186
THE SHANGHAI TRAMWAYS SCHEME.
The Municipal Council have not yet decided on what form of electric tramways they will adopt for the Settlement, says the N-C. Daily News, although the contract of the well-known British firm, the Brush Electrial Engineering Company, has been accepted. Mr. A. B. Cook, the representative of that concern, and also of the British Electric Traction Company, two businesses which practically join interests, inter viewed, said that he could not state what types of tram and tramway the Council would select, but very careful consideration was being given to the whole matter, and he had no doubt but that the best choice would be made. The difficulties in the way of innking electric tram- ways in Shanghai a success-a complete success are very small, according to Mr. Cook. He points out how successful tramways have become in other parts of the Far East, and is of the opinion that if John Chinaman in the Straits Settlements swears by the electric tram as a locomotive, so will his brother farther north. Thore will also be the patronage of the entire foreign community
The French Municipal Council do not see their way to arrange matters with the Council of this Settlement, the N.-C. Daily News continues, and the scheme for one unbroken system of tramways supplying the residents both north and south of the Yangkingpang creek will be unrealised.
The French would have rails of different gange and cars of different shape to our own, and the results would be junctions wherever the tram lines in the concession and the Settlement met, and a consequent inconvenience. It is matter for hope that the outcome of the negotiations on the question between the two Councils will be such as to avert necessity for the introduction of two distinct types of tiamways.
It is expected that the work of construction will commence in six months' time, and by the end of 1904 the tramways should be ready for
traffic.
In con-
Mr. Cook stated that the cost would be about twenty thousand added to three million dollars, and that people desirous of taking up shares would have opportunities of doing so. A business offer has already been made to him of the whole of the required money. In securing an acceptance of the contract put forward by his firm, Mr. Cook and it is divalging no secret-had to fight against powerful local in fluence used on behalf of companies, notably the Westinghouse Company, and the Municipal Conno.1 has once again given an instance of its absolute impartiality and fair dealing where the interests of the public are concerned. clusion, it may be stated that Mr. Cook thinks business would be much more brisk in the law courts of Shanghai if, as declared the other day, the trams did the distance from bubbling Well to the Bund in ten minutes. That would mean a speed of 18 miles an hour, not counting stops on the way to take up passengers. At home the av rage speed is 7 miles an hour, with streets better adapted for tramways than our own.
THE BONIN ISLANDS ERUPTION. Further particulars of the volcanic eruption in Torijima are published in the Japanese press. According to the report of the master of the Riogo Maru, the steamer on her outward voyage called at the island on the 7th ult, and after landing some thirty coolies and visitors and some cargo, the vessel went on her course. At that time there was no sign whatever to give warning of the coming eruption. The Aisaka Muru, a sailing vessel, passed the island about 10 a.m, on the 10th inst., when a volume of black smoke was seen rising up from the sea south of the island, and a sound like the report of a gun was heard at intervals of from three to five minutes. The vessel, however, proceeded on her course without taking the trouble to call at the island, not believing the inhabitants were in any danger. On the arrival of the vessel at another of the Bonin Island group the news of the smoke seen and detonations heard was reported to the authorities, and the Hiogo Maru was immediately dispatched to Torijima. about 10 a.m. on the 16th ult. that the Hiogo Maru approached the island, and it was observed that a large volume of black smoke was rising from the Bea about a mile to
It was
[September 8, 1902.
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
the scath-west. The hage volumes of not be expected to be ideal administraters; smoke were tossed up to a height of over six effective control is necessary, and for that the hundred feet, but then would suddenly collapse | country needs to be more closely bound together and fall in white spray into the sea. This by railroads. The present railway programme occurred once in every four or five minutes, the is, no doubt, a very considerable undertaking ses being agitated to the extent of about a when everything is. paid for out of current thousand feet square. Blowing her hooter, reverne. But for work of that kind à loan is mile of the island, and saw that the black smoke the Hiogo Maru approached to within about a more than justified. The line to the North is ore that should be pushed on with considerably rose from the ceutre of the island, and that faster than the present programme allows of. sand was being emitted. No trace was seen of any inhabitants. The shape of the island appeared to have entirely changed, only about one-tenth remaining in its former shape, as far as could be judged. One part still showed traces of vegetation, but the remainder appeared to be covered with sand. As before stated, there were about a hundred and sixty persons on the island, who resided at the base of a hill facing the sea front. The houses were situated at the foot of the bill, and the fate of those who occupied them is unknown. The commence. ment of the eruption is uncer'ain, but about 10 a.m. on the 10th ult. the Aisaka Maru noticed many dead fish floating ab. ut four miles away. From this it may be infe.red that the eruption from the sea bottom commenced on the afternoon of the 9th ult.
