534
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
China for the Chinese they were unwilling to entrust control of the lines to those whose money they were spending, and now apparently they were averse to giving the necessary security. It was pathetic to see the way China was scraping her Treasury to find money with which to pay the interest and yet she would not give the railways as security. One speaker had referred to giving China plenty of rope, but that plan carried with it long delay. For his part he thought they had taken the better course in coming to some sort of understanding by which in future adequate guarantees would be given for the proper employment of the money, a great step in advance and helped to mitigate the pessimistic view taken by some. In itself it was a happly augury for the futuro. Regard. ing the difficulty in getting money from the Chinese they expected high interest because the guarantee was bad. As the security improved the rate of interest would pro tanto diminish. While they wished help to China to enter into her inheritance, he thought the best way was to start with a strong leaven of European officials, like the Customs, and the coming generation, would be trained accordingly.
That was
opened up to many of them an almost, but yet fired as they were by the cry of unknown land. It would affect the des- tinies of an enormous population and enor- mous commerce, and still more profoundly would it modify the views of the Chinese them- selves in respect of European ideas, and the ideas of Europe with regard to the Chinese. It would tend to bring Europe and China more and more together, and he hoped this wonkl be greatly to the benefit of both. A very striking thing caught his eye the other day. He was stopping for a few minutes at a roadside station on the Great Eastern Railway in Essex and he saw on the sign "You can take your ticket here via Harwich for Pekin and Japan." When they realised that it was really possible that they could book through to Pekin, it was B novel state of things which was startling to those persons who had not followed the railway development of the Far East. Their interests were large. They had financial interests represented by the great financial houses of London, Berlin, Paris and Erussells, and there were also the bond. holders to consider. They were putting a very large sum of money into the venture of these Chinese enterprises and they had to consider the great importance of these matters to the manufacturing industries of the different countries who were interested in the develop expressed the opinion that it was hardly likely
W&S
ment of China. In all these ways it essential to realise that the various nations were
keenly competitive, each nationality was looking after its own interests, and he hoped England would not be backward in taking her place in the financial rentures. It really was a most important matter that there should be no mistake about the proper application of the money which the bondholders had found, and the matter called for careful attention on the part of all concerned. It ought to be clearly seen that the money advanced was not wasted, but really applied in enterprises which would be self-remunerative.
This money
ought to be carefully administered as it would be for the good, not only of the bondholders but also of the Chinese themselves. They all wished to see China develop her railway system as India's had been developed, and he most cordially agreed with the lecturer that the best guarantee would be European control for some years to come. Those who raised the money ought to have a voice' in its application, and there should be responsible European technical advisers appointed. as well as a Board of Management of all the Chinese Railways, If some of these things could be carried out he was persuaded that there was a great future for Chinese railways and the development of that land (applause).
Mr. Byron Brenan C.M.G., remarked that the lecturer had pointed out the mistakes made by the Chinese, but on our side we also had made mistakes. We had too easily assumed that the Chinese were keenly anxious to have railways, and not having the money, we should be in a position to dictate our own terms. That, how-
ever, had not been the case. As to the desira- bility of a Board of Management he supposed in time it would come about, but up to the present the Chinese Government had not seen the necessity for it. In his opinion it would not be a bad thing to give them plenty of rope. Let the Chinese get thoroughly embarrassed in their arrangements and then they would see the necessity for putting their house in order and reorganizing the system. This might not come immediately, but he thought before many years that the Chinese would find great difficulty to pay the interest on their bonds out of their earnings on the railways. He doubted whether any
COLONEL PEMBERTON, R.E. who has recently returued after a visit of some months in China,
for some years to come that the Chinese Govern- ment would look favourably upon the efforts of other countries to secure control over her lines that were being built by foreign capital. Personally be thought that the railways would be built more quickly than many Europeans considered likely. The experience of the world was that no country could progress unless there was railway construction. The Chinese had the experience of the rest of the world to go on and they fully recognised the necessity for railway building. He believed there was a splendid future before railways in China and he hoped there would be no surgical operation necessary that China should get into difficulties. He hoped China would avoid all trouble of that sort and construct her railways without financial difficulty.
Mr. J. W. JAMESON referring to the great railway development after the Japanese war cxpressed the opinion that Messrs. Jardino Mathieson and Company, if they had been more energetic at the time, could have obtained the Pekin-Hankow concession instead of the Bel- gians. A new spirit had sprung up lately and he looked with considerable apprehension to what was going to happen. It behoved them all to watch developments carefully. The Chinese had a good many years of difficulty ahead of them, and he doubted whether any of the rail- ways, with the exception of the Northern one, were paying.
On the proposition of the Chairman the lecturer was cordially thanked for his paper.
MEDICAL TEACHING IN CHINA.
