United States Consul to Benj. P. Avery , United States, February 19, 1875

Mr. De Lano to Mr. Avery.

Sir: I regret to inform you that the opposition of the Tartar general to the Foo-chow-Amoy telegraph scheme has culminated in an order being issued by the viceroy—under pressure, no doubt—to certain of his subordinates, who, at the time the permission to erect the line was first given, were members of the foreign trade committee, “to proceed to the spot and tear down the poles,” and that the order has been so far executed that all of the second and third sections, each ten miles of the line, have been destroyed. The first section of ten miles still stands intact.

The officers who have so far executed these orders are a man named Chew-Seng-e, lately subdirector of the trade committee, and a military mandarin stationed inland. The information which I gather from Chinese sources, believed to be reliable, is to the effect that the first attack made on the company’s workmen, January 23d, was by a squad of soldiers in disguise. Subsequently the greatest liberty seems to have been given the people in respect of plundering the company’s property, and that of their employés, but they have carefully avoided offering personal violence to the European staff who have steadily retreated toward the settlements as the work of destruction and plunder has progressed. The authorities here have been advised from day to day by the acting Danish consul of what was going on, and demands made upon them for protection to life and property, but they have persisteutly declined to move in the matter, declaring that the whole opposition came from the people, who, they say, they have not the power to control, while the people have frankly stated that they were proceeding under official direction; that they did not wish to harm any one, but that being allowed to take the company’s property, the opportunity could not be lost. In one instance about 150 telegraph-poles, which were lying at one of the company’s stations, were taken possession of by the villagers, who said to the superintendent of construction, “If you settle this affair and the Foo-chow mandarins allow you to build the line, we will return the poles, otherwise we will use them to build a joss-house with.” The two officials alluded to above have kept in the background, not having at any time been seen by the company’s men.

The Europeans (Danes) have been most prudent and forbearing, having almost entirely avoided altercations with the people, the result being that the peasantry are still without objections to the line being constructed through their country. It is nevertheless impossible to calculate upon the extent of opposition which might be met with from the local officials, and the literati further inland, were the line hereafter to be built.

I am still of the opinion that the Tartar general is the opposing power, and that neither the viceroy or Taotai are inimical to the telegraph. It is a singular fact, that the officials have not based their opposition to the scheme upon the want of imperial sanction, but solely upon the alleged opposition of the country people.

The Foo-chow-Pagoda line has been repeatedly interrupted of late, it is believed by thieves, who have cut the wire and carried off sections of it, doubtless for gain, but the officials decline to order their arrest, notwithstanding they have promised in an official dispatch to use all means in their power to give that line full and complete protection.

In short, I may say that the officials have acted, and are now acting, in very bad faith towards the company, and without being able, I think, to justify their conduct, while the representatives of the company have pursued a wise and most commendable policy, thereby avoiding the serious difficulties which would have resulted from a collision with the country people. They will try by all honorable means to maintain the Pagoda line and the section of the Amoy line which have been left standing.

I am sending you by this opportunity a Foo-chow newspaper which contains two or three articles on the subject under notice.

I have the honor to be, &c., &c.,