鄭觀應的鐵路觀及其在粵漢鐵路的實踐

Zheng Guanying’s understanding and opinion on railway is an important part of his restoration ideas. His view of railway is mainly reflected in the following aspects: Railway is of great significance to national security and development, and railway right should be owned by the state; funds needed for the construction of railways should be raised through commercial public offerings, and the construction process should consider the locals’ feelings. China should learn from other countries’ advanced railway construction technology and actively cultivate local talents. From 1900 to 1907, Zheng served as the general office of Guangdong-Wuhan Railway Corporation, which solved the conflicts between local residents and squires in the process of land purchase internally and eliminated the conflicts in the process of cooperation with The American China Development Corporation. His reform of the form of stock offering and personnel appointment and dismissal promoted the development of the company and railway construction, but also attracted “Against Zheng”. Finally he chose to resign on the grounds of “avoiding people who are not interested”. The practice of road construction, accompanied by reform, false accusation and agitation, to some extent deepened Zheng Guanying’s understanding of the importance and difficulty of railway construction.