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of Tientsin would be protected and the navigability of the Haiho improved. The financial and administrative difficulties which will probably arise are admittedly serious, but it is hoped that these will be overcome and that the sanguine anticipations entertained of ultimate success will be realised at some future date It would be well, of course, if arrangements could be made to fix the constitution of the Commission on a permanent basis with a recognised official status, and with provision for continuity of policy and ultimate expansion on broad lines. Referring to the development and progress of this Commission, the Customs Trade Report for 1919, which dealt exhaustively with Tientsin Conservancy affairs, states that the two previous Reports referred to the Commission for the Improvement of the River System of Chihli and the circumstances which led up to its establishment, adding that its preliminary functions comprised a comprehensive survey of the province and the execution of the Niumutun Cutting, etc. The main function of the Commission, of course, is the investigation of the river system of the province with a view to the formulation of the so-called Grand Scheme. Topographical and Hydrometrical Survey Departments were therefore organised, and their activities began in the summer of 1918. During 1920, the surveys of the rivers to the northward of Tientsin were completed, and a topographic survey of the country lying between the Yungtingho and Peiho was approaching completion. Towards the south, river surveys of the Weiho, Tangho, Shaho, and Tzeho were completed, in addition to topographical surveys of several localities. The total area surveyed during the year amounted to 11,419 square kilometres. As regards the actual construction of works, two schemes of a flood-protective nature were put in hand, viz., the outer Tientsin South Dike and the Machang Canal escape channel. In the former case the construction and cost of the earthwork were undertaken by a syndi cate of local gentry, the Commission on its part being responsible for the necessary masonry works.
It was hoped to make the railway embankment serve as an effective dike in continuation of the new portion of dike now constructed by heightening its formation level, but the railway authorities refused to sanction this proposal. A scheme is therefore being investigated for extending the Tientsin dike to the south of the railway, but this will cost considerably more. The new outlet channel for the Machang Canal, commenced in October, 1920, has been completed. The Upper Tombs Bend cutting was commenced in June, 1921, and is expected to be com- pleted in the autumn of 1923. This cutting will shorten the Hai Ho river by 6,000 feet and will do away with four bad bends. It is satisfactory to record that in 1920 the financial position of the Commission was considerably improved by the guarantee of a monthly grant of Tls. 30,000, which is sufficient to cover the ordinary recurring expenditure.
Mention was made in the report of the Commissioner of Customs for 1920 of the Peiho reversion scheme and of the advisability of concentrating energies and resources on the diversion of the Yungtingho. A scheme for the latter was worked out at an estimated cost of $17,500,000, to which a further sum, varying from $2,000,000 to $10,000,000, may have to be added if it is finally decided to construct a protective sea-dike to prevent deterioration of the Hailio channel, regarding the necessity of which opinions are divided. At meetings which took place in July and August, 1921, the members of the Commission came to the conclusion that in the present financial state of China it would be impossible to procure the funds necessary to finance either the total Peiho reversion or Yungtingho diversion schemes, both of which they considered were essential for a radical solution of improvement of the system of the rivers in the northern portion of the province. They, therefore, decided to recommend a scheme for the partial reversion of the Peiho, estimated to cost $2,500,000, of which the Commission had in hand about $2,250,000, as this would ensure fulfilment of all the conditions requir ed by the Haiho Conservancy Board and would materially improve the navigation for boat traffic between Tientsin and Tungchow. It was recognised, however, that the flooding of the Paotihsien and adjoining districts would not be fully provided against, although the effect of floods would be reduced by the amount of water drawn off by the Peiho. The Chinese Government has been approached by the President of the Commission for sanction to carry out the partial diversion scheme.
Before closing these remarks upon the conservancy interests of Tientsin, it is fitting to refer to a very important scheme recently brought forward by Mr. Maze, the Commissioner of Customs there, viz., his proposal to establish a deep-water port at the river entrance below the town of Taku. The construction