PASSENGER TRANSIT IN SHANGHAI.

Consul-General Goodnow sends from Shanghai, June 3, 1899, a letter to a Chicago firm,* from which the following information is extracted:

In this consular district, passenger transit on land is effected by— (1) Rickshaws and wheelbarrows propelled by men. This is the general method.

(2) In Shanghai, most foreigners and some Chinese have horse carriages. This is limited to Shanghai, as the outside Chinese roads are not adapted to four-wheeled vehicles.

(3) From Shanghai to Woosung (14 miles) is a steam railway. The traffic is yet very light and does not require special regulations. Transit on water is effected

(1) By steamboats.

(2) By native junks (with sails), lorenas, and boats with oars. All transit business is in the hands of private enterprise. The fare by rickshaw is 15 cents Mexican (7.2 cents United States) per hour; by wheelbarrow, about 7 cents Mexican (3.4 cents United States) per hour; by donkey, 90 cents Mexican (43 cents United States) per day; by steamer, about 10 cents (4.8 cents United States) per mile, including food and lodging; by rail, about 6 cents (2.9) cents United States) per mile.

PROPOSED RAILWAY CONSTRUCTION IN

FORMOSA.

I have been unable as yet to obtain any detailed information regarding the new railway line to be constructed in the island, as Chief Engineer Hasegawa, the officer in charge, is at present in the south. Only 2,000,000 yen ($1,000,000) have been appropriated for the year's work, and, I am informed by the chief of the communication department, it will be expended as follows: Work will be at once commenced at Takow on the Takow-Tainan branch, a line 28 miles in length. The land is quite level, and the work presents no difficulties, save the bridging of two small rivers. Trains will be running over the Takow branch in two years.

The present northern line runs from the Tamsui River in a southerly direction 40 miles to Hsinchiku (Teckcham). It was built by

To which Advance Sheets have been forwarded.

the Chinese and completed in 1893. From the Tamsui River opposite to Twatutia, the foreign settlement, the line runs over nearly level ground for some 7 miles. It then ascends a table-land, on a maximum gradient of 1 in 30, and for the rest of the distance, with the exception of a few miles outside of Hsinchiku, it zigzags through the hills on the right side of a picturesque valley, up and, down grade as though built on the model of a corkscrew. It has always been unsatisfactory, and portions of the line have been frequently destroyed by storms and freshets. Formerly, a bridge across the Tamsui River permitted the trains to run into Twatutia; but this, as well as several bridges a few miles from Hsinchiku, was destroyed during last year's great typhoon, one large iron bridge being carried 87 yards by the force of the wind and current. At present, therefore, the line does not touch either of the original terminals.

The Japanese find that this line must be almost entirely rebuilt. A new bridge nearly 2,000 feet in length and costing some 800,000 yen ($400,000) will be constructed across the Tamsui River at Twatutia, and the route will follow in a general way the original road, though while passing through the hills it will be on the left side of the valley and by the aid of two tunnels and many cuttings will be much straighter than the old line. The bridge will be commenced this year, and the line probably finished in two years. From Hsinchiku (Teckcham) to Tainan is 145 miles, and it is the intention to build the railway between these two points as soon as the work mentioned above is completed. This line will require numerous and expensive bridges and some thirteen tunnels. When completed it will give a railway service from Kelung to Takow, a distance of 205 miles.

I am pleased to be able to state that the chief of the communication department informs me that in all probability the locomotives, rails, and bridge material will be obtained from the United States, and that the order will, he believes, go to the Carnegie Company, of Pittsburg. I am unable at present writing to give information as to the extent of this order, but will write on the subject later. The gauge of the present line is 3 feet 6 inches, the rails 36 pounds, and the ten locomotives used are of English and German manufacture. The new locomotives will be heavier than the ones at present employed, and the rails 60 pounds.

TAMSUI, June 6, 1899.

JAMES W. DAVIDSON,

Consul.

RAILWAY CONSTRUCTION IN THE TRANSVAAL.

The Department has received a report from Consul Macrum, of Pretoria, dated June 13, 1899, announcing the publication in the Government Gazette of the following call for proposals for the construction of railway lines in the South African Republic:

Request for tenders for the building of

(1) Railway from Belfast, via Dullstroom, to Lydenburg, connecting at Belfast, or vicinity thereof, with the railway line from Komatipoort to Pretoria.

