Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-03-09

Waddy river. The British coleman 2u-
thorities In Burma have already extended
their railways to the Chinese boundary
and are eager to enter the province OF
Yunan, the southwesternmost portion OF
China, which has already. been invaded
by French railway builders from Tonkin,
as / have described. There was some
mysterious connection between the sus-
pension of labor on the Burmese railway
and the invasion Of Thibet by Col
Younghusband in 1901. but the secret mas
never become known. The distance IRONS
the terminus of the Burmese lines to the
head of navigation at Szechuan. on the
Yangtse river, the most important water
highway In China, Is about $50 miles, ana
the survey runs through an exceedingly,
mountainous country, which VIII make
construction very expensive.
Connection With Burmese Line.
Mr.. Gracey, United States consul at
Tsing-tau. in recent report OF great
value on the railways OF China, says: In
an agreement between Great Britain and
China signed at Picking February 4. 1877,
it was agreed that the Chinese govern
ment should consider the advisability OF
constructing railways in Yunan province,
and, in the event Of their being Dullt. IL
was agreed that they should be connected
with the Burmese line. In August 1871,
the British and Chinese commissioners
again discussed this project, and 1t was
agreed that all matters relating to rail-
ways within the borders OF Yunan prov
ince should be entirely under the controi
of the Chinese. and the railway IN Sur
mese territory to be entirely under Brit
ish control. The Chinese commissioners
of customs at Tengyueh. one OF the I'M
portant cities in the province or Szechuan'
reporting on these proposed roaos, says
that the question OF building a hgnt ran
way from Tengyueh to Bhamo (Burma)
has occupied the attention, but no decls-'
ion has been arrived at. Somewhat ex-
aggerated Importance appears 10 De at
tached to the desirability OF connectinS
the two places by rail-. Considering tne
almost insurmountable> physical dimcui-
ties presented, and the colossal expendi-
ture which would be involved. the prac-
ttcability Of such q scheme VIII De ques-
toned" Mr.. Gracey adds that tine me-
II built, would be an important nnh an
grand trunk road between India and
China, and will undoubtedly be built some
time in the future"
This project, however. is Of much great
er Importance to Great Britain and India
than 1t is to China. The rivalry between
Of the commercial and industrial develop
ment of southwest China Is very deter
mined. as 1t involves the polit1cal controi
of that part OF Asia. The French are
meeting with no difficulties In tneir aa.
vance from Tonkin northward, but the
British are blocked by high range OF
mountains and the indifference of the
people.
Would Tap Valuable Markets.
Another important line is intended to
connect Chentu. the capital Of szechuan,
the westernmost province OF China, with
Chungking and Hankow, the three great
cities Of interior China. The road will be
about $50 miles long and cost about thirty
millions of dollars. 1t Is not only of great
commercial Importance. but of strategic
value, and should the British lines in
Burma be extended into the province of
Szechuan, as have described. this road
would connect with 1t and furnish con-
tinuous. route from Rangoon and the Cal
also tap the most wealthy province of
China and open valuable markets that are
now inaccessible to foreign trade.
English, Belgian. French. German and
Russian interests have been seeking con-
cession for this road, but none has ever
been granted, and it is probable that the
Chinese government will reserve it for
itself for international reasons.
Lines From Treaty Ports.
proposed and surveyed from the several
treaty ports along the Pacific coast to the
commercial cities Of the interior. They
are pToJeCteu Oy SynulcdteS Oh Europeans
and native merchants because the govern
ment at Picking is now very reluctant to
give these privileges to foreign companies.
The viceroys and the mandarins of the
different provinces are opposed to it, not
only because of a fear of international
complications, but because of a growing
pride in the ability of the Chinese people
to construct their own internal improve
ments and direct the development of their
own resources. There are a large number
Of Chinese engineers engaged in surveys,
but they usually have foreign advisers.
The empire of China will be the scene
Of the greatest railway construction in
the world during the next ten or fifteen
years, and will be a market for all kinds
Of supplies and construction materials.
The steel trust already has department
organized for the purpose of looking after
the Chinese trade. and has obtained many
profitable contracts for rails, bridges, loco
motives, cars and other material.