racks, pas
sehgers either lying or squatting on
the floors, possibly more pleasant
position for the Chinese coolle. as one
sees them apparently perfectly com
Portable squatting for hours on theil
heels.
Before the completion of the roac
10,
the third class passengers, causing
much criticism from Europeans as t
the foreigners treatment of the Chi
nese, but of course, only from those
who were not used to the eXigencies
of construction.
The railway also has private cars
which may be chartered for about $50
gold, for the trip from Peking tC
Honkow. The limited number of thes,
cars, however, requires several days
notice to insure an engagement. These
cars accommodate from four to eigh
persons, with apartments for Chi
uese servants. as well as toilets ant
conyeniences for cooking, dining anC
sleeping.
The train from Peking is compos ed
usually, of eleven coaches, of which
two are first, three second and tiv'
third class, and private car.
1t may be of interest to note tha
the glass in the windows of nearl!
all coaches is colored. When clea
glass was used, the Chinese were n,
accustomed to 1t and broke mar!
pains and cut many heads in striyin,
to look out.
The locomotives are of the Euro
pean type. Those for the long Tui
have been provided with pilot. as Il
America. At present no passenge
trains are run at night on any O
the railways in China. On the I'm
perial Chinese Railway North, goods
or freight trains are sometimes rul
after dark. but not all through tn
night. Later. the Belgian compan
will make an effort to run passenge
trains at night, and reduce the tim
OF passage between Peking and Han
kow to little less than forty hours
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