། ། ། ། །
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
سائلنس
19
20
It is hoped that the negotiations now in progress with the Governor of Shantung Province will enable the demarcation of the boundary of the territory to be completed in time for the collection of the spring instalment of the land tax.
As mentioned in my letter No. 81, of November 14th last, forwarding Captain Lee's 286 square report on the Reconnaisance Survey, the area of the leased territory is about two hundred and eighty six square miles, of which two hundred square miles are believed to be
miles.
200 equare cultivated.
miles.
250 140,000
£2,450.
£3,000.
£100.
$4.
The population, which is contained in about two hundred and fifty villages, amounts approximately to one hundred and forty thousand.
If the area under cultivation has been correctly calculated, the land tax will amount to two thousand four hundred and fifty pounds per annum; but it is not probable that the whole of this amount can be collected for some years, as no assistance as to the correct amounts payable by villages can be looked for from the Chinese authorities, and it will take a long time to collect accurate information on the subject.
The maximum revenue from the leased territory under all heads will hardly reach three thousand pounds per annum, exclusive of what may be derived from mining.
As regards the cost of the Establishment, I do not know whether the Foreign Office will continue to pay the actual Consular salary of Mr. Barton, but His Excellency the British Minister at l'eking is of opinion that an extra allowance of one hundred pounds per annum, payable by the Administration of the territory, should be attached to the post which Mr. Barton now fills. I concur in that opinion, and consider that quarters and fuel should also be provided, together with a forage allowance for two ponies, and a travelling allowance of four dollars a day when actually absent from headquarters on duty.
Mr. Barton will require an establishment of one Chinese writer and four official messengers, one of whom should be mounted.
The following table shows the approximate annual cost of the Commissioner's Civil Office Establishment and that of the District Officer :-
21
As regards the Engineering Establishment, I think the most satisfactory arrangement would be to pay the Commanding Royal Engineer and the Division Officer of Royal Engineers on the mainland a sum of, say, two hundred pounds per annum each, to £200. include all allowances and cover all expenses of every sort.
They would require two subordinates, and I think the best plan would be to send out two discharged non-commissioned officers of the Royal Engineers, capable of making plane table and compass surveys, to be paid at the rate of two hundred pounds per annum £200. each, with quarters, fuel and light on Class XV. scale; with forage allowance for one pony, and travelling allowance of two dollars per diem. There would be no objection to 82. the men being married.
Each of them would require an establishment consisting of one native interpreter at forty dollars per mensem, and two native assistants at eight dollars per mensem.
The cost of the Engineering Establishment would then be as follows:-
Allowances to Commanding Royal Engineer and Division
Officer
Salaries of two overseers
***
***
Four native assistants at $8 per mensem
Two native interpreters at $40 per mensem Overseers' allowances :--
Travelling
Fuel and light
Forage
Per annum.
400 400
•
40
96
...
100
...
...
...
36
Total
£1,112
40
$40.
$8.
Reference :-
C.O. 882
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO
6 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
Commissioner's Civil Office.
Per annum.
£
8. d.
European Interpreter
Fuel and light allowances (C1. XV.) Native interpreter at $40 per mensem Native writer at $40 per mensein Native messenger at $7 per mensern
District Officer.
Consular salary of a second assistant
Extra allowance
200 0 0
100
***
...
20 0 0
48 0 0
***
48 0 0
...
...
8 10 0
350
0
0
100 0 0
Fuel allowance (C1. X.)
22 0 0
Native writer at $40 per mensem
48 0 0
Three native messengers at $7 per mensem
25 10 0
One native messenger (mounted) at $8 per mensem...
10 0 0
36
842
+
Travelling Allowances.
District officer at $4 per diem, say $28 per mensem Native writer at 50 cents. per diem, say $3 per mensem European interpreter at $2 per diem, say $10 per
mensem,
Forage Allowances.
District officer, two ponies European interpreter, one pony Mounted messenger, one pony
Office Contingencies.
12
All offices (inclusive)
000
000
D
400
...
DOO
36 0
0
...
...
18 0 0
...
...
Total
18 0 0
100 0 0
£1,104
If this be approved, I would ask that the Deputy Adjutant-General, Royal Engineers,
be moved to select and send out the two overseers required.
As regards the Civil Administration work being done by Lieutenant-Colonel Bower and Mr. Schaller, I am of opinion that two hundred pounds, being one-third of Mr. £200. Schaller's salary, should be charged to the Civil Administration, and that one hundred £100. pounds per annum be granted to Lieutenant-Colonel Bower for the civil work done by him.
Allowing ten per cent for contingencies, it will be seen that the total annual cost of 10%. the Civil Administration proposed will amount to nearly two thousand eight hundred £2,800. pounds, being two hundred pounds less than the estimated maximum revenue.
The engineering work required will consist of river protective works, mule tracks, and small irrigation works for the benefit of the territory. Work is very much wanted among
the people, and it is important to show them that something is being done for them out of the revenue.
For the first few years, at any rate, it is hoped that a grant-in-aid will be made by Her Majesty's Government towards the cost of that engineering' work.
It will also be necessary to build quarters and offices for the Civil Establishment, and that should be done in the present year.
The amount of revenue to be derived from mining and prospecting rights is unknown. Applications have been made to purchase the right of prospecting for coal over about thirty-two square miles of country, and applications to purchase land for gold, silver and tin mining have been made for areas aggregating about two square miles.
In the Leased Territory there are extensive indications of former mining operations, which seem to have ceased owing to water being reached or to the sides of the shafts falling in from want of shoring. When the harvests are gathered in, it is still the practice of the natives to cradle for gold in many of the streams.
The territory has been examined by many prospectors, and all of them to whom I have spoken seem to consider that the prospects of gold and silver mining are very favourable, while those of finding good coal are only moderate.
It is known that, in spite of regulations to the contrary, some land has already been purchased from the natives, but as a general rule the prospectors have been satisfied with
£200.
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.