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On my arrival at Newchwang on the 12th of this month I learnt that a hitch had occurred, and that the work was not to be proceeded with. The obstructor, I was told, was the Taotai at this port, who had raised all kinds of difficulties. I took the opportunity therefore of my first visit to him to broach the subject and inquire for what reasons the building of the weir had been postponed. The Tuotai referred me in reply to M. de Rijke's report on the possibility of a cut-off at Duck Island just above Newchwang, in which he states that the danger would become imminent if the,) diversion of freshiets through the Shuang Tai Tzu Canal was checked. Personally, he said, he fully realised the necessity of the weir, but, in view of the opinion expressed by M. de Pijke, he bad felt it his duty to lay the facts before the Viceroy and suggest the advisability of a postponement of the work pending further consideration of the situation. His views, he added, were shared by the Newchwang As the weir, Chamber of Commerce, which I subsequently found to be the case. however, which Mr. Hughes proposes to construct leaves full escape for the water above a certain depth in flood seasons, and I knew too that he had carefully considered M. de Rijke's report as well as personally examined the bend at Duck Island before making his recommendations, I suggested to the Tuotai that he should invite Mr. Hughes, whose head-quarters are at Mukden, to visit Newchwang and explain in person his reasons for believing that the weir, as be proposed to construct So much stress is laid it, would not increase the danger of a cut-off at Duck Island. in Mr. Hughes' report on the immediate necessity of closing the Shung Tai Tzu Canal, either wholly or partially, that it appeared to me of the utmost importance to The Taotai agreed to prevent, if possible, any further postponement of the work. send for him, but decided before doing so to go up to Mukden himself and find out what financial assistance he might expect from the Viceroy who had thrown the whole burden of providing the necessary funds on his shoulders, merely promising to make good any deficiency.
The Taotai returned from Mukden on the 26th instant, bringing Mr. Hughes with him. Yesterday at an informal meeting, at which the Taotai, Mr. Hughes, the United States consul, the commissioner of customs, the chairman and vice-chairman of the Newchwang Chamber of Commerce, and myself were present, the whole question was fully gone into. Mr. Hughes was able to convince us all that the weir at Shuang Tai Tzu would not increase the danger of a cut-off at Duck Island. The Taotai then referred to the financial side of the question. The cost of the weir, including two Priestman dredgers, would amount, he said, to not less than 75,000 dollars. Towards this sum be had obtained from the Viceroy the promise of a contribution of 20,000 taels; otherwise he had no funds to meet expenses. He had three suggestions to make, by which the balance could be raised: firstly, by a tax of, say, 2 per mille on imports and exports; secondly, by an increase in the tonnage dues on steamers visiting the port; and thirdly, by an increase on the tax on native boats plying on the river. The closing of the Shuang Tai Tzu Canal was an improvement from which the trade of the port would benefit, and it was only fair, be thought, that it should contribute towards the cost. If we had any other suggestions to make, he would be very glad to consider them.
I replied by pointing out that the cutting from the Liao River into the Shuang Tai Tzu Canal had been made within recent years by the salt officials to allow a passage for their boats, and it was they really who were responsible for the injury done to the river. The weir was not in the nature of an improvement, but was the only means by which the mischief could be undone, and certainly not a work for The first two which the foreign trade of the port should be called upon to pay. methods of raising money which he had suggested could not be adopted without the consent of the foreign Ministers at Peking, which, under the circumstances, it was extremely unlikely that they would grant. In any case, I said, the building of the weir was a matter of extreme urgency, which could not be delayed pending reference to our authorities without disastrous effects on the trade of the port. The only counter-suggestion that I could make was that the provincial authorities should raise a loan for the purpose on the security, if any was needed, of the boat tax, which at present brought in 20,000 dollars a-year, but which, if the work was neglected, would soon produce nothing at all. To increase this tax at the present time would be disastrous. Later on, when the measures advocated by M. de Rijke for the prevention of a possible cut-off at Duck Island and the general scheme in contemplation for the improvement of the Liao River throughout its entire course were taken in hand, I should be very pleased to submit his suggestions to my Minister for his consideration, and I had no doubt that my colleagues would be glad to do so
too.
At the same time I would not conceal my personal opinion that it would be a mistake to raise the necessary funds by a tax on the trade of the port. Any increase in the taxation either of the foreign or the native trade would merely add to the many advantages already enjoyed by Dalny over Newchwang, and make it harder than ever for this port to hold its own in the keen competition which existed between the two places. If the Viceroy could only make this clear to the Peking authorities, they might be persuaded perhaps to come to his assistance. An advance of 500,000 taels would probably be sufficient to put the river in comparatively good order as well as meet the cost of protecting the town from the danger of a cut-off,
The United States consul also said a few words associating himself with and laying particular stress on the political side of the question.
my
views
The Taotai promised to lay our views before the Viceroy, and asked Mr. Hughes to do so too. Whether his Excellency would agree to advance the 75,000 dollars that were required at once or sanction the raising of a loan for the purpose, he could not tell us.
As we knew, he was leaving Mukdeu shortly, and was consequently not so interested in the question as he otherwise would be.
The result of the interview has been to clear the situation considerably, but it still leaves us in the dark as to whether the weir at Shuang Tai Tzu will be begun at once or not. I have reported what took place at some length, as I understand that his Excellency Hsi Liang will soon be taking up his post at Mukden, and the opportunity may present itself to you of discussing the subject with him previous to his departure from Peking.
I propose to address a further despatch to you in the course of the next few days showing how the condition of the river has affected the trade of Newchwang and the benefits that may be expected from a proper system of conservancy,
I have, &c.
F. E. WILKINSON,
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