Striking Tribute by Dr. J.C. Ferguson at Unveiling of Nanyang Memorial Following upon the commencement exercises at the Nanyang University, Dr. J. C. Ferguson unveiled a bronze statue of Sheng Kung-pao which has been erected by the institution to commemorate its founder. Mentioning that he was closely associated with Mr. Sheng for 20 years, Dr. Ferguson enumerated some of the many enterprises with which he was connected. He rose to the high rank of President of the Ministry of Communications and Junior "Guardian of the Heir Apparent, but his official career was only one phase of his busy life. He helped to found the China Merchants Steam Navigation Ca., and directed its affairs for many years. He promoted the telegraph system in China and was its Director-General until it was taken) over by the Government. He started the Bank which is now known as the Commercial Bank of China and took an active share in its policies. He was the controlling stockholder in the Hwa Sheng Cotton Mill in Yangtszepoo and managed its business. He employed mining engineers to prospect for him and discovered the coal mines at Pinghsiang and the iron ore at Tayeh. On account of his ownership of these mines, the Hanyang Iron and Steel Works were handed over to him by the Government and final ly became incorporated into the Hanyehping Company. In official life he held the posts of Taotai at Chefoo and Tientsin. He was Director-General of Railways and during his term of office he built the southern section of the Peking-Hankow line, commence) work on the Canton-Hankow and Shanghai-Nanking lines, made the contract for the Tientsin-Pukou line and commenced negotiations for the purchase or construction of other lines. He also dealt extensively in real estate and was the owner of valuable properties in Shanghai, Soochow, Tientsin and Peking.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.