Some' of my foreign friends of acumen profess to see one possible good outcome of all the distress our region to-day, instead of on paper, the hard times that threaten us could be mitigated, if not even staved off. Indeed, since my: last letter this road has come fairly down out of the clouds and may be said to be actually hovering close to the earth. We have now high official sanction, both foreign and Chinese, for believing that the final agreements have been made (though as yet not ed), and that the engineers will be at work.this very fall. Gennany, of course, will run the theodolites in Shantung; Great Britain in ¢ chihli, and presumably also in Kiangsu. Work, it is said, will begin at both ends at once; perhaps likewise in the middle. Such a trunk line between the Yangtze and snchi should forever make 1 less terrible spectre in Shantung and Kiangpeh.
The local Chinese Press, as well 1s officialdom, corroborates the prospect of rail connexion between Chefoo and Weihsien, Securities worth Tix, 40,000 are stated on unquestionable authority to be even now on deposit with the Provincial Treasurer as a guarantee of the determination of the promotors, who seem to be altogether Chinese. Doubtless the impetus comes mostly from Chefoo, jealous of its young rival, the port of Tsingtao; but such a road would. be almost as great a boon to. Weihsien, The present line between Chinanfu and Tsingtao proves well enough the existence of opportunity for railroads in China, for this one, though in opera-ion less than five years, declares dividend this year of 4} per cent.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.