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them. It was originally stated that the arsenal would be shut down, but recently, owing, it is said, to repeated attempts on the part of Japanese to lease it, the Viceroy has decided to keep it open under the superintendence of the French-trained native officers.
The arsenal was founded in 1868 under the direction of two French officers, with a staff of some thirty officers and overseers, who remained until 1872, when the Chinese engineers who had been trained under their supervision took entire charge. French engineers were again employed from 1875 to 1878, and from time to time up to 1897 foreign-trained native engineers were in charge. It was during this latter period that the dock at Pagoda Island was constructed, it having been commenced in 1887. In 1897 French officers again took charge.
The position of the arsenal was at the time of its foundation excellent; vessels could easily go alongside the wharf, and there was deep water and good anchorage in the stream immediately opposite the frontage. Unfortunately, however, the barrier, laid down during the war with France in 1884, between Foochow and Pagoda has completely altered the course of the river, and caused the arsenal frontage to silt up. If the removal of this barrier would result in the river resuming its former course, there would be a great improvement, not only to the arsenal and dock entrance, but also to navigation in general.
Owing to the absurdly high prices asked by the Chinese land-owners, it was impossible to obtain land necessary to build the dock in the immediate vicinity of the arsenal, and the authorities were compelled to find a site further down the river, and at some little distance from the arsenal itself. A site was eventually obtained at Pagoda Island, and there in 1887 was constructed a dock capable of taking in the cruisers--- 2,200 tons---which were projected in that year. The entrance to the dock remained free for some ten years, when a sand-bank, which now seriously obstructs the approach, commenced to form. This bank could easily be dredged away, and, as there is a current of nearly 4 knots at that point, little labour would be required after the first dredging to keep the entrance quite clear.
The arsenal proper has a river frontage of about 500 metres, and a depth of about the same measurement. It contains three building slips, a crane capable of lifting 40 tons weight, a "Labat" patent slip, 90 metres in length, for vessels up to 1,000 tons, and coal depôt. Behind the slips are the workshops, and behind the coal depôt the foundry, electric light plant, and the general store. Outside the arsenal compound there are workmen's houses, the English and French school buildings, and the Chinese Director's yamên.
Forty steam-vessels have been built, four of which were over 2,000 tons displace- ment. These were constructed, machinery included, entirely at the arsenal by their own workmen.
The French school was intended for the training of constructing engineers, while the English school was for the instruction of naval officers.
A large number of overseers and petty officers also received their training in these schools. But owing to lack of funds the buildings have fallen into disrepair, and the schools are practically empty, so that in order to bring the arsenal back to anything approaching its former degree of usefulness, complete reorganization and liberal expenditure of money is now necessary.
The position of the arsenal has of late years been severely criticized, but it must not be forgotten that the present condition of its water frontage, as also the entrance to the dock, is entirely due to the Kusban barrier; and it is not unreasonable to surmise that the abolition of this obstruction would remove, or at any rate modify, the rapidly growing sand-banks in the vicinity, especially at the arscual frontage, where, before the laying down of the Kushan barrier, it had become necessary to protect the bank from encroachment by the river.
Peking!
The following extracts on various subjects from native newspapers may be of interest:~~
August 25.-"The Ministers of the Revenue Council propose placing foreign custom-houses at Su-lo Fu (Kashgar) and Ili Fu (Kuldja) in Hsinchiang, with Chinese and foreign officers in charge of them. They are also negotiating with the Russians a Tariff suitable to the trade conditions of the frontier."
August 25.-"The Li Fan Pu intends to devote strenuous efforts to the formation of a Mongolian army. A Memorial will shortly be sent to the Throne on the subject."
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August 23.-"The Government is considering a vigorous effort to suppress the custom of foot-binding, by reducing women with bound feet to the level of the non- respectable classes, so that they cannot share in any honours or titles conferred upon their husbands or sons."
Currency. August 23.-" A Committee of Princes and Ministers has been meeting in the Grand Secretariat to consider the currency question, and it has been decided to adopt Professor Jenks' proposal for a gold basis, and to prohibit the import of foreign coins and notes, or the unofficial printing or making of notes, so as to secure uniformity."
Taku Forts. August 26.—“ A proposal has been made to obtain the consent of the Powers to the rebuilding of the forts at Taku, which form the gate of Peking."
Monœuvres. September 1.-" Owing to the disturbed state of the Yang-tsze region, there will be no autumn manoeuvres this year."
Railway Construction in Chinese Turkestan. September 9.—“ A. Russian merchant has proposed the joint undertaking of railway construction in Ili and Hsinching. The Wai-wn Pu has refused, and the Yu-chuan Pu has sent telegrams to the Governor of lli urging him to find money without delay to undertake it himself and anticipate the foreigners, and also to consider the opening of trade marts as a safeguard to the rights of China,"
Political Situation. September 11.-" The dispatch of Commissioners to England, Japan, and Germany to study the Constitutions of those countries is due to the advice of Yuan Shih-k'ai, who has also sent up a Memorial containing detailed proposals on constitutional government in ten Articles."
"It is also said that Wang Ta-hsieb and Yu Shih-mei were appointed to these Commissions in order to get them out of the way, Wang being a friend of C'hu Hung-chi and Yu Shih-mei having been a protégé of Ts'en Ch'un-hsuan."
And the same paper on the same day stated that: "The Government is thinking of bringing back Tang Shao-yi to the Wai-wu Pu."
Peking-Hankow Railway. September 13.-" Yuan Shih-k'ai is reviving the question of redeeming the Peking-Hankow Railway, and is resolved to bring it to a successful issue. Instructions have been given to Yang Shih-ciri, on his mission to the South Sea ports, to collect money for this purpose from the Chinese communities."
On the 18th September a paper stated that: "On the 10th September the Director- General of the Peking-Hankow Railway waited upon Yuan Shih-k'ai to confer on the subjcet of the redemption of the railway, which he has been deputed to propose to the Company. One of the Yuchuan Board says that it may possibly be brought about this year, as the Government is very pressing in the matter."
Dalai Lama,
September 18.-"The Dalai Lama has again petitioned through the Grand Council for leave to return to Thibet. The Rescript to the Council's Memorial directed that for the present he should not return.”
Germans in Shantung. September 18." Agreements have been signed for German Mining Concessions at five places in Shantung."
September 25.-"The Germans have sent fifty German students to travel in Shantung, and have engaged expectant officials to show them the topography, the trend of the hills, the watersheds, &c., of which they are to make plans. The object of the expedition is not apparent, and the Chinese Government feels ninch suspicion, It is intended to address the German Minister on the subject, and ask for the recall of the students."
Political Situation. September 18-Chang Chih-tung has been having audi- ences on consecutive days, to which only he himself was admitted, and at which the matters spoken of are kept so secret that they are not even confided to Prince Ch'ing and the other members of the Grand Council.”
Peking-Kalyan Railway.-Great activity is being shown along the whole section under construction from Nankow to the top of the pass, and a great number of workmen are employed. They sleep in small mat sheds erected among the boulders by the side of the stream, and appear to work from early morning till late at night. I have the honour to report the following on the authority of the Chinese Engineer-in-chief' :-----
Three miles of rails have been already laid inside the valley from Nankow. As regards the tunnels, two have been completed, the third (1,200 feet long) has been driven through, as also two-thirds of the fourth (3,450 feet long). The rails are not laid as yet through any of the tunnels. Work has already been begun at the north side of the pass, and about two-thirds of the earthwork to Huailai is finished. The line is to be opened to traffic as soon as the rails reach Huailai. The Engineer-in-chief
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