(2) Railway from Pretoria, connecting at the Pietersburg-Pretoria railway station, via Skinnerscourt and Krokodilpoort, to Rustenburg.

In the terms of legislative resolution, article 1814, of November 23, 1898, notice is given hereby that applications or tenders are expected at the office of the commissioner of railways at Pretoria

Till Thursday, August 3, 1899, for the Rustenburg line.
Till Thursday, October 12, 1899, for the Lydenburg line.
On both days at 12 o'clock noon.

Applications must be tendered as follows:

(1) The amounts of contract must be given in detail. must be given.

(2) Desire as to payments.

The full contract price

(3) Rate at which Government 4 per cent bonds will be accepted in payment. Full information as to conditions is to be had at the office of the railway commissioner at Pretoria on and after July 1 next upon payment of £1.

Tenders must be written in the language of the country (Dutch), and must be marked, respectively, "Tender voor den bouw der Spoorweglyn Pretoria-Rustenburg" and "Tender voor den bouw der Spoorweglyn Belfast-Lydenburg."

Further information is to be had at the offices of the Government commissioner of railways and the technical inspector and head engineer for railways in the South African Republic.

Plans will be at the office of the technical inspector and head engineer of railways

For the Rustenburg line on and after July 7 next.

For the Lydenburg line on and after September 7 next.

IMPORTERS IN THE SOUTH AFRICAN REPUBLIC.

Consul Macrum sends from Pretoria, May 11, 1899, the following list of the leading importers in that city and Johannesburg, as of possible value to manufacturers and exporters of the United States:

BOOTS AND SHOES.

Johannesburg.-Anglo-Austrian Company, P. Barnett & Co., T. W. Beckett & Co., T. Birch & Co., Chudleigh Bros., Cooperative Store, W. M. Cuthbert & Co., Curtis & Co., F. Dana, Green & Co., M. W. Kneebone; Harvey, Greenacre & Co.; Letherby & Mottram,

M. A. Lyons & Co., Miller & Bland, H. W. Markham, Paddon & Brock, Payne Bros., H. Plaut, Store Bros., Reid & Jackson, F. Stevens; Thorne, Stuttaford & Co.; U'Ren & Cary.

Pretoria.-Beckett & Co., Cuthbert & Co., Green & Co., Robt. Hamilton; Henwood, Son, Soutter & Co.; John Jack, Limited; A. Johnson & Co., Lilienfeld & Co., Millar & Co., Payne Bros., Frank Stevens.

TOBACCO.

Johannesburg.-Acme Company, Anglo-African Agency, Atlas Tobacco Works, Barsdorf & Co., P. Burmeister & Co., Driman Bros., Findlay & Co., Fine Bros. & Co., J. A. Freeiks, B. Gundelfinger, W. B. Hall, Holt & Holt, A. H. Jacob, Ph. Japhet, C. Langenstrass, M. Levin & Co., Herman Myers, Peerless Cigarette Company, Rand Cigar Factory; Rolfes, Nebel & Co.; South African Tobacco Company, Seelig & Co., Stern & Co.; Weiner, Schwab & Co.; Wolf & Elias.

Pretoria.-De Jager & Co., M. Hartfield & Co., D. Levin, A. A. Marks, Moosdyk & Co., B. van Erkom.

BICYCLES.

Johannesburg. -The Adler, Coventry Cross Cycle Company, Cycle Bee Hive, M. Dent, Defiance Cycle Company, Gladiator Cycles, W. B. Hall, Humber Cycle Depot, James & Hewstone, Metropolitan Cycle Works, Monopole Cycle Agency, New Howe Cycle Agency, Osmond Cycle Company, G. H. Clapp, Rover Cycle Company, Rudge-Whitworth Company, Shimwell Bros., F. & P. Weldon, Steen & Schou, G. H. Preston, Transvaal Cycle Company, Wright & Tacchi, E. Williams.

Pretoria.-Crescent Cycle Depot, H. H. Fraser, Humber Company, F. J. Pemberthy, Sluyter Bros., Transvaal Athletic Depot, W. A. Vissers.

FANCY GOODS.

