The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1911-11-25
MORE RAILROADS IS
/. CHINAS GREATEST NEED
Despite Great Projects Work OF
Development Along Modern
Lines Is Slow.

port made by sul-General George
Il. Anderson, OF Hongkong. China Is
interesting In connection with recent
disturbing events in Szcchuen rroF-
ince. II deals especially with the
Railway Situation in China.
Mr.. Anderson studied the nVe
principal groups OF railway lines In
the empire. treating OF not only
those In operation. but all under
construction, surveyed or projected
The Consul General in his intro
ductory' statement says
According TO the best information
available. the Empire OF China now
has about $500 miles OF railway IN
actual operation or so far advanced
In construction that operation Is
matter of few months time
There is in course OF actual construc-
ton and more or less advanced to-
ward completion and operation
total OF about 1902 miles, some OF
which will come into operation with
in a few months, and some OF which
probably will not be completed for
several years. There is projected,
with more or less definite plans of
construction, surveyed or unsurveyed,
authorized by the Chinese govern
ment or not, a total OF 13,434 miles.
The latter figure represents princi-
pally the lines for which plans have
been made and surveys ordered by
the Chinese government, but includes
also some roads projected by local
capitalists in various portions OF
China, lint3 for which concessions
have been asked and in some cases
obtained OF the Chinese government
by foreign interests, and all the vari-
Gus local railway enterprises, some
of which are of more or less indet-
mite backing, but many of which will
probably be the railways next con-
structed In the country.
I'm spite Of great projects and
many promising features. the railway
situation In China at the beginning
of 1911 does not presage the imme-
date development OF the country
along modern lines. Much has been
accomplished, but In spite of the fact
that the interest of the entire world
has been conferred to an unusual de-
gree upon the building of railroads
in China. that both Chinese and for
eign statesmen well understand that
the first requirement in the develop
ment OF the country's resources and
its advancement Is railroad construc-
ton. and that railway systems aggre-
eating more than 13. 400 miles have
been planned. OF which 5000 miles
have been surveyed in a more or less
definite and final manner, the con-
struction during 1910 OF railways of
all classes, including extensions of
existing lines, further work on lines
already commenced and operated to
certain degree, and entirely new
lines has not exceeded 500 miles, and
at least part OF this construction
must be credited to the previous year.
The fast is that while plans for
new railways In China are common,
factuai development Is proceeding
slowly. New plans are carried out
with difficulty. modified, or abandon
ed. For this there are several causes,
most OF which appear reducible TO
one or two circumstances-eith the
people are unwilling that other ma
lions should furnish the money TO
build the roads, and have not the
money themselves. or, IL willing to
borrow from abroad for such work,
other considerations have so far pre-
vented the placing Of the necessary
loans under admissible conditions and
circumstances.
While these and other influences,
and the general poverty OF the coun-
try, are preventing the realization of
these great enterprises, there is little
III any actual encouragement for the
chinese public TO invest what funds
they can raise for such purposes. or
the greater systems under Chinese
control, practically none are paying
their Way, all things considered.
One OF the chief features Of the
present railway policy of the Chinese
government seems to be the dispose
ton to take over all railway enter
prises which have been undertaken
by private capital, but which have
been unduly delayed In execution. For
example, the recent troubles in the
Chekiang Railway company led the
government to step In and announce
that IL would take over the entire en-
terprfse. The company Is reported to
have sent representative to Picking
to change the determination of the
government, but at last accounts
the latter was adhering to it's de-
cision. Similar action has been taken
In number OF cases, and II has been
announced by the board of communi-
cations, at Peking, that all railway
building privileges granted to private
interests must be put into operation
during the present year or the gov.
eminent will take them over.
However, the Chinese gentry I'm.
terested In building roads with
Chinese capital invested in them Is a
constant encouragement.
While the record OF actual con-
struction in 1910 is not very promis.
ing. considering the railways planned
and needed, the prospect for 1911 is
still less promising. Almost no new
enterprises have been inaugurated or
are about TO be inaugurated. and en-.
terprises finished In the past year or
are about to be finished will have lit
tie or no part in the current years
record.
That present conditions In the rail.
way situation of China can continue
Indefinitely is impossible. The pres
sure from the people In favor OF rail.
way construction, taking the country
as whole, is growing. The demands
OF trade In the interior are becoming
more pronounced in favor OF rand