The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-08-22

the work was stopped, but the Japan
csc insisted that the Chinese pay tn EN-
something like 100000 for what they
had done or for erecting less than three
miles of poles. The Chinese had to
submit.
During the military occupation of
Mukden a large number of Japanese
swarmed into the city and took pos
session of any houses they found
vacant. and In some cases they drove
out the Chinese tenants. Some agreed
to pay rent, and at the close of the
occupation of the city refused to do so
and would not get out. Many forced
the owners to pay tn EN- to move, and
among others the German consul ha
to pay $500 to get the occupants of
Lama temple to vacate in order that
the building might be used for the
consulate. Some such properties are
still held by the Japanese, who refuse
to pay either rent or taxes, and, so
far, the owners have been unable to
GUST them Such abuses may be among
the necessities of war, but it would
seem that 1t is now time for the Japan
ese government to correct them.
Railroads and Teleqraphs.
The Chinese say that the Japanese are
monopolzng their telegraph business
During the war they constructed mill
| tary lines in every direction. They con-
! nected all the important cities and viii
lagos and when peace was declared they
had inclosed southern Manchuria In a
network of wires which was controlled
by the Japanese government The Chi
nese claim that as the war Is now over
all lines except those necessary for the
railroads should be done away with. To
this Japan has at last agreed. but 1t
insists that China pay $4,000 for the lines
and at the same time Japanese tele-
graph messenger shall be in each of the
city offices In order to be able to tele-
graph In Japanese. This makes the Chi
nese pay for the lines, and at the same
| time practically keeps them in the hands
of the Japanese.
Another story of Japanese encroach-
ment is told In connection with the rail-
| road proposed from the South Manchu-
rian line to Kirin. The latter is a city
! of about 100000 situated on the Sungari
| river about 80 miles from the Dalney -Har-
bin railroad. A line of railway connect
| ing the two would be valuable There
| Is already an enormous trade, but the
! goods go in carts and the freight rate Is
| something like $18 ton.
| The Chinese proposed to build that road
| and had their civil engineers go over the
line, and by their report 1t would cost
| 100000 to build. They were ready to
begin work when the Japanese blocked
| the construction by means of their OBJ
| lection to the Fakuman road saying they
| would release that objection II they were
| given half interest In the road to Kirin
! The Japanese sent their engineers over
| the road and from them got a report that
| 1t would cost $9000.00o to build It, This
| was more than double the estimate of the
! Chinese engineers. and as 1t was a part
| Of the agreement that most of the money
! was to be borrowed from Japan. II 1t had
| gone through the Japanese would have
| secured loan of over $4,000, 900 and would
| have had the most of the money above
the cost of construction as per the Chi
| nese estimate. The figures Of tina Chi
| nese engineers had, however, been for
warded to Pekin, and the officials there
! insisted on the estimates being cut down
until they Appropriated $5oo0.0Oo 1t has
| been decided to build the road on these
| estimates, and the Japanese will have a
! share In the control until the money Is
paid. In the meantime the Fakuman
road will be built
American Goods In Manchuria.
| The time has come when the United
| States should push its trade in Manchu-
ria. The people are just beginning to
] know foreign goods and buy them. and
| from now on there will be a great in
| crease in the native consumption. All
sorts Of farming implements will be need
| ed for the development of this great
| agricultural empire, and our plows should
| be in great demand. The Germans are al
| ready selling cheap limitations of Amer
lean tools around Hardin. They get SIS
for . plow which could be easily landed