Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-02-03
CHINESE RAILWAY SYSTEM
ELABORATE PLANS FOR ROADS
THROUGHOUT EMPIRE.
Four Trunk Lines With Many
ranches Proposed-Biuld-
ing is Active.

Of Tientsin reports that Tseng Chun-
hsuan has memorialized the throne
suggesting the advisability of having
China.s railways under unified control
with a proper system. and the board OF
Communications, after having perused
the memorial; by imperial orders. sent
in its views to the throne.
Tho views of the board of communica
tions are divided into three sections:
% The center of all the railway sys-
TENS of China; (2) four trunk lines: Cd
branch lines.
1t is said that since the Tientsin-
Shanhaikwan railway. the railway car
fying the mining products of kaiping
coal mines, and the Peking-t Iankow
line are the only lines Of Importance at
present, Hankow should be made the
center of all the railway systems in
China. Such is the majority of opinions
expressed by people who talk about the
are others who maintain that Hsiang- fu
is the best place for such a center.
Four Trunk Lines.
The four trunk lines are:
ID Southern.-When the Peking- Han
kow railway connects with the pro-
posed line between Hankow and Can
ton, when 1t is completed. 1T will be
made the southern trunk line by con-
meeting Fuchang and Hankow by ferry
boat
(2) Northern.-The line to the north
is one between Picking and Kalgan. and
regarding the proposed Monaghan rail-
way made by Prince Su. the board has
already mentioned that the Peking-
kalgan line should be extended to
Kulun (Urga) and then to kiacnta and
10 mill "a In r., ff-arrl
line.
(3) Eastern.-The line to the east
from Tientsin to Hsinmintung and
Mukden, which has been restored by
Japan. Regarding the line of the Hell
lungkiang province. proposed by Cheng-
tehchuan. the governor of that province,
the board Of communications has stated
that the line should be extended to
Aigun via Chianonan, Tsitsibar. When
this line is completed this may be made
the eastern trunk line.
a. Western.-The line between Cheng-
ting and Tayuen will be joined with the
Tungpu railway. and then 1t VIII fur
Their he extended to the west. with the
line between Tungkuan and Lanchow:
as proposed by the ex-governor of
Shensi. Tsao Hung hsun. and thence to
ILL., When this is completed 1t may be
called the western trunk line.
Each of these is to have many branch
lines.
General Railway Building.
Consul Wilbur T. Gracey of Tsingtau
furnishes the following information
concerning recent activity on the part
of the Chinese in railways and railway
building:
Three of the wealthiest men nr Ming
no have offered to subscribe 81 100000
for the construction of the Chekiang-
Kiangsu railway, If the line can be
brought back into the hands CT the
Chekiang Railway Company. a Chinese
corporation. and they also demand the
right to construct a branch line entirely
with capital subscribed by the natives
of Ningpo. At meeting Of the Che
kiang gentry recently held IN Shang-
hal TO raise funds for the line, ard thus
make a foreign loan unnecessary, $16.-
$4,000 was subscribed. the city of
Ningpo subscribing $5.229, 900.
The Cheng- ting-Taiyuan branch OF the
Picking Hankow railway was formally
opened to traffic on November g. The
length Of the line is 1913 miles. It has
been built in three years and three
months 1t has S31 stone and 13 iron
bridges and 10 tunnels. which were built
by Chinese contractors, and which are
found to be in excellent condition. The
line taps the province of Shansi, the rich
est coal and iron field in the world.
An imperial rescript was issued on Oc-
tober ~, 1907, Sanctlonln8 the proposed
loan of Gl,5O0.OOO 1893, 800 from the
British and Chinese corporation for the
construction Of the Soochow-IIangchow-
Ningpo railway The loan will be guar
anteed by the provincial governments of
Ktangsu and Chekiang. The chief en-
gineer will be an Englishman, engaged
by China on condition that he must be
recognized by the corporation. The line
will be built and controlled by the Chi
nese. 1t is considered probable that the
corporation will soon proceed to negotiate
with the Chinese authorities about the Pu-
ow-Hsinyang and Honan-Yangtsekian
lines Great Britain will build the south
section in Kiangsu. and Germany the
north portion in Chilli and Shantung. but
the lines will be handed over to China,
section by section, upon their completion,
and will be administered BY the Chinese
without the interference Of British or
German capitalists.