RAILWAY DEVELOPMENT IN CHINA.

North Otago Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8161, 16 April 1895, Page 1

RAILWAY DEVELOPMENT IN CHINA.

Tho Exchmgo Tolograph Company understands on reliablo authority that Li Hung Chang's restoration to power will havo far-reaching losults as regards tho future of railway ontorpiiso in China. For 15 years past tho Viceroy of ChihLi has been a consistent advocato of railways »8 a means of safeguarding tho Middle Kingdom against tho aggrosaion of foreign Powora. His plans covor tho construction of over 3000 English miles of stan-dard-gaugo railways, radiating from Pekin, ono being that in tho direction of Moukden, of which a groat part has been completed— namely, from Tientsin ad far as fc>han-kai-Kwan. Ho believes that capital for those lines can bo provided in Europo and America upon tho security of tho traffic returns, seeing that they will tapsovoral of tho richest provinces, and will open up communication with tho ex* tremo west. Tho customs revenues having already been burdened with loan charges, Ho is averse from raising moro capital on that basia, bub recognises that whatever method may bo adopted for providing tho rcquisito funds, it is imperative that tho control of the railways should bo retained oxclusivoly in native hands. When ho memorialised tho Emperor on tho tho subject in 1881 ho rocommonded that tho oilico of principal director of tho Chineso State railways should bo conferred upon Liv Ming Chaun, who has in recent timos commanded tho Chinese forces in Coroa. Li Hung Chang's declaration that if tho Pokin Govornmont further postponed tho establishment of railway communication between tho capital and tho distant cities of the Empiio, it would bo impossible to rosist an attack by tho Japanese or -my other Powor, nft'ords proof <hat ho thoroughly grasped tho situation more than a deoado ugo, and his return to favor is likely to be marked by a signal renascence of tho project with which ho has all along been identilied. Nothing will bo done, as a maitor of course, until after tho conclusion of peaco ; but tho negotiations now to bo entered upon, with Li Hung Chang in tho position of a plenipotentiary, can soarooly stop short of a opoedy cessation of hostilities, and tho terms of settlement may not improbably contain somo reforenco to the development of China by moans of railway and othor undertakings. — Financial News.