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    {
        "id": 288833,
        "series_id": 27,
        "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine",
        "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案",
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        "document_key": "CO129-159 - Sir Kennedy - 1872 [9-12]",
        "page_number": 206,
        "title": "CO129-159 - Sir Kennedy - 1872 [9-12]",
        "content_text": "808\n\nTHE LONDON AND CHINA TELEGRAPH.\n\nmeans we do not know. Why it is so we do not know. It behoves the Government to know whether any persons are engaged in introducing a false lead currency, depreciating the coin it has issued, and making endless trouble and anxiety to the masses of the poor people to take effective measures to protect the value of its currency to terrify forgers and prevent the issue of any currency that will destroy its credit and the value of its coin,\n\nThe province of Bahang was originally a Laotian region. During the wars with the Laos the Siamese conquered this region, and eventually placed over it a Siamese governor. It is now regarded as Siamese territory, and is the extreme limit of Siam proper on the north-west. Rahang on the west joins British Burmah; on the north it joins several Laotian provinces that are again subject to Chienguai. Chiengmai is a Laotian province, and is still governed by Laotian princes. His Majesty the King of Siam usually concurs in appointing the successor of any Chiengmai Laotian prince who may have deceased. Persons who may be obnoxious to the laws of Siam often escape to Chiengmai, and while there the Siamese do not usually succeed in gaining possession of their persons. Is Chiengmai a conquered province? Is it tributary to Siam, and to what extent; or is it simply under the protection of Siam, as was Cambodia? All these are questions full of interest.\n\nIt is said that Messrs. Vrooman and Culbertson made the distance from Bangkok to Rahang in twenty-two days. Last week the Rev. Mr. Culbertson returned from Rahiang to Bangkok in four days. This is very rapid travelling by the boats usually employed for such purposes.\n\nBORNEO.\n\nSARAWAK.\n\nWe learn from the Sarawak Gazette that the Qhop Estate and other property of Baroness Coutts, at Lundu, was sold by public auction on the 19th September, realising about $1,500. The house and plantations at Tanah Puteh were bought for $800 by Ken What, a Chinese merchant in the Bazaar, who intends to present a large piece of ground to his countrymen for a public burying-place, and keep up the house for the accommodation of pleasure seekers from Kuching.\n\nThe steamer Firefly, formerly the yacht belonging to the Honourable the Resident of Sarawak, is to run in the Rejang river, between Sibu, Kanowit, Matu, and Rejang, a run of rather more than one hundred miles.\n\n[Nov. 18, 1872\n\n4. The actual excess of revenue over expenditure for the year 1871 was $151,592.\n\n5. The sub-committee think this Supply Bill may be at once explored.\n\n(Signed)\n\nJ. W. W. BIRCH.\n\nJ. J. GREENSHIELDS.\n\nT. SHELFORD.\n\nThe Government, with a view to the public convenience, has procured a considerable quantity of silver and copper small coin, which the Treasury obligingly issues at par. The Kling money-changers, however, are turning this to account, by drawing coin from the Treasury, for which they charge 2 per cent. on issuing it in the square and elsewhere, persistently refusing to abate a single pie, on the ground that small change is very scarce. Even Chinese shopkeepers demand 1 per cent. It would be a boon to every chief if a plan were devised whereby this annoying imposition might be avoided.\n\nThe state of affairs in Deli is thus sketched in the Batavia Handelsblad. The reports as to how matters stand in Deli are far from favourable. The troops suffer much from sickness, above all from fevers, and as we have said before from diarrhoea and swollen feet. If the Hill Battas make common cause with the enemy, the situation will become an untenable one. As to the bentings, we are informed that they call forth admiration as well by their position as by their plan and strength. Without suspecting it, one finds one's self sometimes suddenly opposite a benting barely fifty paces off. These bentings are so built that grenades scarcely do any harm; by means of a thick bamboo covering, they have been made shell-proof. It will be seen that our brave troops have a hard task before them.\n\nA writer in the Straits Times says: In the eighth paragraph of the Governor's Minute on the sale of the land in connection with the building and repairing of the markets, laid before the Legislative Council on Sept. 26 last, his Excellency reports that at Malacca about 8,000 square feet of land near the Tron Bridge had been sold for $5,000, which sum is to be appropriated for the erection of a commodious market; I was at the spot very shortly after the sale, and was surprised to learn that a plot of land, containing, in my opinion, more than 8,000 square feet, adjoining the plot sold by Sir Harry Ord, had been given to a rich Chinese at Malacca by the Government for his sole use and benefit. The fortunate recipient of this noble gift has erected a block of substantial shops on the site, which is likely to yield a rental of $90 per mensem at least. It appears to me very desirable that the public should be informed upon what grounds such valuable public property has been given to a private individual. A commission is needed to inquire into, and report fully upon, the whole of the circumstances connected with this singular transaction, for which Sir Harry Ord is not responsible--the gift having been made, I believe, under the auspices of Capt. Shaw, the Lieut.