Inclosure 3 in No. 1.
Consul Little to Sir E. Satow.
(No. 59.) Sir,
Newchwang, May 31, 1904, IN continuation of my despatch No. 57 of the 26th instant on the subject of mining Concessions in Manchuria, I have now the honour to furnish some additional particulars.
Gisements de Hou.-This probably refers to a coal mine within 2 or 3 miles of Moukden, in which an American is interested jointly with Chinese. The former's interest in the property was acquired by arrangement with the natives concerned, and no Concession has been granted by the authorities. I understand the mine is not in operation at present, although some attempt was made to work it two or three years ago.
Filon aurifere de Diapigo. This would appear to be a gold mine or mines situated at Chia Pi-ku, about 100 miles east north-east of Kirin. Some years ago this district was to some extent in the hands of a noted bandit chief, who worked the mines in spite of the opposition of the Chinese authorities, Mining rights in the district are said to have been acquired a year or two ago by the Manchurian Mining Company by purchase from a Russian, but it is not known in what manner the latter acquired his title.
Droit de préférence sur tous les gisements existant dans une lande de 30 kilom, de largeur le long de la ligne de chemin de fer de l'est Chinois. Preferential mining rights in the country lying on both sides of the railway were, I believe, granted to the Chinese Eastern Railway Company or the Russo-Chinese Bank, under one of the numerous Agreements or Conventions relating to Manchuria made between Russia and China, but, not having copies of these documents, I am unable to verify this statement.
The gold mine near Port Arthur, referred to in my previous despatch, belongs to the Liao-tung Mining Syndicate, a Russian Company. It is within the leased territory.
There are many other so-called Concessions held by foreigners of various nationalities, of which it may be useful to give a short account. None of them are Concessions fully authorized by the Central authorities, but consist of right acquired, with or without the consent of the local official, from natives who were permitted to carry on mining operations by "Lung Piaos" issued by the Provincial Government. It may be observed that, with the one exception of the preferential rights in the country bordering on the railway, the title to all the Concessions mentioned in your despatch appears to rest on the same basis.
The most important of these Concessions is one held by several British subjects connected with the firm of Bush Brothers, and consists of the sole right to mine at twenty-eight places (list of which is attached hereto) in the districts of Tung Hua and Huai Jen, and to work two coal mines at Sa Sung Kang and An-tzu Kang, in the district of Hai Lung Cheng. The following is the history of the Concession:---
About 1896 or 1897 an official named Yuan was appointed by the Tartar General Commissioner of Mines in the districts of Tung Hua and Huai Jen, and under his direction the country was prospected. Subsequently the sole right to mine in that district was granted by Yuan to a Chinese Company, of which he was a director. Prospecting operations were carried on for several years, but were suspended by the Boxer rising, and the Russian invasion in 1900. In that year some members of the firm of Bush Brothers were invited to join the Company, no doubt with a view to preventing Russian interference, or to obtain support for a claim in respect of losses during the troubles, and in 1902 a formal agreement was drawn up whereby the rights of the Chinese Company were transferred to the Chuan-li Kung Ssu, composed of natives and foreigners. The matter was reported by the Tartar General to the Wai-wu Pu, and in their reply they write as follows:--
"The said deputy has now raised more money from Chinese and British share-holders, and established the Chuan-li Company to continue the undertaking. The agreement and regulations which he has settled we find to be all in accordance with the previous arrangements as memorialized and recorded, and with the new regulations of the Board. They may therefore be approved.
* Fide, however, despatch No. 11 from Peking, May 18, 1899.
5
"But when the said deputy first raised shares and undertook the management of mining affairs in Tung Hua and Huai Jou, the throne was memorialized and gave approval. The affair has now been altered to a joint Chinese and foreign undertaking, and your Excellency should, in harmony with previous procedure, again memorialize the Throne explaining the matter and take action accordingly.”
Practically nothing has yet been done to work these mines, and it is to be noted that under the above-mentioned Agreement the Commissioner appears to possess the power of withdrawing the rights granted by reason of the failure of the Company to make certain stipulated payments.
Messrs. Bandinel and Co., British merchants here, hold a lease of a coal mine at Lan Tung Kon, adjoining the Russian mines at Yentai, granted to them in 1895-96 by the native owner, who was working it under a "Lung Piao." The lessees carried on operations with some success for several years previous to the Boxer rising, but work was stopped by the troubles and has not been resumed since. Some correspondence passed between the Legation and this Consulate in November 1899 concerning Messrs. Bandinel and Co.'s title to this mine.
Messrs. Jardine, Matheson and Co. began to work a coal mine at Nan Piao, in the Chae Yang district, before the Boxer rising, but operations were stopped in that year. I am informed they have recently sent an engineer with a view to resuming work. I know nothing as to their title to the mine.