A Japanese paper states that Torijima is also called Mikojima, and is named Bonafijin Island on charts. Its centre lies in 30 deg. 28 min. 26 sec. N. latitude and 140 deg. 14 min, from Hachijo Island. In 1887 it was leased to 2 sec. E. longitude, 170 miles south-by-east
Mr. Tamaki, who carried on the business of guano-gathering there. It is very smal, and for water on the supply provided by rain. The is without springs, the inhabitauts depending island is within the zone of the Fuji v.lcanic region, which includes the seven islan's of Izu province, Aogashims, Smith, Kozario, and the three Iwo (Sulphur) Islands, extending as far as the Marianne group. All the islands in the vicinty of Torijima have old craters upon them, though the Bonin Islands are generally free from rolcanic movements. It is believed there are a number of volcanic outlets in the se8 thereabouts. One a few miles north-west of Iwo Island was active until December. 1889, siuce when eruptions have entrel Torijima is believed to be an extinct cano, Its highest point rises 1,176 feet above the level top, but since the island was discovered by the Japanese no eruption has been recorded.
rased.
of the sea, and there are two old craters at the
A party of scientific men and others have Government to study the causes and effects of received instructions from the Japanese
the eruption on Torijima.
SIAMESE AFFAIRS.
But
THE SHAN TROUBLES.
The Bangkok Times says:-Politically the Shan rising has proved to be a small affair. The Muang Long miners depended more on dacoity than on mining for a living, and the administration of the district must have been a vested interest in carrying on both trades there.
though these people got no support from the general body of the people in the North, their getting out of hand not only produced a big scare, but has served to thoroughly disorganise the season's work in the teak trade, and there seems no certainty when it will be possible for work to be resumed. The affair, however, should serve one good purpose. The whole of what has happened has supplied-and we think the fact is recognised-a powerful argument in favour of a forward railway policy. It is not merely that had the railway to the North been completed the enormous difficulties of trans- porting the troops and their impedimenta, would have assumed small proportions; a more important fact is that easy communication reduces to such an extent the difficulty of effectively controlling the administration in distant parts of the country. In the old days the outlying Monthons largely controiled them. selves, and even in the case of such a rising as that of the Shan miners, haste would not have been essential. Bangkok would simply have asserted itself in due course. But to-day Siam is one in a way it did not use to be; and the central government is responsible for the whole administration, All officials can-
In the sam paper the following explana tion is given at the recent trouble with the Shans: Letters have now been received from the North by an European firm in Bangkok giving a clear explanation of the origin and importance of the Shan rising. The writer is an European of experience, and we believe his explanation may be thoroughly relied upon. The rising, it appears, was not in any way premeditated, nor has it had, what was greatly feared here, any support from the Chaos or from the general body of the people. As has already been see forth in the Government proclamation to the people of Bangkok, the sapphire mines at Muang Long have been worked entirely by Shans. These mines do not se.m to be of great value, and the Shan miners were given to All up their spare time with dacoity. They became such a nuisance in the distrct that orders were given to close the mines. Not unnaturally this crowd of rough and practically criminal characters objected. A force of about a cor clear them out, and meeting with resistance poral's guard was sent from Lakon Lampang to
promptly retired back to Lakon. The Shaus amazed at their easy victory over the forces of what it had never occurred to them before to the Government were carried away and did do. There seems some reason to believe that if the Lakon anthorities had acted more wisely there would never have been any rising at all. But the Shans jumped to the conclusion that the Government was unable to resist them, and after beating off the force sent against them made their attack on Muang Phrae. There they met with
no resistance, and their success on the one hand caused the most alarming rumours to spread throughout the country, and on the other brought them the support of all the "bad bats" of the dis- trict. Then followed the attack on Lakon where
fighting west on in the streets, but where they were ultimately beaten off. On that occasion very few of the Shans of Lakon joined the in-
surgents or gave them any support. Eince then the insurgents have been melting away, alarmed at the size of the force sent against them from the South. In the attack on Lakon an European concentration camp was formed in the threa houses of the Forest Department, Mr. Andersou of the Borneo Company, Ld., and Mr. L. T, Leonowens. These houses stand near one another and there the women and children were gathered and the specie stored. No attack was made ou them.
THE SIAMESE IN KELANTAN.
The following is the report of the Singapore Fre Press's Special Commissioner, who has just paid a visit to Siamese Malaya :-
Affairs in Kelautan are to all appearances. fast approaching a crisis, the result of which at present hangs in the balance. It is sufficient however to say that on the decision which the British Foreign Office arrives at during the next few weeks, hangs the future of British trade and prestige in this part of the world. Mush has been written in the Straits papers with regard to Kelantan, Patani, and other States up here, but writing as I am at the present moment from the capital of the first mentioned State, I shall go no further than endeavour to show clearly how imminent the danger to our interests is in Kelantan.
An extended
Before coming to the actual facts, one must try and impress the full meaning of any move- ment which may take place here. journey up the Kelantan river and the Lebeh bas proved to me with absolute certainty the richness of this, quite one of the richest and largest of the States morally independe it of Siam. Of her detailed resources I shall have more to say in subsequent articles, but I would mention there is a valuable export of copra and cattle to Singapore, and the country itself is suited, and is indeed under native cultivation of paddy, a very large production, tobacco, Indian corn, and other crops.
So far I have dealt solely with native produce which, whilst being an important factor, is as
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