Benj. P. Avery to S. Wells Williams, December 10, 1874

No. 134. Mr. Avery to Mr. Fish.

Sir: As another slight evidence of the disposition of the Chinese to adopt tentatively such foreign improvements as they are led to believe may be advantageous to themselves, I inclose a copy of a letter to Mr. Williams from Mr. James Henderson, a British subject lately resident at Ten-tsin, who has been employed by Li-Hung-Chang, the viceroy or governor-general of this province, to purchase in England the machinery and appliances necessary for the scientific working of coal and iron mines at Pung Chung, in the province of Chili.

I am not disposed to exaggerate the importance of this new enterprise, and am aware that, like many other promising things in China, it is liable to be interrupted and abandoned through some contingency or freak that elsewhere would have no weight. Yet it is really a hopeful sign when one Chinese official of the rank and influence of Li-Hung-Chang is willing to brave the prejudices and superstitions that heretofore opposed the working of mines by foreign methods; and if this experiment succeeds, it can hardly fail to be followed by others, leading to the martial development, at least, of the great mineral resources of this empire.

The economical working of coal and iron deposits must ultimately be followed by the construction of railroads, to bring the product to the open ports, where it would meet a large foreign demand. One step of progress will follow another, and thus it becomes interesting to watch the east that may be taken.

I have, &c.,