Johannesburg.-Argus Company, Bockris Bros., C. Bockris, W. G. Botha, Brister & Co., W. E. Burmister, Continental Fancy Bazarre, Emanuel & Co., B. Gundelfinger; Hubner, Van Herwerden & Co.; Kensington Art Repository, S. J. Kerdachi, G. J. Kettle & Co., Lazerus & Rosenfeld, D. Lavenstein, Meedelssohn & Bruce, H. Michaelis, Navum Bros., H. Plaut; Riege, Maas & Co.; W. Saphra, Theo. Seaf, Transvaal Warehouse Company, M. P. Valentine, Y. Veldhuisen; Wiener, Schwab & Co.; W. Zimmerman.

FURNITURE.

Johannesburg.-L. Bacchioni, Barsdorf & Co., Beckett & Co., Belcher Bros., Brister & Co., Cox & Collinett; Gordon, Mitchell &

Co.; S. Gordon & Co., W. B. Hall, H. G. Hawkins & Co., Henwood & Co., Hillson & Taylor; Hirsh, Kahn & Co.; Holt & Holt, H. M. Light, T. G. Litchfield, Noble & Jardine, Phillip Bros., Remington Typewriter Agency, E. & A. Rogaly, Rose Bros., Titlebaum Bros.; Thorne, Stuttaford & Co.; Julius Vogl, R. I. Wilson, Wooff & Elias, W. Walker & Sons.

Pretoria.-Beckett & Co., R. Boukamo, Cairncross & Zillon, Cooperative Stores; Harvey, Greenacre & Co.; Henwood & Son, Hoyer & Bock, Kantor & Shiff, Looyen & Voorloop, K. C. Lucouw, Millar & Co., Store Bros., G. C. van den Gen, Van Willes & Co.

GLASS AND CHINA.

Johannesburg. -Alcock & Co., H. J. Gerdes & Co., Ed. Meyers, S. Podlashuk, D. Sniders & Co., Transvaal Warehouse Company, E. A. Webb, E. Wood, Zin & Nochemowitz.

GROCERIES AND CANNED GOODS.

Johannesburg.-P. Amm & Sons, A. Atkins & Co., Beckett & Co., James Bowie, Brown Bros., P. Chat & Co., W. Cullen & Co., R. L. David, M. Davies & Co., De Vries & Co., Aug. Edlund, Freeman & Boulding; French Grocery, Limited; Freiborg & Co., Frysh & Chainowitz, B. Gundelfinger, Harwin & Paterson, J. V. Hoffman, Sol. Liknaitsky, J. Lucas, P. McIntosh, McKee & Co., Merkel & Friedlansky, Paddon & Brock; Posthmma, Zwarenstein & Co.; Segall & Cheifitz, Sachs & Liknaitsky, Shlom & Ginsburg, B. Stein, M. Stolzenburg, A. E. Street, W. G. Sweeting, A. Tarboton & Co., W. Thrupp & Co., C. H. Thrupp & Co.

Pretoria.-Beckett & Co., Cairncross & Zillen, Cooperative Store, Diemeer & Co., Ettin & Kwitz, H. M. Galgut & Son, Izaak Haarhoff, F. J. Haarhoff & Co., B. Gundelfinger, E. G. Heather & Co., International Cash Store, A. Johnson & Co., Adolph Kraut, H. Leibman & Co., David Leith & Co., Tilanus & Van Griethuysen, Van Kerchoff & Co., G. C. van den Gen, Wulfse & Sievers, H. Zagt, Zaidel & Katzenellenbogen.

HARDWARE.

Johannesburg.-J. P. Ablett & Co., T. Alcock & Co., Barsdorf & Co., Beckett & Co., Beerstrecher & Co., Boustred & Co.; W. P. Browe, Limited; B. M. Cotton & Co., Douthwiate & Co., Dunton Bros., H. Farmaner & Co., A. Fass & Co.; Felber, Jucker & Co.; J. Forrest & Co., French South African Trading Company, H. Fuchs & Co., Griffiths & Co., H. J. Gerdes & Co., B. Gundelfinger, W. B. Hall; Hanson, Schrader & Co.; H. C. Hawkins & Co., Henwood & Co.; Hirsch, Loubser & Co.; W. Hoskin & Co., W. F. Johnstone & Co., C. J. Kettle & Co., Arthur Koppel, J. Lawrence & Co., Lee & Mc