Why Not Use It to Complete the Canton-Hankow Line and Make Education a Charge on the Railway's Revenue?
It is generally accepted that, when all has been considered, the balance of the Brit*$h portion of the Boxer Indemnity will be applied to the education of Chinese at institutions in this country or in Great Britain, and few doubts have been entertained og to education being the best investment. There remains only discussion as to the proper method of applying the funds. Even at this somewhat late stage, however, those concerned would be well advised to consider the proposal which Sir Robert Ho Tung is about to bring forward, a plan of constructive expenditure which has the dual merit of being exceedingly simple and throughly practical. It is sim. ple in that it would be applied to one enterprise, and practical in that success would enormously benefit this country. In_ brief, the suggestion is that that the balance of the fuitd be applied to completion of the Canton-Hankow Railway, As everyone knows, this project, part of a great scheme of railway communication adyocated by Sir Donald Stephenson, hag had a very unfortunate history. Into the details of this one need not go. For the time being, it is only necessary to point out that of this great trunk ling of some 750 miles, surveyed to pass through rich agricultural regions, having valuable mineral resources," and linking up important provincial cities only a few score miles have been constructed. The need for completing the line is impressively obvious, and so also is the complete inability of China to undertake this enterprise in present circumstances. Can the work be done with British goodwill and ce-operation? Sir Robert thinks it can, and is enthusiastic about the possibilities" of his scheme a fair if given trial.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.