Papers Relating to the Foreign Relations of the United States, Transmitted to Congress, With the Annual Message of the President, December 3, 1877

No. 70.
Mr. Seward to Mr. Evarts.

United States Legation,
Peking, May 12, 1877. (Received June 29.)

No. 239.]

Sir: I have the honor to hand to you herewith a slip cut from the North China Daily News of the 20th ultimo, which reports that the foreigners employed in the Woosung Railway service have been re-engaged for a further period of eighteen months. The railway has not yet been turned over to the Chinese, but it would seem that the latter must have intimated their intention to operate it upon coming into possession and their desire to retain the foreigners mentioned. This result is satisfactory and justifies the statement heretofore made by me that the government do not really regard railroad enterprises with disfavor, although too little in earnest, or too fearful of the consequences of their introduction, to enter upon their construction.

I have, &c.,

GEORGE F. SEWARD.

[Inclosure.]

[From the North China Daily News.]

Shanghai, April 20, 1877.

Yesterday the foreign employés on the Shanghai and Woosung Railway commenced the term of their second period of engagement of eighteen months. It was at one time thought uncertain whether at the expiration of their first term of eighteen months, some, or even all of them, would not he sent home. The fact of the second term being commenced without any change, speaks favorably for the permanency of the line, and the probable extension of railway enterprise in China.