Résumé of orders sent to To the Intendant of Hinghwa, Tsüenchau, and Yungchun circuit, at Amoy, August 15, 1874

Résumé of orders sent to the intendant of the circuit of Hing-hwa, Tsuenchau, and Yung-chun prefectures by the trade committee at Foo-chow.

Mr. De Lano, the United States consul, has, on behalf of the Great Northern Tele graph Company, applied for leave to put up a line between Amoy and Foo-chow, for the accommodation of officials and merchants. As the British and French consuls previously united with him in asking for liberty to erect one from the city overland to Pagoda anchorage, which is now in operation, and a submarine line is to be laid on as far as Formosa, it is also decided by the provincial authorities to allow this.

In order to carry out this project, a deputy named Yu Tsi-tsing is to accompany a man from the company to examine the route, and see that it does not interfere with the fields, houses, or graves of the people in erecting the posts and stretching the wire.

However, as the matter is of much importance, and lest the ignorant villagers may break the line in their willfulness, you are required to intimate distinctly to the local authorities the need of issuing public notifications upon the matter, so that they may understand it, and the line may not be injured.

This is the particular object of this communication, to which please give attention.

August 7, 1873.

I have received the following directions from the governor-general, in response to the report sent him about the request made by Consul De Lano that a telegraph-line be put up between Amoy and Foo-chow: “The erection of a line between these two cities will be very advantageous in military operations, and should therefore be permitted. Let an officer be soon ordered to go over the whole line and see that the telegraph nowhere interferes with the fields, gardens, houses, or graves of the people. Let rules be drawn up with the company’s agent, and orders be sent also to the local officers to give attention to the protection of the wire, so that it may last long. All these things must be carefully arranged, and afterward made known to the various officers interested.” I have also received a reply from the governor agreeing in substance.

From the above, it is plain that in carrying out such an enterprise every care must be taken to have the line run clear of peoples’ fields and houses, and the posts set so as not to interfere with things; and this was provided for by appointing you as a special agent to see to it. The preceding responses having been received, it will also be best for the end in view to send another official, of a higher rank, with you and the company’s agents to go along the whole route and confer with the local authorities, explaining everything, drawing plans of the course the line goes, and having a general oversight throughout. It is supposed that Pan Wan-fung, an officer of the internal revenue in Kan-Kiang, will be a suitable person to appoint for this mission.

I shall report all these things to the high provincial authorities, and have now also the honor to make known to you the steps which have been taken, so that you may act upon them.