A French merchant has the high proviocisl authorities of 8z0- han with " view to persuading them to raise a French loan for the copstraction of the Szechaan-Yiionan Railway. It is reported that written have been p by both sk The Szechoan-Hankow Railway line will cost approximately the sam of Tle. 50,000,000. Since the commencement of bauding work, eighteen months have passed away, and nine millions bare been already' spent by the Company while work has only been going on withia the Ichang-Wanhsien section, There are many obstacles to overcome, and stupendous nataral barriers, "namely, the opinterrapted ranges of mountains, have retarded [progress most provokiogly. As fands are not quite sufficient, this section of the work is to be suspended, and the ection between Chéogtu and Chungking will be taken in hand, by way of a change.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.