Through the courtesy of the Danish minister, I am able to forward the
inclosed copy of the full text of the agreement between the provincial
authorities and the Great Northern Telegraph Company. This document,
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which has been formally approved
by Sheu-poa-shen, under instructions from the Tsungli Yamen, provides for
the payment to the Danish company of $154,500, the sum of§30,000 (already
paid) on the signing of the agreement, $50,000 when the line is completed,
and $74,500 in two equal semi-annual installments.
In consideration of these amounts, including indemnity for damages sustained,
the company is to build 160 miles of telegraph, fully equip the line, erect
and furnish stations and watch-houses, the latter at intervals of about ten
miles along the line, provide all superintendence, engineering, labor, and
expenses in connection with construction, work the line for and on account
of the Chinese government, and teach Chinese pupils the art of telegraphy,
the last two items being left to future regulations in detail. The work of
construction will begin by the 15th of August, and I learn that the line
will probably be finished and in regular operation by November or
December.
The Chinese officials who made the above agreement wished to have it include
the purchase of the Pagoda-Anchorage line at Foo-chow, but the Danish
company only stipulated to make its sale the subject of another contract;
that it will be brought about, however, there is no doubt. This fact is a
further proof of the intention of the Chinese government to maintain and
extend its telegraph operations, the general direction of which will
probably be given to Shen, who has just been advanced to the important
position of viceroy of the two Kiang provinces, and made superintendent of
foreign trade for the southern ports, his jurisdiction embracing the ports
on the Yangtze Biver, and all south of that.
This appointment is a very good one, for Shen is one of the ablest and most
intelligent of the high Chinese officials, and has been courteous and just
in his dealings with foreigners.
Since it became certain that the new telegraph policy of the Chinese
government was earnestly meant, I have taken occasion to congratulate the
ministers of the Tsungli Yamen, Prince Kung being present, upon their
advance movement as a thing greatly for the advantage of China, and to hope
that other lines might be built by the government as it saw the need of
them. They received my congratulatory remarks without any of the old
evasiveness, appeared pleased, and observed that “things had reached such a
condition that China was obliged to take the matter of telegraphs into her
own hands.” This I understood to mean that to relieve themselves of
increasing foreign pressure on the subject, they had determined to buy and
complete the Foo-chow-Amoy line, and if it proves to be a good experiment,
to build other lines.
[Inclosure in No. 68.]
Agreement between the Chinese government and the
Great Northern Telegraph Company for the construction of the
Foo-chow-Amoy telegraph-line.
agreement
concerning the Foo-chow-Amoy Overland Telegraph-Line, between, as one
party, Shen-pao-shen, the Imperial Commissioner Shen-pao-shen; the
governor-general of the provinces of Fokien and Chekiang, Lee; the commander of the Manchu garrison at
Foo-chow, Wan; and the governor of the province of Fokien, Wong, acting under instructions from the Tsungli
Yamen, and represented by “Ting, tia way,” director of the committee of
foreign trade, furnished with full power of attorney, of which a
certified copy is annexed to this agreement; and, as the other party,
the Great Northern
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Telegraph
Company of Copenhagen Denmark, represented by its general agent,
Lieutenant Dreyer, D. R. N.:
The first party will hereinafter be denominated “the high authorities,”
and the other party “the company.”
The payment of indemnity and the purchase of the material which the
company has accumulated for the construction of the line, is assented to
by the high authorities, as two principles forming the basis of this
agreement, the same having been previously arranged between the Tsung-li
Yamun and the royal Danish legation.
The two parties have now agreed and decided to arrange the whole matter
in the following manner:
The company shall, for the high authorities, construct a line of overland
telegraph between Foochoo and Amoy.
The high authorities give full protection to the company’s staff and personnel, as well as to the whole of the
material employed by the company in the construction of the line.
The high authorities undertake to be responsible for theft and violence
against each part of the line which at any time is erected, as well as
for the material and goods to be employed in the construction.
