甲午后“商办”铁路的一例实证——姚锡光日记所见之刘鹗

An Illustration of Railway Run by Bussinessmen after the Sino-Japanese War of 1894-1895

甲午战后,清廷诏令招商举办芦汉铁路,刘鹗作为"四商"之一起而相应,继又悄然出局。这是刘鹗个人在"借径实业,富国养民"道路上一次功败垂成的经验,也是印证近代中国铁路史上"商办"、"官办"持续争议的一个特殊标本。今据新刊《姚锡光江鄂日记》可清晰勾勒刘鹗倡办芦汉路的实相。在观念上,刘鹗认定"洋债可借,洋股不可招",对维护铁路利权不乏自觉;但在具体操作时缺乏凭借,对政府、洋行两面皆有不实之言。而清廷鼓励"商办"口惠而实不至,以张之洞、盛宣怀为代表的官方力量,更对华商缺乏信任,并相互结成利益联盟。"商办"芦汉路终究无果而终,折射了国家举办新政之际官、商不复同心的现实,也透露出刘鹗作为华商个体格于形势、举步维艰的无奈,并预示了他悲剧性人生的结局。

After the Sino - Japanese war, Liu E, a businessman, responsedthe central government＇ s call for the construction of Lo -Han railway. Although he failed, it＇ s an opportunity for him to bring his ideas ofsaving the country by industry. His experience is a specimen of the continuing controversy of ＂commercial＂or ＂government -run＂railway and is of great historical importance.