I am informed a gold mine near Tien Ling was recently worked by a Mr. Craig, a Canadian, in conjunction with Russians, under a lease from natives; but I have, at present, no details of the enterprise.
The Russo-Chinese Bank, acting in conjunction with a native named Liang, is said to have secured some sort of right to work mines in the districts of Ning Yuan Chin Chou, Kuang-ning, and I Chou. About a year ago a memorial was addressed to the Throne on the subject and the matter referred to the Board concerned for consideration. Since then nothing appears to have been done.
A Concession for working sixteen mines in the district of Kuan Tien is said to have been obtained by a Mr. Mamonoff, a Russian, who was probably acting for the Russo-Chinese Bank or the Mining Company of Manchuria.
Coal mines in which foreigners are interested are being worked by natives at Ying Fan on the Hun-Ho. Last year's working showed a profit of 10,000 taels. The coal is sold at Mukden for about 17 dollars a ton.
I am informed that some Russians began working a coal mine last year somewhere near Po Shui luo on the Yalu.
I am aware that many of the above particulars are not called for by your despatch, but I have thought it a convenient opportunity to communicate to you everything known to me on the subject, and trust that the information will not be considered irrelevant or useless.
I have, &c.
Inclosure 4 in No. 1.
(Signed)
H. A. LITTLE.
List of Concessions held by British Subjects.
1. Fa Miao Erh Kow, 15 li south of Fung Wha. A placer mine has been worked for over thirty years, and is still being worked ground sluicing, on which about 100 men are employed. Float quartz is abundant, but as yet no veins have been discovered. 2. Hsiao Miao Erh Kow, 18 li south of Fung Wha. A silver and lead mine. 3. Wei Sha Ho, 60 li south of Fung Wha. Alluvial washings. 4. Pao Ma Chuan, 120 li south-west of Fung Wha. A quartz gold mine, 24 feet vein, still being worked by Chinese. Numerous shafts from 20 to 30 feet deep. According to Chinese statements another vein runs parallel. 5. Pao Ma Ch'uen, 130 li south-west of Fung Wha. Silver mine. Chinese unable to separate the silver and lead. 6. Pa Wang Ts'ao, 140 li south-west of Fung Wha. Galena ore, containing gold and silver. Vein 24 feet to 5 feet wide. Worked for two years by the Chinese. Shafts 30 feet deep.Inclosure 3 in No. 1.
Consul Little to Sir E. Sutow.
(No. 59.) Sir,
Newchwang, May 31, 1904, IN continuation of my despatch No. 57 of the 26th instant on the subject of mining Concessions in Manchuria, I have now the honour to furnish some additional particulars.
Gisements de Hou.-This probably refers to a coal mine within 2 or 3 miles of Moukden, in which an American is interested jointly with Chinese. The former's interest in the property was acquired by arrangement with the natives concerned, and no Concession has been granted by the authorities. I understand the mine is not in operation at present, although some attempt was made to work it two or three years ago.
Filon aurifere de Diapigo. This would appear to be a gold mine or mines situated at Chia Pi-ku, about 100 miles east north-east of Kirin. Some years ago this district was to some extent in the hands of a noted bandit chief, who worked the mines in spite of the opposition of the Chinese authorities, Mining rights in the district are said to have been acquired a year or two ago by the Manchurian Mining Company by purchase from a Russian, but it is not known in what manner the latter acquired his title.
Droit de préférence sur tous les gisements existant dans une lande de 30 kilom, de largeur le long de la ligne de chemin de fer de l'est Chinois. Preferential mining rights in the country lying on both sides of the railway were, I believe, granted to the Chinese Eastern Railway Company or the Russo-Chinese Bank, under one of the numerous Agreements or Conventions relating to Manchuria made between Russia and China, but, not having copies of these documents, I am unable to verify this statement.
The gold mine near Port Arthur, referred to in my previous despatch, belongs to the Liao-tung Mining Syndicate, a Russian Company. It is within the leased territory.
There are many other so-called Concessions held by foreigners of various nationalities, of which it may be useful to give a short account. None of them are Concessions fully authorized by the Central authorities, but consist of right acquired, with or without the consent of the local official, from natives who were permitted to carry on mining operations by "Lung Piaos" issued by the Provincial Government. It may be observed that, with the one exception of the preferential rights in the country bordering on the railway, the title to all the Concessions mentioned in your despatch appears to rest on the same basis.