The company shall be enabled to commence the construction of the line not
later than the 15th of August, this year, but earlier, if found
practicable, and shall, when commenced, complete the work with all
reasonable dispatch.
The high authorities undertake to be responsible that no delay be
occasioned through any interference on the part of inhabitants or
others.
The company shall construct the line and furnish the high authorities
with materials and goods, as follows: 160 (one hundred and sixty)
statute miles of wire, B. W. G. No. 7, or Siemens’s compound wire.
Insulators and stretching insulators for 160 (one hundred and sixty)
statute miles; for B. W. G. No. 7, of India government pattern, for
Siemens’s compound wire, of Siemens’s patent insulators.
Four thousand two hundred telegraph-poles, according to the company’s
contract with the contractor, which is from “5 (five) inches to 5½”
(five and a half) inches diameter.
Cables to cross the Min River, from Nantei to the main-land, shall be the
company’s C (No. 3) cable, 6¾ (six and three-quarters) tons per nautical
mile, single cored. To cross the rivers at Hinghua, at Chingchu, between
the main-land and the island of Amoy, and from this island to the island
of Kulangsen, shall be the company’s E (No. 5) cable, 6½ (six and a
half) tons per nautical mile, double cored; besides cables crossing the
various creeks wherever necessary. The core shall be Hooper’s
India-rubber patent core, 300 pounds copper and 200 pounds India-rubber
per nautical mile; copper-resistance 4.25 per nautical mile; insulation
3,500 megohms, as guaranteed from the manufactory.
Six sets of Siemens’s ink-recording telegraph instruments, complete, with
all appurtenances, cells, tools, &c., ready to work.
Six sets of tools for building of line. A telegraph station, newly built,
at Nantei. Two houses for small stations at Hinghua and at Chinchu.
Thirteen watch-houses, about ten miles apart from each other,
distributed along the line.
Furniture and furnishing the stations and watch-houses as necessary.
The company furnishes all superintendence, engineering, and all labor, as
well as all other expenses not mentioned herein, in connection with the
construction of the line.
The company undertakes to deliver, at the completion of the line, the
whole of the work to the high authorities, in complete working order,
constructed in a substantial, good, and workmanlike manner.
The high authorities undertake to pay to the company, in full, for the
above-named arrangements, material, goods, and works, the sum of
$154,500 (one hundred and fifty-four thousand five hundred Mexican
dollars.)
The high authorities will pay to the company $30,000 (thirty thousand
Mexican dollars) on the signing of this agreement, and $50,000 (fifty
thousand Mexican dollars) when the company declares, in writing, the
line to be completed. The balance, $74,500 (seventy-four thousand five
hundred Mexican dollars) shall be paid in two equal six-monthly
installments, reckoned from the date of the completion of the line.
It is further agreed that the company shall work the line for the Chinese
government, and on the Chinese government’s account, and teach Chinese
pupils the art of telegraphy for a time, and on conditions to be
stipulated in another and separate agreement.
It is further agreed that the telegraph line between Foochoo and Mamoi
Point (Pagoda Anchorage) shall not be included in this agreement. The
company declares itself, however, to be willing to sell this line to the
high provincial authorities on reasonable terms, which are to be decided
upon in a separate agreement.
This agreement is written and signed in the English language and in
Chinese characters
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in
duplicate. If any disagreement should in the future arise in regard to
the interpretation of the same, the English text shall he accepted as
the original and authentic version.
In witness whereof the two parties have
hereto fixed their names and seals, at
Foo-chow, this 21st day of May, in the year of the Lord
one thousand eight hundred and seventy-five.
DREYER. [seal.]
[Seal of Foreign Board of Trade.]
Signed and sealed in the presence of—
W. S. YOUNG
, [
seal.]
His Danish Majesty’s Acting
Vice-Consul.Witness:
M. M. De Lano
. [
seal.]
