Jasper County Democrat, Volume 3, Number 17, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 4 August 1900 — "VANDERBILT OF CHINA." [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

"VANDERBILT OF CHINA."

Prince Sheng, One of the Leaders of the Celestial Empire. A Celestial who is playing a somewhat conspicuous part in the .present troubles in China is Prince Sheng, the director of

telegraphs of the empire, and who is said to be one of the most capable, intelligent and broad-minded of men in China. He has had charge not only of the telegraphs, but of the railways also. He is the head of the imperial bank, a position akin to the secretaryship of the treasury, and he is the principal

director of the China Merchant Steamship Company and the leader of a dozen private enterprises. Sheng has shown a remarkable capacity for the absorption of the western business spirit and has been quick to realize the wealth that is to be created out of the undeveloped conditions and resources of China. He was first brought out by Li Hung Chang, who became his patron, but Sheng soon displayed talents which promised to enable him to surpass his eminent friend in modern enterprise if not in statecraft. He has been called the “Vanderbilt of China.”

PRINCE SHENG.