Directory_and_Chronicle_1920 — Page 660

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CHINA

been extended to Taku and Tientsin on the one hand, and to Kinchow and Newchwang: on the Gulf of Liao-tung on the other. This track was only completed in the early part of 1900, and during the summer months was, between Kinchow and Newchwang, largely destroyed by the Chinese so as to preclude the advance of Russian forces on Peking viâ Manchuria. A line from Peking to Tientsin was opened in 1897, the Peking terminus being at Machiapu, a point two miles from the Tartar city, whence a short electric line connected it with one of the principal gates; the traffic developed so rapidly that in 1898-9 the electric line had to be doubled. From Lukouchiao (or Marco Polo's Bridge) a line of about eighty miles in length was constructed southward to Paoting- fu, the capital of the province of Chihli; this line, in October, 1899, was handed over by the British constructors to the Belgian Syndicate as an integral factor in the great trans-continental line from Peking to Hankow. These lines were all more or less. deliberately and in some parts completely destroyed by the Chinese during 1900. The Railways, as foreign innovations, were particularly hateful to the Boxers, who in many cases attacked the lines with a fury as intense as it was insensate: burning the stations, destroying bridges, firing the sleepers and carrying off the metals. Later on, track destruction was a strong feature of the strategy of the Imperial troops, and from their point of view, wisely so. It was the cutting of the Railway that was the sole cause of Admiral Seymour's failure in his gallant attempt to rescue the Legations. All the lines in North China were attacked and badly cut. Since then the terminus at Peking. has been brought inside the Chinese City at the Chien Men or Southern Gate of the Manchu City, and the construction of a circular railway to link up the various grand trunk termini in Peking has made progress, the railway ruiming round three parts of the city. Later, it is proposed to erect a grand central station. A branch line has been made from the Chien Men terminus to Tung Chow, the head of the water-ways; and both the French and Germans pushed on the trunk lines being built under their exclusive auspices in Chihli, Honan, and in Shantung, respectively, but this work has been suspended since the outbreak of the European war. Railway vandalism was the first evidence of the savagery and magnitude of the Boxer sedition. It is significant that the Imperial Government was so inert in protecting its own property. Now, however, there is no need to preach the gospel of railway construction, and only lack of funds retards the completion of many new lines.

An official report issued in 1918 showed that the operated length of Government Railways was 6,453,254 kilometres. Provincial and private railways total 683,000 kilo- metres, giving a total of 7,136,254 kilometres subject to the control of the ministry of communication. To this have to be added 3,865,000 kilometres of concessioned railways, a grand total of 11,001,254 kilometres of railways in China, or 6,836 miles. It is interest- ing to note that the greater part of railway construction has taken place north of the Yangtze River. If the Shanghai Nanking Railway be included-and from the commer- cial point of view it should be grouped with the Northern interests-only 10.372 per cent. of the total operating mileage in China ies south of the Yangtsze waterway. În plans for future constructions, however, Southern China is well provided with prospective lines. An important development took place in 1916 when the American firm of Siems & Carey signed, on May 17th, a contract with the Chinese Government for the building of railways in China. On September 29th the detailed plan for the working out of the original agreement was decided upon. Under these agreements Siems & Carey were to have entire charge of the construction of the railways to be built under the contract, and the American International Corporation (with which Siems & Carey is affiliated) undertook the flotation of the bonds for the Chinese Government in this work. The railways contemplated were as follows, though it was provided that if they were not feasible equal mileage should be allotted elsewhere in China :

1. From Fengcheng in Shansi Province to Ningsia in Kansu Province.

2. From Ningsia in Kansu Province to Lanchowfu in Kansu Province.

3. From Hangchow in Chekiang Province to Wenchow in Chekiang Province. 4.-From Hengchowfu in Hunan Province to Nanning in Kwangsi Province.

5. From Lu Hwei in Kwangtung Province to Chungchow in Kwangtung Province.

These lines were to be built upon a percentage basis as initiated by Pauling & Company in their Shasi-Shingyifu railway agreement. Negotiations, however, were inter- rupted for various reasons, but now the survey of 1,600 miles of railway has been commenced.

During the past four years the Japanese have shown an unwonted interest in the railway development of Manchuria and Mongolia, as well as Shantung, and during 1918

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