January 6, 1900.]
tribunals in cases where foreign and Ja panese evidence is in conflict.
Turning to the South we find that consider able progress has been made in the pacifica- tion of the Philippines, America has definitely determined to hold the islands and the rebellion having been practically suppressed great development of trade may be expected to ensue. A number of ports that have been closed during the rebellion are to be opened to the costing trade to-day, and large quantities of mer chandise are reported to be awaiting ship-| ment. The form of government to be adopted for the islands has still to be deter mined by Congress, but presumably the Fil pinos will be allowed to manage their own local affidrs, so far as is deemed com patible with the public safety and the re- cognition of American authority. mercially it remains to be seen whether America will establish in the Philippines the principle of the open door, for which the is a champion in the case of China. For the present foreign vessels are debarred from participation in the consting trade.
|
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
one the next.
|
doubt be applied. Travelling by a well in quarters that ought to have known bet- appointed steamer being more agreeable ter-is now quite exploded. Such a war than spending a number of days cooped up | might obstruct Russia for a time, but it in a railway carringe, the Canul route will could have no permanent results, and, even continue to command a large proportion of if it had, it is not the part of England to go the passenger traffic in cases where the to war to prevent the spread of railways. additional time required for the journey is That railways may, and indeed must have, not excessive, but where economy of time is political effects is indubitable, but the way of importance the railway will be preferred. to counterbalance those effects is to meet The question of expense will also have to railway with railway, and to make our own be taken into consideration, but this will lines under such conilitions that they may no doubt be settled according to the ordinary be politically and commercially more valu principles of competition. As a commence-able than those of our rivals. It is easy to ment it appears to be intended to run
be wise after the event, and no one, looking through express trains twice a month only, back on the history of China since 1860, but as the traffic grows the service will can fail to see that Great Britain has ne- naturally be increased, and it will probably glected her opportunities. The importance. not be long before expresses start daily, of introducing railways has been recognised One advantage that the new route will ■ll along, but it was thought that sooner or Com-confer on trade will then be a daily mail, later China would progress of herself; and
rendering us independent of steamers leav- that the best policy was to " ing on stated days of the week, which at
leave her "alone." To such no extent was this policy present are so arranged us to make irregular carried out that even the tearing up intervals, giving two mails one week and of the little pioneer line between Shanghai nd Woosung was assented to by the British Government. Some years after- warda railways were introduced in a ten- tative kind of way in connection with the Tongshan collieries, and have grown into the respectable come into existence under Mr. KINDER'S system that has
management; but British subjects having thus shown the way it was left to other Powers to bring about the construction of great trunk lines. Under the influence exerted by Kussia and France the contract for the line between Hankow aud Peking was secured by Belgium, while the line from Hankow to Canton has been secured by America. British concessionaires``share with Germans the right to construct the Tientsin and Chinkiang line, but work on it has not yet been commenced. Other minor concessions are also held by_British concerns, including the Canton and Kowloon Railway, but the only railway enterprise as yet being actively carried out under British suspices is the Newchwang and Soanbaikwan line. The importance of the subject is now fully recognised, however, and while Great Britain may be expected to urgo ou the construction of railways from point to point within the Chinese coufines, she is also sensible of the necessity of es- tablishing a connection between China and the Indian railway system The Trans Siberian Railway is the pioneer line across the whole width of Asia, but it will not long stand alone, and before the next century bus long turued its first quarter the trav ĭ- ler in Asia may have a wide" a choice of trans-continental routes as the traveller in America. The opening up of what has been aptly termed "the new world within the old" has now fairly commenced, and the possibili- ties it offers to enterprise and industry may
will be, no doubt, as there are in all things, be found scarcely inferior to those of the now world proper. Disappointments there
