Saigon, 15th December.
The chief topic here of late has been the different railway lines which our Governor-General, M. Doumer, proposes to construct and in connection with which he is now in Paris trying to raise 270 million francs by loan.
The railways projected are (1) Haiphong-Hanoi-Laokay, (2) Hanoi-Namdinh (both in Tongking and running from in a north-westerly and southerly direction, respectively), (3) Tourane-Hué-Quangtri Annam), (4) Saigon-Khanhon-Langbixn, 5) Mytho-Cantho, the two last-named being in Cochin-China and ranning, respectively, east and west. In addition to the lines enumerated, which are all in French territory, the Laokay line ix to be extended to Yunnan. For the five firat-nained lines 200 million francs are required, which"sum it is proposed should be guaranteed by Indo-China, and for the last named 70 millions, to be guaranteed is the latest news to Generally speaking the various projects are not well received by the public, and old residents especially express much doubt as to their utility.
The Suigon-Mytho Railway, which is as yet the only line existing in Cochin-China, has not proved at all a success, and it can continue in operation only through the Government paying annually a heavy sum for the keeping in repair of the way. There is no goods traffic whatever on the line worth speaking of, as in this couutsy the staple article, rice, is always -transported by water. ' Hence the many doubts publicly expressed as to the advisability of entering upon large railway enterprises. The Government evidently has in view the ultimate linking up of all the proposed lines into a great trunk line from Sai to Hanoi. Whether the money req will be forthcoming seems so fat very uncertain, Most of the local papers vioently oppose the schemes,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.