Los Angeles herald., 1909-09-02

Siberian road, cutting down the time
from Peking to London by three days.
The opinion of experts is that this
roads largely through the mountains,
is the equal of any railroad in exist
ence in construction work, although a
false notion of economy has intro
duced too many curves and steep
grades to save tunnel driving.
The chief fault of the Chinese in
respect to railroads is a fadlt which
is national characteristic-the ruin
Gus economy that prevents expendi-
lures for maintenance. A Chinese
builds a house, laYishes money upon
carvings and paint and gold leaf,
spares no expense to make it the
handsomest house that he can afford.
the paint brush brought into use.
Never again does the wood carver
come with his chisel Finally the
house tumbles down about the old
mans ears and he comments that it
lasted a long time He never has
thought of repairs to make 1t last
longer. SO with the railroad. The
Chinese appear to think that money
spent on up-keep is money lost. The
railroad is built and put in working
order. Let 1t work until it wears out
and let us make all the money we can.
Our children can build another road
OF course there are Chinese men who
and doubtless they will be eventually
successful in their struggle against
the chief economic failing of their re-
markable race.
The Kalgan railroad, built by Chi
nese engineers with Chinese capital,
equipped with Chinese engines made
In Chinese shops by Chinese designers
and laborers of Chinese iron and steel,
drawing Chinese-built cars in trains
manned by Chinese crews, is quite as
much of a college as 1t is railroad.
It has been completed only rev
months, and it has been used as q
school for the instruction of young Chi
nese men in every department OF rail-
road work.
The chief engineer Mr.. Jeme, was
educated In the United States, taking
his bachelors degree at Yale and his
technical training at Sheffield Scien-
tific school. He Is, naturally, inclined
much toward American methods. The
actual construction of the road was
directly under the supervision OF Yen
Te-ching, who was educated at the
University of Virginia and Lehigh uni
versity, and who is member of the
American Society of Engineers. He
is now in the distant western province
of Sze-chuan preparing for the rail-
road development in that isolated coun-
try. Under these two men, many young
Chinese are receiving practical train
ing in railroad work. while other Chi
nese students abroad are studying sci
ences and technics with view to as
sisting in the development of, their
country at home. The Kalgan rail-
way, however, is a university and
technical school in itself.
The Chinese government at this time
is anxious toNmake as rapid progress
in railroad building as possible without
permitting other nations to seize prac-
tical control of It's territory in the
| process. The development of the re-
sources Of the country and the impetus
| to trade is, of course, the prime con-
sideratlon, but there are other impor-
| tant reasons why the government is IN
earnest in pushing railroad building.
The desire to provide for national de-
| Tense is one of these, as China under
stands that a comparatively small
army which may be quickly transport
ed from one point to another is better
than a much larger immobile force.
The railroads are necessary to the
scheme Of internal defense But the
| greatest consideration is political-the
absolute necessity of bringing the dis
! jointed provinces of China into a closer
relation with the imperial government.
Rapid communication, increased COM
mercial relations and the interchange
of visits means the closer knitting of
the divided factions of the race. The
Chinese like to travel, and lack only
the opportunity to get about and see
their country. The moral effect and
the physical convenience of the railroad
| has more to do with awakening
China than any other one thing. The
extension of the railroads is absolute
| ly necessary to a successful develop
ment of government under the consti-
tuition, upon which the heart of Prince
Chun is fondly set. Through the next
generation it will not be surprising il
the Chinese are the greatest railroad
builders of the world.
T0moTrow-In Modern China. XTV--Rail-
road Travel In Cathay,