WE GIVE THE BOOK FREE, POSTAGE PREPAID for only Two New Subscriptions at our fixed price of $1.50 each. Or, the book free, postage prepaid, our "History of China,” and one year's subscription to The Great Round World THESE THREE FOR ONLY $1.75 CASH SEND AT ONCE TO THE GREAT ROUND WORLD CO. The question of transportation in the Borough of Manhattan daily affects the millions who live in New Copyright, 1899, by Universe Publishing Company. affects the comfort of millions more who at some time during the year make the metropolis their temporary home. During the past week the question of better carrying facilities has become far more promising than it has been for years, and there is a possibility that before next summer the first steps will be taken to provide rapid transit in reality. Congested traffic has forced a demand for an underground tunnel railway system. The main arteries are covered by electric, cable, elevated, and horse roads. There must be a roadway for wheel traffic. The Metropolitan Street Railway Company proposes to spend from $50,000,000 to $60,000,000 in building and equipping an underground electrical system. On page 465 a map appears which shows the parts of Manhattan which the proposed system will serve. Transfers will be provided at various points, and express trains and locals will be run on separate tracks. The stations for through and local service are shown on pages 467 and 471. The Rapid Transit Commissioners are in favor of the proposition, with the exception that they are unwilling to grant a perpetual franchise, nor are they willing to concede to the Metropolitan Company the exclusive right to all the tunnel facilities. They want to be in a position to sell the right of way for pipes, wires, etc., to other companies engaged in furnishing light, heat, power, cold air for storage and ventilation, etc. These privileges are far more valuable than that of allowing a tunnel railroad system to be operated. It is probable that an agreement will be reached. The Partition of China 461 NCURRENT HISTORY Recent events seem to be hastening the partition of China. Great Britain has always insisted that the Empire must not be divided; but matters have now come to such a pass that it is necessary that the Powers shall decide upon the future of that country. The Partition of China. A most interesting account of the deposition of the Emperor has been given in the British Blue Book which has recently been published. A "Blue Book" is a volume or pamphlet containing reports of government officials, and is published for the information of the British Parliament. It appears in blue paper covers, and for this reason it is called a Blue Book. There was a Blue Book issued about Fashoda, another about the Soudan, and, in fact, every important occurrence brings forth its own Blue Book. In these volumes all the official documents and letters that have passed between the Governments concerned are printed, and the whole story is spread out before the reader's eyes. The Chinese Blue Book is one of the most interesting volumes issued, and reads, it is said, like a thrilling romance. It tells of the escape of Prince Kang Yu-wei, the Chinese reformer who was being persecuted by the Dowager Empress, because he had influenced the Emperor to make the reforms to which she and the con servative Mandarins so strongly objected. The documents and letters show that but for the interference of Sir Claude MacDonald, one of the highest of Chinese officials would have been executed with no pretense of a trial, and that the Emperor would also have been killed if the same official had not called the attention of Li Hung Chang, the great Chinese statesman, to the bad effect such proceedings would have on the future attitude of Europe towards the socalled Flowery Kingdom. That Great Britain has about made up her mind that the hour for the division of China has arrived is shown by the support she is giving to Belgium, as well as to Italy, in the latest demand for a concession of territory. The Belgians have asked for a grant of land at Hankow, and to the surprise of the Chinese Government Sir Claude MacDonald visited the Tsung-liYamen (Chinese Foreign Office), and expressed the wish of his Government that the request should be granted. The Chinese officials reminded the Minister that Great Britain had opposed the building of the Belgian Railroad, and said they could not understand why the British Government should now be anxious for Belgium to acquire territory in China. Great Britain's support of Belgium seemed to them inconsistent and unreasonable, but they nevertheless decided to oblige the Belgians and save further trouble. Another important fact which points towards the practical partition of China is the announcement that the Anglo-Russian convention dealing with British |