-Governor, and Colonel Anson whilst officiating as Governor.\n\nWe cull the following items of News from the Penang Argus: Mr. Baumgarten, the Registrar of the Supreme Court here, is about to retire on a pension, and is to be succeeded by Mr. Bradford from Penang, Mr. Harvey taking the latter's post. Colonel Anson will be back from home by February next. The Government have extended the term of service in the Straits to enable him to carry out the Judicial changes which are forthcoming. Recent failures in Singapore tot up to $700,000, the Chetties suffering to the extent of $450,000.\n\nThe Sarawak Sugar Company's creditors have held a meeting in the Court House, when a first and final dividend of 0 per cent. was declared.\n\nThe Government advertise that the coal seams of Simonjan in the Sudong river and Silantek in the Batang Lapar, about four to five feet thick, may be worked by an individual or company on a payment of ten cents per ton brought to grass. The Simunjan seams are about 34 miles from a navigable river, and the Silantek seams are close to a small stream navigable for boats only, and about twelve miles from a large navigable river. The Governor has applied for a further extension of his offer. The Government offers a free passage by the S.S. Royalist from and back to Singapore to any person desirous of examining the seams.\n\nGovernment proposes to erect suitable building for a Sanatarium on one of the minor peaks of the Matang mountain, if there is any prospect of invalids availing themselves of such a locality. Dr. Houghton specifies the following advantages:-A S.E. aspect, temperature ranging from 66 deg. to 88 deg., abundance of excellent water, perfect accessibility from Kuching by water, a magnificent view over Sarawak, Lundu, Sudong, &c., and a gentle ascent from the foot of the mountain, admitting of invalids being carried up in chairs by coolies, always obtainable from the Rajah's Coffee plantation, through which the road passes.\n\nSTRAITS SETTLEMENTS.\n\nSINGAPORE.\n\nThe dates by this mail extend to the 13th Oct. No later mail had been received from London.\n\nCommercial Report.\n\n(For dates see first page.)\n\nIMPORTS.\n\nYOKOHAMA. There had been a good demand for Grey Shirtings and prices showed an improvement; sales had been on a good scale, and the market at the close was firm, especially for the heavier weights. Cotton Yarn had not met with so much inquiry, and prices were scarcely so high as those last quoted. Mousselines were lower, and with the exception of Black Velvets and Lastings, which were in good demand, there had been no particular change in other Woollen fabrics. Quotations:-Grey Shirtings, 7 lbs., $2.30 to 2.35 per piece; 8 to 8 lbs., $2.62 to 2.57; 9 lbs., $2.95 to 3. Cotton Yarn, No. 18 to 24, $40.50 to 42 per picul; Nos. 28 to 32, $47.25 to 48.25; Nos. 38 to 42, $45 to 48.\n\nHIOGO-OSAKA. Cotton Yarn: A fair amount of business had been done, and a good demand continued for Nos. 28/32. Nos. 1/24 were saleable, but owing to heavy stocks, prices were weak. Nos. 38/42 neglected. Grey Shirtings: The market showed some weakness during part of the month, and prices declined about 2c. per piece; they had since recovered, however, and closed firm. Taffachelas, Turkey Reds, and Velvets, in good demand; other Cottons more or less neglected.\n\nThe sub-committee appointed to consider the Second Supplementary Supply Bill for 1871, having examined the statements framed by the Auditor-General and published in the Blue-book of 1871, and which are separately laid before Council to-day, beg to report as follows:-\n\n1. This Supply Bill appears necessary to cover the only expenditure which exceeds the items provided for in the estimates and supplementary estimates of 1871.\n\n2. The sub-committee desire, however, to call the attention of the Council to the fact that the revenue for 1871 showed a net increase over that of 1870 of $26,055, and the expenditure a net decrease of $5,264.\n\n3. The actual revenue, as compared with the estimates for the year, showed an excess of $40,111—and while the expenditure was estimated at $1,870,006, it proved to be only $1,244,111, thus showing a net saving of $121,895.\n\nTo some extent\n\n204\n\n809\n\nwhich, with a sprinkling of Fychows, turned the bulk of the settlements. Only two or three chops of Pingsang had found buyers. The market remained quiet but firm.\n\nFoochow-Business during the week had been on a moderate scale and there had been no alteration in prices. No transactions had taken place in Oolongs. Congou: Settlements 12,732 chests at Tls. 5 to Tls. 20. The bulk of the transactions had been in Teas costing between Tls. 15 to Tls. 18, and the greater part was intended for the Continent. Settlements for England had been small. Arrivals, 18,750 chests. Souchong: 1,075 chests taken at Tls. 15% to Tls. 27. Arrivals, 700 chests. Oolongs: Owing to the continued firmness of holders no transactions had taken place. Arrivals, 4,950 half-chests. Scented Teas Settlements, 1,470 boxes at Tls. 17 to Tls. 20.4. Arrivals, 2,000 boxes. Flowery Pekoes: Settled 86 chests at Tls. 27. Arrivals, 150 chests.