In other concerns, too, the share market is looming powerfully' in the Chinese id. I have just heard, from what I should cot A reliable source, of a; projected speculation, which if successful would corner the mining fields of Shansi effectually. The proposal is this, Three large financiers have contributed so much capital with which to buy up all lands where there are minerals. The enter~ prise is a bold one, but it is doubtful whether it will have " successful issue. The amount of capital is quite inadequate to control the whole province. Of course, if the promoters can persuade the present owners to part with the land cheaply, the company will be so far a success. It may be the intention of the promoters to buy land only in the immediate field of the new railway, and call up more capital as the province is developed and covered by the railways.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.