Rensselaer Union, Volume 8, Number 48, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 17 August 1876 — The Railroad Introduced Into China. [ARTICLE]

The Railroad Introduced Into China.

It is an announcement of more than usual interest, this which comes from China, that the railroad has been introduced into that country. It is a abort line —no more than five miles in length—but the attention of the world is turned to its inauguration with wander and with calculations of the splendid results which will follow to China and the world. An English firm some years since managed to purchase the right of way for a carriage road from Shanghai to Woosung, ten miles (listant. A miniature locomotive was built and sent to Shanghai to accustom the people to the “ carriage’ ’ that waa to be run on this road. Every effort was made to prevent any shock to the peculiar and tenacious conservatism of the people. ' So skillfully was this done that a considerable number of subscriptions of Chinese capital were obtained. The construction of the road began January last, five miles have been completed, and on the Ist of July the road was opened, and was to be completed to-day. Mongolians appear to have been delighted. A shrewd stroke was made in permitting them to ride free the first two days. The offer was accepted by hundreds, and the new means of conveyance at once secured popular favor. The Chinese proved not to be so hopelessly conservative that he could not recognize the superiority of the locomotive to the wheelbarrows, palanquins, and other similar men-movea carriages that now furnish transportation for Chinese travel and traffic as a thousand years ago. There are now twelve trains a day, six each way, running on the road. They are crowdea with passengers, and the road is paying a handsome profit already, which will assure it and all similar enterprises an immense popularity with the thrifty Chinese. The London Times devotes a great deal of space to this important enterprise. It says: “ It is to be borne in mind that the little line has not been laid down on principles which would be the most advantageous in a country so densely populated as China. Its details have only been adopted as affording the readiest and most practicable means of securing a beginning—of inserting the thin end of the wedge. Moreover, it was very desirable that the line should be able to earn as good a dividend in as short a time »s possible, an element very essential to success in any enterprise in any country, and especially in China. It is stated that there are a number of small subscribers in China, and a good dividend would do more than anything else to promote an interest in railways in that country. Now, however, that tlie initiative has been taken, it is to be hoped that the example may be speedily followed in other parts of the country, and that the little Shanghai Railway may prove the precursor of a railway system which at no distant period may be found extending its ramifications throughout the Celestial Empire. It is probable that the governing classes in China, regarding railways from a strategic point of view, will recognize their importance more readily from that than from a purely commercial aspect. In whatever light the question may be viewed, the initiative which has been taken in such works is clearly a matter for congratulation.” China has had the telegraph in operation for several years in a small v?hy. It gained the favor of the Government by the service it was made to do in carrying on the campaign against the Formosan rebels. The telegraph and the railroad now have a brilliant future before them in China. Their extension will necessarily be slow, but their influence must be tremendous, not alone on China, but on every nation that sells China anything or buys anything of her —that is the world. Four hundred millions of people so keen and active as the Chinese cannot have two such instruments as the telegraph wire and the locomotive placed on their lands without great results. The construction of the roads will be a source of great profit to the United States-. Though China furnishes the labor that builds die roads, and England supplies the Bessemer steel for the rails —though here we will compete with her —the United States will certainly send the locomotives. We have supplied Russia, and can command the market in China. Increased facilities of transportation will cheapen the silks, the teas, the drugs, spices and precious woods China sends us, and increase the wealth that enables China to buy our products. The introduction of the railroad into China is the most important fact in the history of that distinctive factor of modern progress since its introductien into America fifty years ago.— Chicago Tribune.