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Show THE RAILROADS IN CHINA. v Lii Hung Chang Is the Great Pooh-Bah Pooh-Bah Who Will Direct the Enterprises. New Yobk, February 2. The reports thut the Chinese government has recently negotiated nego-tiated a loan for $40,00(000 from English capitalists, to be used for internal improvements, improve-ments, and that it had entered into an agreement agree-ment with a Manchester firm of contractors fox the construction of oertain lines of railroads, rail-roads, are absolutely Without Foundation. No such loan has been made or offered, and no such oontract has been authorized or entered into. It is true, however, that THE SUBJECT OF BACLBOADS And other improvements connected with commerce and the national defense is receiving re-ceiving careful consideration on the part of the Imperial government, but it must be understood un-derstood that it does nothing in such matters mat-ters directly. Its operations in regard to them are carried on by Imperial command mainly through the agency of Li Hung Chang, Viceroy of the province of Chilhi, Senior Grand Secretary of State, Superintendent Superin-tendent of trade for the Northern Provinces, Tutor to the Emperor, and, since the death of Tso Tung Tang, the hero of the Euldjah campaign. He is mcontestably the ablest, most highly respected, and most powerful man in the empire. Like his friend, Tso Tung Tang, he claims to be "only a poor scholar of books," but he is at the same time the first Boldier and " THE FIRST STATESMAN OF CHINA, And the leader of the party of progress. The memorials submitted by him to the imperial government in 1881, and the 'Last Dying. Words" of Tso Tung Tang, whose funeral services have just closed, leave no doubt as to the fact that the uses and inestimable in-estimable value of railroads are fully understood under-stood by the leading minds of China. It is also certain that the Empress Dowager, the aunt, and the Seventh Prince, the father and guardian of the young Emperor, who will reach his majority within two years, are strongly in favor of the early construction of a system of railroads primarily designed for the national defense, and that they will do all they can in accordance with their system sys-tem of government to promote that end. But, notwithstanding the support of these powerful advocates, PUBLIC SENTIMENT IN CHINA Is not by any means unanimously in favor of railroads. Here, as elsewhere, the first great question connected with the subject is that of ways and means, and the Imperial Board of Bevenue, it is understood, is divided di-vided in regard to it. In addition, the Board of Censors, which seems to have the right to express its opinion unasked upon all public pub-lic questions, is an exceedingly conservative body, and it is now known opposes the introduction in-troduction of railroads at least for the present. While it is not probable that they can defeat the plans of the Princess Dowager, Dow-ager, the Seventh JPrince, and the Viceroy Id, they are strong enough, backed as they are by the natural tendency of the Chinese people to "let well enough alone," to induce the authorities having the railroad question under consideration to proceed deliberately and with great circumspection. But, withal, the best opinion is that THEY WILL BEGIN PBACTICAL OPERATIONS At an early day, and that a line to Tientsin, at the head of steamship nayi-gation nayi-gation on the Peiho, and thence to Chin-kiang Chin-kiang on the Yang-tse-kiung, with a branch line from Tientsin at the mouth of the Peiho, in all about 800 miles, will be the first railroads built. Inasmuch as no loans or contraots have as yet been made, and the Chinese authorities have had more or less serious troubles and complications with the European powers, it is quite certain that the engineers, manufacturers manu-facturers and bankers of the United States have just as good a chance to secure employment em-ployment for their skill, experience and capital", cap-ital", in connection with the construction of railroads in China, as have those of any other country. COLONEL DENBY, THE NEW AM2BICAN MTNISTEB, Has produced a most favorable impression upon all, whether foreign or native, with whom he has come in contact. In accordance accord-ance with custom, he entertained all the American missionaries, some forty in number, num-ber, at his house on Thanksgiving Days and in addition to making them a most felicitous address, gave them a most hearty and friendly American welcome. There is no doubt that Colonel Denby is keenly alive to the importance of railroad and other internal improvements in this country, and will do all in his power to secure for his countrymen a fair share of "all business connected with their construction, equipment and operation. In this he will doubtless be efficiently assisted by the powerful American house of Kussell & Co., and perhaps by others or the ground. |