\n\nTIENTSIN. There had been a slight improvement at this port, not only were the waters on the plains no higher, but the dealers had made some small profit on their late purchases of Drills, Jeans, and common T-Cloths. Black Lastings and Velvets had been in some request, but Grey and White Shirtings were dull of sale, and rates unremunerative.\n\nHANKOW. Settling day had passed satisfactorily, but the subsequent improved demand previously looked for had not been realised. Holders were disposed to accept lower rates for all Cotton Goods. Of Woollens: Camlets was the only fabric wanted, but this article was scarce and H.D.B., of good assortment, had been placed at Tls. 16.40 per piece, to extent of 300 pieces. Lead: L.B. was quoted Tls. 1.60 to 4.65 per picul, but business had been very slack.\n\nSHANGHAI. The enquiry for Plain Cottons had continued, but the result, so far, had been unimportant, and had fallen far short of the business usually passing at this season of the year. Buyers had been deterred from operating in Shirtings and T-Cloths at all events as freely as they wished, by the quantities of goods forced upon them, and the consequent declining tendency of prices.\n\nGrey Shirtings: 7-lb. Grey Shirtings in fair demand and scarce, 8lbs. in good enquiry but easier; 7 lbs. Tls. 1.65 to 1.67; 8 lbs. Tls. 1.77 to 1.79 for Mildews; and Tls. 1.78 to 1.88 for sound common to best ordinary; Dewhurst's Eagle chop, Tls. 1.88. White Shirtings: 66-reed, Tls. 2.00; 60-reed, Tls. 1.80; lowest counts, Tls. 1.50. T-Cloths: Fair sales, but anxiety to realise had caused a further fall in value. Common 6 lb. Tls. 1.13 to 1.15; Dewhurst's T. quality Tls. 1.32; Mexican qualities, Tls. 1.45 to 1.52. A sale of 8lbs. Dewhurst's M.T., Tls. 1.72. Drills and Jeans: Both commanded a ready market at quotations; 13 lbs. to 15 lbs. Dutch and English Drills, Tls. 3.2 to 3.15; Jeans, Tls. 2.5 to 2.12 for English, Tls. 2.27 for 8 lbs. Dutch. Fancy Cottons: Chintzes, assorted, Tls. 1.41 to 1.60; Gentian Shirtings, Tls. 2.60; best Turkey Reds, Woollens: Tls. 2.60 per piece; other articles altogether neglected. Market dull; Camlets, Tls. 16 to 15. Other goods had received no notice. Metals: Scarcely anything doing.\n\nHONG KONG. The demand for Raw Cotton had strengthened with the approach of cool weather, and fair sales were being made at slightly better prices. Yarns were very little inquired for, and Nos. 16/24 and 28/32 could only be placed at lower rates. Drills only were in demand, and these were wanted at better values. In Woollens, Blankets had declined. All kinds of tin were slow of sale. Tin Plates were $1 per box lower. Quicksilver was steady. Rice had been in some demand for shipment to Swatow, but at the close the market was quiet at former quotations.\n\nFoochow. Sales had been effected of 1,000 pieces 8 lbs. Grey Shirtings at $2.77; 2,500 pieces 7 lbs. T-Cloths at $2.05 to 2.85; and 400 pieces 8 lbs. T-Cloths at $3.75.\n\nSAIGON. Although stocks were rather moderate, sales, with the exception of 6 lbs. T-Cloth could only be effected at reduced rates. Quotations: 8 lbs. Grey Shirtings, $2.62 per piece; 7 lbs., $2.20; 6 lbs. T-Cloth, $1.70; 5 lbs., $1.42; 4 lbs., $1.25; 4 lbs., $1.10.\n\nEXPORTS.\n\nTEA.\n\nYOKOHAMA. The amount of business done had about been on a par with that previously noted; settlements, chiefly of the medium grades, amounted to about 8,000 piculs, and had been made at gradually advancing prices, the market closing at fully $2 to 3 over last quotations for all except the finer grades, which remained as last stated. The quality had been fair; there was still a marked absence of common leaf, anything below medium being of very inferior quality. Supplies had been meagre, and stocks were reduced. The export had been as follows: Per P.M.S.S. Co.'s steamer China, to New York, 189,010 lbs.; to Chicago, 42,065 lbs.; to Boston, 6,100 lbs.; to San Francisco, 100,934 lbs.; per Emulation, for New York, 500,795 lbs.; per Etta Loring, for New York, 206,761 lbs.; per Leander, for New York, 707,702 lbs.; per Emma Augusta, for San Francisco, about 200,000 lbs.; and per Ceylon, for New York, 445,000 lbs. Including these two latter cargoes and that of the outgoing steamer, the export would be nearly two million pounds in excess of that of last season at the same date. Quotations:-Common, $5 to 28 per picul; good common, $20 to 31; medium $33 to 36; good medium, $37 to 40; fine, $41 to 43; finest, $44 to 47; choice, $50 and upwards.\n\nHIOGO-OSAKA A fairly active business had been transacted. Prices at the commencement of the month to within a few days of the close were easier, but owing to large purchases having been made, a hardening tendency was apparent at the close for all grades. Low grades were still scarce and dear. Settlements for the month from 15th Aug- were returned at 5,500 piculs, making a total of 26,000 piculs for the season, against 16,000 piculs for the corresponding period last year. Stocks were estimated at 5,000 piculs. The Caller On was loading for New York, and the Engelbert would take about 75 tons to San Francisco. The Jessie Isabel was about to sail for New York, with 293,064 lbs. Quotations Common, $16 to 20 per picul; good common, $21 to 25; medium, $26 to 30; good medium, $31 to 35; fine, $36 to 40; finest, $42 to 46; choice, $48 to 53; choicest, $54 and upwards.\n\nHANKOW. More business and a general advance of Tls. 1 per picul was reported. Settlements and reshipments for the week about 11,000 chests, Stock 3,300 packages, against about 1,400 last year.\n\nExport to date 51,000,000 lbs., against 53,000,000 lbs. last year at same time. Exchange, 6 m.s. Credit paper had advanced to 8.5 per tael, and the rates on Shanghai had risen to 3 per cent. for sight drafts and 3¾ per cent. for 10 days' paper.