Foreign trade committee to United States consul, June 15, 1874

Foreign trade committee to United States consul.

a direct letter to inform.

We received your former letter touching request of the Great Northern Telegraph Company for permission to construct a land-line between Foo-chow and Amoy, and requesting us to communicate the same to the governor-general for his consideration. To that letter we have already replied, and you have doubtless received and examined (the reply).

Yesterday Prefect Chew brought word that he had a personal interview with you, at which the advantages which would accrue to China were fully discussed, and that you charged him to report to me, the Taotai, that you advised that permission should be given to construct the Amoy line, and that the work should be commenced forthwith. From this your friendly and benignant intentions are very manifest. I feel much pleased, and must, as in duty bound, report to the high officials your excellent intentions to aid to consummate this good matter.

But a business of such magnitude takes time; hence, in its inception we must not weary of the minutia, (or the preliminaries;) the distance between Amoy and Foo-chow is considerable, and unless safe plans are at first adopted, it may well be apprehended that full protection cannot be given.

The role, then, is first to send our deputies to your office to consult with the officers of the company as to rules. I, on the one hand, will depute trusty officers to travel with them over the route and examine it. Besides, I send you this special communication, trusting that you will give your attention to the matter, and name a day when the deputies may call to hold a personal consultation. You on the other hand should direct the company’s officers to go with the deputies over the route from Foo-chow to Amoy to examine carefully and locate the line, and care must be taken not to injure (impede, hinder, obstruct) the people’s fields, houses, and graves. Maps should be drawn to accompany the reports (of survey) so the business may be easily (readily) managed.

We add our respectful salutations.