Chefoo, July 1.
Despite the numerous reports about the Chefoo-Weihsien Railway which are constantly appearing in the native press of China, it is impossible to give any credence to them, for they are absolutely unfounded.
The fact of the matter is, China, at the present time, has neither the funds nor the material available "Yor the construction of the much-needed railway line from here to Weihsien. Thus the frequent reports which appear from time to time in the Chinese newspapers would seem to be nothing but part of a scheme of propaganda to keep the game alive. The Chinese Government, to get the necessary funds for the railway construction, would have to apply to foreign countries.
e could not obtain them except from. outside sources; and, as she is obliged to turn to Japan first, which, in the existing state of unpleasant feelings between the two countries, she is not likely to do, there does not seem any likelihood of the Chefoo-Weihsien Railway scheme being accomplished in the immediate future.
Foreign business men in Chefoo place no reliance whatever upon the effusions which have appeared in the local Chinese newspapers. In a recent issue of the "North China Advertiser' there were printed the reported terms of a contract between the Hwa Sheng Trading Company and Wang and Lien, representatives of the Chefoo-Weihsien Railway. This report has been denied by the Ministry of Communications, and furthermore, neither Wang nor Lien is recognized as the official representative of the Railway Project.
'THe Famine Lasovr Mup Track.
Up till the present, all that has been done is to construct a mua voad from Weihsien, the object of getting this work done being to provide employment for the famine refugees; and, according to reports which are to hand, this has been carried as far as Lungkow, and, in sections, to Tengchowfu. A survey has been made up to Chefoo and the line, which the road is supposed to take, has been mapped out and marked with flags, but it is difficult to get any accurate information as to when this road will actually be completed.
Originally it was intended that the roadway should be for mot: traffic and was to be so constructed that it could easily be converted into @ railway line when the latter Bun it ds now Very questionable reject was ready to ibe launckied
whether the road laid down will, when completed, be serviceable for even a motor track.
It looks very much as though this
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.