\n\nSHANGHAI. Black: The business in Congous had been unimportant, but former rates had been fairly supported by the extreme firmness of holders. Settlements for the week, 5,489 chests, at Tls. 14.50 to 30 per picul; stock, 29,120 chests, Green: No feature worthy of any special comment had presented itself; a little more had been done since exchange weakened. Attention had chiefly been turned to Moyanes.\n\nAMOY. Only about 1,000 half-chests of Ooloongs had been settled, and buyers were not operating owing to the uncertainty about the course of the exchange market. Tea-men were anxious to sell, but would not make a sufficient concession to counterbalance the advance in exchange. The steamship Teviot had sailed for New York with about 3,000 half-chests Amoy Ooloongs; the steamship Surprise was expected, and the Anglo-Saxon was the only vessel on the berth for that destination. Arrivals of Ooloongs to date, 174,916 half-chests: settlements 158,813, and stock 16,103 half-chests.\n\nCANTON. There had been but little inquiry for any descriptions, and the market had continued very quiet.\n\nSILK.\n\nYOKOHAMA. The market had continued to be fairly active, and a good business had been done, settlements amounting to about 1,800 bales, Hanks sorts as usual forming the bulk. Prices for both Hanks and Oshus (with the exception of Hamatskis which showed a still further decline) had advanced about $20 per picul. Quotations:-Hanks, Mybash and Sinchu, extra 32s. 6d., best 30s. 3¼d. to 31s. 0d., medium 28s. to 29s. 6d., inferior 24s. 6d. to 27s. 3d.; Oshu, extra 32s. 6d., best 31s. 6d. to 31s. 3d., medium 28s. 9d. to 29s. 10d., inferior 27s. 3d. to 28s.; Hamatski, medium 26s. 6d. to 27s. 6d.; Coshu, best 28s. 0d., medium 24s. 3d. to 26s. 7. Silk Worms' Eggs: Total arrivals to date about 750,000 cards, and settlements estimated at 450,900 cards; prices for green annuals quoted as follows- Best $8 to 9.75 per candil, good $2.50 to 3, medium $2 to 2.50, inferior $1.75 to 2; white annuals were worth $3 to 3.90 per card.\n\nSHANGHAI. At the close of last mail a considerable business was done, and buying had continued, partly stimulated by a lower exchange, and about 1,700 bales had found buyers at prices varying very little from those given in our last report. Good Silk had been steady and in fair demand, while common descriptions were neglected and declining. Tsatlee Market nearly cleared of Chop Silk, as also of good medium sorts, and in some instances contracts had been made for delivery of these latter for next mail. Hangchow: Sellers of medium at Tls. 400 to 465, but no buyers. Hainings: In consequence of the absence of demand for Raw Hainings last season, the bulk of the crop had this year been re-reeled. Export of Raw Haining little over 200 bales Stock of 1,100 bales last year, and holders of good Silks very firm. 250 bales included 100 bales of Fatmow's chop, which were held for Tls. 520 for No. 9 Taysaam: No settlements of Kaling reported. No. 3 to 3 Chincum bought at Tls. 400, Shaouhing at Tls. 380, and ordinary Laeyang at Tls. 345. Re-reeled: Fair Haining Tls. 500 to 570, medium offering at Tls. 510 to 550, Tsatlee still in over-supply, and prices weak.\n\nCANTON. Little or no change had taken place, and inactivity had prevailed. Prices were slightly easier, but no actual reduction had been made. The fifth crop, which continued to arrive, was of very poor quality--flabby but dry. The sixth crop, it was reported, will be no larger than the fifth, cold winds, which had come earlier than usual, having damaged the mulberry trees. The high rate of exchange and discouraging news from home still kept buyers out of the market, and in consequence the settlements were very small--under 50 bales; the present mail would, however, take forward some 300 bales of previous settlements. Stock, 2,000 bales Tsatlee, and with the sixth Crop and remainder of the fifth at least 3,500 bales more would be offered on the market this season. Several contracts for Rereels had been entered into, but for cargo ready for shipment there was no demand; some dealers were keeping back their stocks on the strength of the inferiority of the crops to arrive.\n\nThe Messageries Maritimes Co's steamer Pello, with the present inward French mail, arrived at Marseilles on the 12th inst. at eight A.M. She brings 68 passengers, 1,014 bales of silk, 1,912 packages tea, 309 packages copper, 1,868 bales tobacco, and 340 packages sundries for London. The cargo will be forwarded to London by the Company's steamer Copernic, and may be expected here about the 26th inst.\n\nBIRTHS, MARRIAGES, AND DEATHS.\n\nBIRTHS.\n\nALLEN-On the 10th Nov, at Singapore, Straits Settlements, the wife of Willworth Allen, Esq., of a daughter.\n\nBADGE-On the 20th Sept., at Hiogo, the wife of G. Badge, Esq., of a son.\n\nBOWRING-On the 10th Nov., at Torquay, the wife of Lewin B. Bowring, Esq., C.S.I., of a son.\n\nGERNON-On the 20th Sept., at Singapore, the wife of P. Gernon, of a son.\n\nGILLILAN-On the 4th Nov., at 4, Lyndhurst-road, Hampstead, Mrs. S. Gillilan, of a daughter.\n\nGRABHAM-On the 19th Sept., at her residence, Bangkok, Siam, Mrs. Graham, wife of Geo. G. Grabham, of a son.\n\nNOETZLI-On the 25th Sept., at Foochow, the wife of O. Noetzli, Imperial Maritime Customs, of a son.\n\nSWINHOE-On the 28th Sept., at the British Consulate, Ningpo, China, the wife of Robert Swinhoe, Esq., of a son.\n\nDEATHS.\n\nMACCAUGHEY-On the 6th Nov., at Akeley Wood, Backs, Hugh Wade Maccaughey, late of Wimbledon and Marine-parade, Brighton, in his 75th year.\n\nSOUCHAY-On the 11th Nov., at Withington House, Manchester, Charles Isaac Souchay, aged 78.",