The Siberian Railway is the greatest scheine of its kind in the worl. To bring it to its present stage of completion has occupied nine years, and, considering the difficulties that have had to be overcome, the rate at which progres has been made must be considered good. While recognising the increased influence that the construction of the line will give to Russia in Northern Asin, and especially in China, we cauuot but congratulate our rival upon her enter prise and the succes with which it has been carried out. The influence that the railway will exercise is undeniable. Siberia will show a steady increase in population and wealth corresponding to that which, under the stimulus of railway communication, has taken place in the Far West of the United States and Canada, and the effect of a pros- perous and progressive population becom- ing settled along the Chinese frontier cannot fail to make itself felt in the politics of Peking. This growth of population has already made great progress. The anony. mous author of "Russia on the Pacifc and the Siberian Railway," after show-
In Hongkong the commercial prosperity with which the year opened has been well maintained, thoughout and gives promise of a long continuance. The colony has been well described as the financial focus of the Far East, and with the opening up of the Far East that is going on in all directions the financial focus cannot fail to profit. We have unfortunately had to lament another visitation of the plague, which has again claimed more than fourteen hundred victims, but a recently published return, shows tha notwithstanding the ravages caused by this disense the death rate has of recent years shown Barkel diminution. This must be ascribed to the increased and improved water supply and to the advance made in sanitation. The success achieved by these mensures should encourage the colony to continue its efforts in the same direction and to leave no stone unturned to make of Hongkon the first city of the Far East point of health, as it is the first in matters of finance and trade. In the hope that 1900 may see a speedy termination of the war in South Africa and that locally it may haveing how the Chinese lost certain territory as good a record to show at its close as its through their failure to occupy it, says: predecessor we.wish our realers
"The real cause of their loss was
apparent to the Chineze themselves that "after the treaty of Aigun they began to "colonise Manchuria and to increase its garrisons. Even after these measures the right bank of the Amur, which has he longed to Chim for centuries, remains “almost uninhabited, except in a few places, presenting a striking contrast with the "left bank, hickly studded with towns villages, though it has been occupied by Russia less than half a century." This evidence as to the firmed by all travellers in the country. development going on in Siberia is con- When the pressure of population begins to make itself felt, the settlers will begin to cross the Amur and establish themselves on the right bank, if the land there con tinues to be left unoccupied by the Chinese, and Russian influence will be brought closer and closer to the confines of China proper. Meanwhile the railway will bring a constant stream of traffic almost close past the gates of Peking, which will beconie a regular stopping place for the ever increas
A HAPPY AND PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR.
THE COMPLETION OF THE TRANS. SIBERIAN RAILWAY.
com-
(Daily Press, 4th Jinuary.) The establishment of through munication with Vladivostock by the Trans-Siberian Railway marks an important stage in the development of the Far East. It will no doubt be some time yet before the line is fully equipped for handling the large traffic that it will ultimately command, and Talienwan, not Vladivostock, will be the real terminus whe the Manchurian connections are completed, which will not be for another year or LAVE. The coming summer, however, will probably witness a commencement of through traffic by the Sibe rian route between Europe and Chim, and the traffic will steadily grow. When the line is in full working order it will afford more speedy communication than the Canal route for Shanghai and the Northern Ports, the time between London and Shangoai being estiunted at twenty days. With good ateamer connections there would also be n aving of time in the case of Hongkong,
· hat she wɛervice by the Canal route
Is
expable of considerable neceleration, which, under the înfluence of competition, will no
45
$4
" and
80
stream of globetrotters as well as of commercial pioneers. With the railway whistle screeching at its gates, Peking cannot remain for over a sleepy hollow.
The idea of going to war with Russia tó entertained less than a couple of years ago stop her expansion in the North-an idea
but there is enormous wealth to be de veloped. With the introduction of foreign capital and enterprise there will spring up also grave political problems, of which the Peging Government would do well to take early uote, for unless it moves with the times it will find its very existence en-- dangered.
The United States oraiser Nashville, 1600 tons, 171 crew, 2,500 horse power, and carrying
6
gans arrived at Singapore on the 19th Rodgers is in command. The Nashville was December from Colombo. Captain Raymond
expected to leave for Manila on Christmas day to strengthen the American squadron in the patrol of the Philippine Islanda. Philippines, and to help carry out an effectual
1