1
The movement in the Harvard medical school for the establishment of a medical school in the Orient, preferably China, is assuming definite proportions and has been approved by President, Eliot and the faculty of the medical school. The following are active in the movement; J. P. Leake, 04 W. S. Whittemore, '04; W. H. Hiltner, Dr. I. Hartshorn. C. C. Haskell, M. R. Edwards A. L. Patch, A M. Dunlap, G. P. Gaunt and C. A. Hedblom.
[June 21, 1909.
THE WORLD'S COAL SUPPLY.
COMPARATIVELY SHORT LIFE OF JAPAN'S
SEAMS.
In an article on the world's coal supply, the Osaka Mainichi says it is superfluous to mention that the richness of the coal supply has had a great deal to do with the gradual develop. ment of British industry and the prosperity of America in recent times. The latest figures of production, &c., of coal in America, Great follows (presumably the period is the year Britain, Germany, France and Japan are as
1908):-
America. Country.
Production Million tons,
Great Britain. Germany France Japan
Number of Miners.
Average Tons Per
Miner.
429
641,000
670
268
867,000
309
141
511,000
275
36
202
14
178,000 106,589 131 (We have ventured to correct the averages in the above table, our contemporary having under- estimated them in each case.) It will be seen that merica is the greates producer of coal, with an output thirty times as great as that of Japan, while Great Britain follows, with nine-
teen times Japan's production. The coal mea- sures of England and America are vast. It is calculated that at the present rate of production, the coal beds in England will continue to yield for 376 years and those in America for 567 years. (How such exact figuresire arrived at it is difficult to say. Regarding the production per man, the American miner digs five times the quantity of his Japanese confrère, while the Englishman produces 23 times AA much. duction cannot be said to be very large. Japan's capacity for coal pro- According to investigation in Chikuzen and Buzen provinces, the supply of coal in those regions will not last longer than 78 years, while the beds of Miike, Hokkaido, and elsewhere may be exhausted within 140 years. It will thus be seen that Japan will prove no match in the coal competition. Regarding the export of the fuel, Great Britain leads with 64,000,000 tons, follow- ed Germany with 20 million tons and America with 8,300,000 tons. Against these, Japan's export of 3,400,000 tons must be regarded as large in comparison with her production. This
must be attributed to the fact that domestic industries have not yet fully developed, and is unavoidable in view of the trend of supply and demand. If too large a quantity of coal is ex- ported without due regard to Japan's capacity of production, the resultant curtailment in the life of the coal-beds will prove a cause for regret – Japan Chronicle.
NEW HOMEWARD PASSENGER
SERVICE.
There are many routes to Europe but most people evince a preference for other things being equal-the cheapest. That being so, a new service which offers adequate accommodation and reasonable speed, may well attract attention. The Shire Line, whose steamers are well known in Hongkong, are about to inaugurate a passenger service between England and the East, the great recommendation of which, is that it is cheaper than most of the others. The Segura has peen taken from the West Indian trade and blaced on the new China and Japan ruu. It is a steamer of about 5,000 tons and carries 50 first class passengers-no other classes being catered for-but the great consideration is that It is proposed to raise an endowment found. the passage from here to England only costs The board of trustees is as follows: Charles 35 When it is added that the cabins are W. Eliot, chairman; Dr. H. P. Walcott, roomy and comfortable, that the saloon and 58; Dr. A. T. Cabot, 72; Dr. W. T. Council.other general rooms are well appointed, and that man. hon, 99; Dr. W. B. Cannon, '96; Dean H. the journey can be covered in 38 or 40 days, it A. Christian of the medical school and Prof E. will be seen that the service has advantages C. Moore.
which should appeal to the home-going public.
They have received definite invitations from Viceroy Tuan Fang and others.
of the railways were paying their way. Mr. C. S. ADDIS thanked Mr. Barry for his paper and complimented him on his resumé of the evolution of the demand for rail. ways in China. To-day in China there was some sort of a demand for railways but be thought every one would have to say that that demand was not a thing ad hoc but formed part of the general quickening of the natural life of China, and took its place along with the demand for education and western luxury-a sort of quickening of the patriotic idea in China. The demand had to be edged round with so many restrictions that it could hardly be called an effective demand. The Chinese seemed to be far from desirious of paying for, or constructing, railways, | early in the summer. N.-C. Daily News,
The faculty of the medical school has passed Yesterday a party of visitors were shown over a vote giving its moral support to an institution
the Segura, which takes its name from a river for the teaching of medicine in China by in Spain, and they found the conditions all that Harvard men. The Harvard Mission will try were desired. Captain Hayes is a genial skipper, to bear part of the expense of sending Dr. M. who should inspire confidence in those under his B. Edwards to China to carry on investigations care, and the other officials showed themselves with regard to the location. Dr. Edwards no less agreeable. A former P. and O. acting completed his course at the Harvard medical purser. Mr. W. S. Tyler, is the steward in school last summer and will start for China charge. The local agents are Messrs. Jardine
Matheson & Co.