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        "id": 407568,
        "series_id": 27,
        "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine",
        "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案",
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        "document_key": "CO129-338 - Public Offices & Others - 1906",
        "page_number": 32,
        "title": "CO129-338 - Public Offices & Others - 1906",
        "content_text": "## 28 \n\n6 \n\nthe Shansi Concession) before commencing other operations, but I was unable to encourage the idea. His Excellency also deprecated any immediate attempt to work the other four fields in Shansi, namely Yuhsien, Luanfu, Tsechou, and Pingyang.\n\nI impressed upon his Excellency the urgent importance of closing all the new mines recently opened within the area covered by the Syndicate's Application for Permit in Pingtingchou, but I could not obtain a definite promise that this should be done, although I pointed out that the Syndicate was being all the time thereby unfairly placed more and more at a disadvantage while the case was still under discussion. On this point I shall probably have some representations to make to your Excellency before long.\n\nHis Excellency En Shou concurred with me in thinking that it would be advisable for me to come to an understanding with the Wai-wu Pu on main principles and then visit Taiyuan Fu to settle details when his Excellency would be more conversant with the local circumstances and the situation generally.\n\nThanking your Excellency for the full assistance given me in this matter, I have, &c.,\n\n**GEORGE BROWN.**\n\nSir,\n\n(Signed)\n\n## Inclosure 5 in No. 1.\n\nPeking Syndicate to Mr. Carnegie.\n\nTien-tsin, August 2, 1908.\n\nI HAVE the honour to inform you that the discussion of the rights of the Peking Syndicate in Shansi, which arose from the refusal of the Shansi Governor in October last to grant the permit to open a coal mine, has at length reached another phase. After much procrastination, all previous attempts to obtain a further meeting with the Wai-wu Pu having been ingeniously turned aside, I succeeded in arranging a conference for the afternoon of Friday, the 27th ultimo. Their Excellencies Tong Shao Yi and Chu Pa Fei with Mr. Un (a junior) received me and they were afterwards joined by his Excellency Lien Fang.\n\nI at once opened the business by remarking that the losses incurred by the Syndicate through its not being allowed to carry on its work in Shansi were very heavy and the matter was becoming more serious every day; that I had been very patient and had given every opportunity for the consideration of the question, but that my Board of Directors were now most urgently pressing for a settlement and I trusted to their Excellencies to bring this about at once and to instruct the Governor of Shansi to issue the permit to which we were entitled. The text of the Agreement was referred to and I pointed out that by the terms of the second paragraph of Article 1 the Governor was to report to the Tsung-li Yamên and \"at the same time issue a permit for the mines to be opened without the least delay.\" His Excellency Tong pointed out that the Governor was to see that the proposed works were not injurious to the place and said that if, as Mr. Jamieson proposed, all the people were to be driven away from the permit area this would be injurious. I denied that Mr. Jamieson had suggested such a thing. His Excellency said that the natives could not be prohibited from mining with native methods. I said that the Syndicate had no desire to interfere with natives mining in a small way for local consumption, but that it would object to their competing with the Syndicate. At present the Syndicate which held the Agreement was not allowed to mine, whereas others, who had no Agreement, were mining and putting coal on the train of the approaching Cheng Tai Railway. I had also heard reports of foreign capital and machinery being obtained from Tien-tsin firms. His Excellency Tong gave me his word that this was not so, and attested that no other foreign interest than that of the Syndicate would be admitted. He then went on to say that the permit applied for covered too great an area. The Tongshan Colliery, the second largest in the world, he asserted, covered only 2 or 3 li, while the Syndicate wanted 40 li. Only a small piece of ground could be wanted on the surface for the mine which could extend underground for any distance. I explained that we must protect our workings from being invaded by shafts sunk in proximity to ours. As to the size of our permit area,\n\nI would submit on Tuesday, the 31st (his Excellency having assured me that I should be welcome at the Wai-wu Pu on any Tuesday or Friday afternoon), maps showing the extent of our application and also the new mines sunk within our claim to which we objected and the encouragement of which I said was grossly unfair; they ought to be stopped at once.\n\n7 \n\nFurther desultory argument ensued and we touched on the subject of sole right which arose through his Excellency remarking that we had not the monopoly. I asked whether the Chinese Government, assuming for the moment its willingness, had the right to make an agreement similar to that held by the Syndicate with any other foreign Company for the five specified districts of Shansi. He said emphatically \"No.