The most important of these Concessions is one held by several British subjects connected with the firm of Bush Brothers, and consists of the sole right to mine at twenty-eight places (list of which is attached hereto) in the districts of Tung Hua and Huai Jen, and to work two coal mines at Sa Sung Kang and An-tzu Kang, in the district of Hai Lung Cheng. The following is the history of the Concession:---
About 1896 or 1897 an official named Yuan was appointed by the Tartar General Commissioner of Mines in the districts of Tung Hua and Huai Jen, and under his direction the country was prospected. Subsequently the sole right to mine in that district was granted by Yuan to a Chinese Company, of which he was a director. Prospecting operations were carried on for several years, but were suspended by the Boxer rising, and the Russian invasion in 1900. In that year some members of the firm of Bush Brothers were invited to join the Company, no doubt with a view to preventing Russian interference, or to obtain support for a claim in respect of losses luring the troubles, and in 1902 a formal agreement was drawn up whereby the rights of the Chinese Company were transferred to the Chuan-li Kung Ssu, composed of natives and foreigners. The matter was reported by the Tartar General to the Wai-wu Pu, and in their reply they write as follows:--
"The said deputy has now raised more money from Chinese and British share- holders, and established the Chuan-li' Company to continue the undertaking. The agreement and regulations which he has settled we find to be all in accordance with the previous arrangements as memorialized and recorded, and with the new regulations of the Board. They may therefore be approved.
* Fide, however, despatch No. 11 from Peking, May 18, 1899.
5
"But when the said deputy first raised shares and undertook the management of mining affairs in Tung Hua and Huai Jou, the throne was memorialized and gave approval. The affair has now been altered to a joint Chinese and foreign undertaking, and your Excellency should, in harmony with previous procedure, again memorialize the Throne explaining the matter and take action accordingly.”
Practically nothing has yet been done to work these mines, and it is to be noted that under the above-mentioned Agreement the Commissioner appears to possess the power of withdrawing the rights granted by reason of the failure of the Company to make certain stipulated payments.
Messrs. Bandinel and Co., British merchants here, hold a lease of a coal mine at Lan Tung Kon, adjoining the Russian mines at Yentai, granted to them in 1895-96 by the native owner, who was working it under a "Lung Piao." The lessces carried on operations with some success for several years previous to the Boxer rising, but work was stopped by the troubles and has not been resumed since. Some correspond- ence passed between the Legation and this Consulate in November 1899 concerning Messrs, Bandinel and Co.'s title to this mine.
Messrs. Jardine, Matheson and Co. began to work a coal mine at Nan Piao, in the Chae Yang district, before the Boxer rising, but operations were stopped in that year. I am informed they have recently sent an engineer with a view to resuming work. I know nothing as to their title to the mine.
I am informed a gold mine near Tien Ling was recently worked by a Mr. Craig, a Canadian, in conjunction with Russians, under a lease from natives; but I have, at present, no details of the enterprise.
The Russo-Chinese Bank, acting in conjunction with a native named Liang, is said to have secured some sort of right to work mines in the districts of Ning Yuan Chin Chou, Kuang-ning, and I Chou. About a year ago a memorial was addressed to the Throne on the subject and the matter referred to the Board concerned for con- sideration. Since then nothing appears to have been done.
A Concession for working sixteen mines in the district of Kuan Tien is said to have been obtained by a Mr. Mamonoff, a Russian, who was probably acting for the Russo-Chinese Bank or the Mining Company of Manchuria.
Coal mines in which foreigners are interested are being worked by natives at Ying Fan on the Hun-Ho. Last year's working showed a profit of 10,000 taels. The coal is sold at Mukden for about 17 dollars a ton.
I am informed that some Russians began working a coal mine last year somewhere near Po Shui luo on the Yalu.
I am aware that many of the above particulars are not called for by your despatch, but I have thought it a convenient opportunity to communicate to you everything known to me on the subject, and trust that the information will not be considered irrelevant or useless.
I have, &c.
Inclosure 4 in No. 1.
(Signed)
List of Concessions held by British Subjects.
FA Miao Erh Kow, 15 i south of Fung Wha. worked for over thirty years, and is still being worked ground sluicing, on which about 100 men are employed. but as yet no veins have been discovered.
H. A. LITTLE.
A placer mine has been by the Chinese method of Float quartz is abundant,
2. Hsiao Miao Erh Kow, 18 ti south of Fung Wha. A silver and lead mine.
3. Wei Sha Ho, 60 south of Fung Wha. Alluvial washings.
4. Pao Ma Chuan, 120 li south-west of Fung Wha. A quartz gold mine, 24 feet vein, still being worked by Chinese. Numerous shafts from 20 to 30 feet deep. According to Chinese statements another vein runs parallel.
5. Pao Ma Ch'uen, 130 h south-west of Fung Wha. unable to separate the silver and lead.
Silver mine. Chinese
6. Pa Wang Ts'ào, 140 li south-west of Fung Wha. Galena ore, containing gold and silver. Vein 24 feet to 5 feet wide. Worked for two years by the Chinese. Shafts 30 feet deep.
[2156 m- -6]
C
513
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.