\" That admission I contended showed that the Syndicate had the monopoly and therefore the sole right. I left with his Excellency a short statement of the object of my visit of which I have the honour to furnish a copy. On Tuesday the 31st I took two maps to the Wai-wu Pu, one showing the permit area applied for last October, as well as all adjacent native mines old and new with their histories, and the other showing the permit area and the new mines opened in and around its borders up to April last. Their Excellencies Tong Shao Yi and Chu Pa Fei with Mr. Un received me, and evidently took great interest in the maps. His Excellency Tong said that the Wai-wu Pu would like to have some guarantee that the Syndicate would not, after receiving the permit, hang it up and do nothing. They wanted to know that a proper sum would be spent in earnest mining. I said that the Syndicate's work in Honan showed that it was prepared to devote its energies and funds to the business thoroughly. There, unprecedented difficulties had been met with and had been resolutely faced one after another with expenditure of money and hard work. The last overwhelming inrush of water just as coal had been won was a terrible disappointment, but the Syndicate had not been deterred, and had at heavy cost ordered more pumping machinery to cope with it. His Excellency said that he would examine the maps carefully, and I proposed that I should call again on Tuesday the 7th. His Excellency, however, expressed himself as anxious for a long discussion at our next meeting which he fixed for Thursday the 9th at 3:30 PM., when there would be freedom from interruption, and he agreed that I should ask Mr. Reid, the Syndicate's Engineer-in-chief to attend and furnish expert information and personal knowledge of the locality.\n\nI have the honour to inclose copies of the two maps.\n\nI have, &c.,\n\n(Signed)\n\n**GEORGE BROWN, Agent-General.**\n\n## Inclosure 6 in No. 1.\n\nStatement by Mr. G. Brown.\n\nTHE Agent-General of the Peking Syndicate would once more point out the serious losses that are being incurred through the failure of the Chinese authorities to carry out the provisions of the Shansi Concession which was sealed by the Tsung-li Yamên and formally approved by the Throne.\n\nThe advantages that would accrue to the people of Shansi, to the people of China generally, and to the Chinese revenue from the faithful carrying out of the agreement and the utilization of the mineral resources of the Shansi Province, which are at present lying idle and undisturbed of little good to any one, have long ago been fully set forth and explained. The Syndicate would regret to see on the part of the Chinese officials and people an attitude of apathy and indifference to the benefits to be so easily, so inexpensibly, and so speedily obtained. But the Syndicate is a commercial undertaking, and is concerned in the first place with the objects for which it was created. There is no dispute that under the terms of the Concession the Syndicate has most important rights in Shansi. It is debarred from exercising these rights and deriving legitimate profit therefrom by the refusal of his Excellency the late Governor of Shansi to grant a permit. This deprivation means a heavy loss day by day to the Syndicate. The new Governor, his Excellency En Shou, has now had ample time to study the question in the light of local conditions. His Excellency Tong Shao Yi, to whom the matter was referred for consideration, has certainly been able to master the details and see where justice lies. The Agent-General therefore trusts that he may be able to report to his Board in London without delay that the Chinese Government has ordered the issue of the permit and that the rights of the Peking Syndicate are no longer under a ban.\n\n(Submitted to their Excellencies of the Wai-wu Pu the 27th July, 1906.)\n\n`[2183f-4]` \n\nD \n\n...",
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    {
        "id": 411433,
        "series_id": 27,
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        "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案",
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        "document_key": "CO129-343 - Public Offices & Foreign Office - 1907",
        "page_number": 610,
        "title": "CO129-343 - Public Offices & Foreign Office - 1907",
        "content_text": "## Population\n\n4\n\nTimber stored in the yards. Cargo lightered to and from steamers in the outer anchorage is conveyed from and to the town by the Ta-tung-kou.\n\nDuring the military occupation of Antung and Tatungkou, the Japanese military authorities employed a Japanese naval officer to buoy the channel of the Yalu. The Japanese Consul informed me that he had recommended the Corean Government to re-engage this officer, who is now at Yongampho, to continue his work in 1907, and he had hopes that this step would be taken. A chart of the mouth of the Yalu up to Antung, of which I enclose a tracing (`in original`), has been drawn by this officer and can be obtained in Tokio.\n\nA Japanese census, taken on the 31st December, 1905, showed that the winter Chinese population of Antung was about 25,000. The inhabitants are mainly natives of Shantung, earning their living here but returning from time to time to their native province. There is a large immigration in the summer, and the summer population is estimated to be over 60,000.\n\nThe Japanese Consul said he reckoned there were now about 5,000 Japanese in Antung. In the summer of 1906, there had been 8,000, and in 1907, he expected to have 9,000 or 10,000 Japanese subjects under his charge. At Tatungkou, there were only thirty or forty Japanese, most of whom were connected with the military timber yard or Japanese restaurants.\n\nNot more than 1,000 Coreans live in Antung, but, especially during the winter, large numbers cross the river daily to seek employment.\n\nI was unable to obtain figures regarding the Chinese population of Tatungkou, but it is considerably smaller than that of Antung.\n\n## Japanese Settlement\n\nDuring their occupation of Antung, the Japanese military authorities made extensive purchases of land on the right bank of Ch'i-tao-kou below the Chinese town. The Japanese Consul informed me that the sale had been compulsory and the price arbitrary, and the title-deeds and receipts were now deposited at Port Arthur. These sales have, of course, not yet been registered by the Chinese authorities, who do not recognize the status of the Settlement. Mr. Okabe is now acting as the agent of the military authorities in managing transactions in land.\n\nThe area of the Settlement is 9,000 mow, and it extends from the Ch'i-tao-kou along the Yalu for a distance of about 2 miles to a point just beyond the Liu-tao-kou, or Sixth Creek, and from the river bank to the hill slopes on the north-west.\n\nThe low-lying portion of this tract is subject to the same floods as the Chinese town, and the military authorities have accordingly protected the north-eastern portion by an earth embankment and a moat. The dimensions of this embankment are approximately height, 13 feet; breadth on top, 13 feet; breadth at base, 85 feet. Towards the hills, the height is less. The moat or ditch, which is inside the embankment, only extends along the north and east, and is of similar dimensions. In it is collected the drainage of the Settlement and is pumped out into the Ch'i-tao-kou by a large pumping plant. The Mukden-Antung Railway forms the south-western side of the embankment. The portion thus inclosed is not one-third part of the whole area of the military-owned property. It has now been laid out in broad streets crossing at right-angles, the principal roads being roughly metalled. The central and north-eastern quarters are those chiefly built on, and about one-third is at present occupied. Two main streets connect the Settlement with the Chinese town, which is adjacent on the north-east. Chinese heavy carts are not permitted to enter the Settlement, and all traffic is confined to wheel-barrows and the trolleys referred to later on. The statement that Chinese rickshaws are not allowed in the Settlement seems unfounded, for there do not appear to be any in Antung. There are only a few Japanese rickshaws, which charge exorbitant rates. The cart traffic to and from Tatungkou is diverted to the foot of the hills so as to avoid the Settlement.\n\nIn regard to the future status of the Settlement (the whole), the Japanese Consul thought that ultimately it would be divided into two parts, one portion being a Japanese Concession, and the other being reserved for the Mukden-Antung Railway.\n\n| Category | Description |\n| --- | --- |\n| Land Lease | Land in the inclosed section is leased on twenty years' terms at prices ranging from 5 to 10 yen a tsubo (36 square feet) |\n| Foreign Acquisition | There is no objection to foreigners acquiring sites in the Settlement |\n\nA small portion near the Ch'i-tao-kou has been given to a Chinese connected with the Military Administration, but I do not think other Chinese are allowed to obtain sites in the Settlement. The Consul did not give me a definite answer on this point.\n\nLarge numbers of Japanese still reside in the Chinese town, and the troops are mainly quartered there in private houses. The Chinese authorities want all private persons to be directed to remove to the Japanese Settlement, on the ground that they originally came in the wake of the military, and are alleged to be paying no rent for the houses they occupy. The military have paid nothing for their quarters as yet. Mr. Okabe says he is standing out for the right of free residence in the Treaty port.\n\nOn the map of Antung and district which I enclose, and which is a tracing of one lent me by the Japanese Consul, it will be seen that the land for several miles along the river front from the Japanese Settlement down to beyond San-tao-lang-t'ou is marked as having been purchased by Japanese. The Japanese Consul informed me that these purchases were private transactions effected by about five persons, among them two banks, during the military occupation. The sales have not been registered by the Chinese authorities, and they expressed to me a hope that they would be able to buy out the Japanese at the price originally paid. Mr. Okabe thought this would be a matter for individual bargain, and the present owners would probably try to get the best price they could.\n\nThe effect of these purchases and the acquisition of the Japanese Settlement is that the whole of the river front, along which there is deep water from the Chinese town to San-tao-lang-t'ou, is in Japanese hands, and not only is there no site left for a general foreign Settlement if desired, but any foreigner wishing to obtain sites for wharves and godowns will be forced to purchase at fancy prices from a ring of Japanese owners.\n\nOther tracts of land are also in Japanese occupation, whether by purchase or otherwise, I was unable to ascertain. A large timber-yard occupies a situation above the Native Customs. A saw-mill and commissariat godowns cover a large area above the Ta-sha-ho, and I noticed that the eastern slopes of Yuan Pao Shan, a hill to the north of the railway station, were staked off for the use of the Mukden Railway.\n\n## Railways\n\nThe terminus of the North Corean Railway is at New Wiju, opposite the lower end of the Japanese Settlement. The relaying of this line, which is of standard gauge, is now in progress, and tunnelling operations are being carried on at various points. The journey from Seoul to Fusan now takes one day, and from Seoul to New Wiju two days, the break being made at Pingyang. Freight per ton-mile is 1 cent on the Fusan line, and 5 cents on the Wiju line. It is said that very little goods traffic has passed over this line hitherto, the rolling-stock being required for construction purposes, and the rate of freight high. Since the Yalu closed, however, a considerable amount of stuff is coming forward by rail, and I saw American flour, cigarettes, grain, and other goods being brought over the ice from New Wiju to Antung.\n\n## Bridge\n\nIt is proposed to bridge the river just below the inclosed portion of the Japanese Settlement. On the Corean side, a 20-feet embankment has already been constructed up to the river bank, having room for one track of standard gauge, as an approach to the bridge. Its height above the present level of the ice is approximately 40 feet. On the Chinese side, the track of the light railway through the town has been brought round the back of the Japanese Settlement through cuttings in the hills to a point opposite. I attempted to obtain some details regarding the bridge from the Japanese Consul, but he apparently had little information about it. He said that full details could only be obtained from the North Corean Railway Administration at Seoul.\n\nHe told me, however, that its height is to be 40 feet above high-water level. It will not be a swing bridge. The material is on its way to Antung, and construction will be commenced in the spring and will take two years at least. The construction is being undertaken by the North Corean Railway, but the cost, which will be between 2,000,000 and 3,000,000 yen, will be shared equally by the Corean Railway and the Mukden-Antung line. The bridge will belong in equal parts to the two railways. The station at New Wiju will be retained as a goods station.\n\nThe construction of this bridge will effectively prevent any steamers and most sea-going junks from reaching either the native town or the inclosed part of the Japanese Settlement, and will naturally enhance the value of property below it.\n\nNo preparations have yet been made for the reconstruction of this line on the standard gauge.\n\n## Mukden-Antung Railway\n\nIt is expected that the South Manchurian Railway Company will take over the railway in the spring and will commence relaying it. By the terms of the China-Japan Convention of 1905, this has to be completed within the next two years. No compensation has yet been paid for the land occupied by the railway, and the question is awaiting arrangement by the Commissioners appointed by the two Powers. The Vice-President of the South Manchurian Railway Company has recently arrived.\n\n5\n\n604",
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    {
        "id": 411789,
        "series_id": 27,
        "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine",
        "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案",
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        "document_key": "CO129-344 - Public Offices & Foreign Office - 1907",
        "page_number": 289,
        "title": "CO129-344 - Public Offices & Foreign Office - 1907",
        "content_text": "## 2\n\nHis Excellency Tong Shao-yi is forwarded herewith for your Excellency's information. The subject of it is sufficiently important. I trust there is nothing in its form or purport to render it deserving of inattention.\n\nYour Excellency,\n\nI have, &c.\n\n(Signed)\n\nGEORGE BROWN,\n\nAgent-General.\n\n## Inclosure 3 in No. 1.\n\nMr. G. Brown to Tong Shao-yi.\n\nTien-tsin, December 18, 1906. In the Agreement for the establishment of smelting works in Shansi and for the joint working of Shansi iron mines, executed at Peking on the 3rd July, 1905, by his Excellency Shêng Kung Pao, then Director-General of Railways, and Mr. George Jamieson, then Agent-General of this Syndicate, a copy of which document in English and Chinese is attached hereto for reference, Article 1 is to this effect :-\n\n\"Whereas the Shansi Bureau of Trade having been granted the sole right to work iron and coal in Yu Hsien, Pingting Chow, Luan, Tsechow, and Pingyang Fu, entered into an Agreement with the Peking Syndicate in the 24th year of Kuangsu (1898), whereby the Syndicate was requested to work the aforesaid mines for a term of sixty years, now it is further agreed as follows: China being desirous to join in the working of iron in the above-mentioned places, namely, Yu Hsien, Pingting Chow, &c., and of coal and coke required for smelting purposes, the Peking Syndicate consents to such participation to the extent of one-half share, the joint working to be for a term of sixty years and the term to run from the date of issue of the (Governor's) permit to work, &c.\"\n\nI am now in receipt of a communication from the Board of Directors of the Peking Syndicate in London, expressing a desire to arrange at once, in consultation with the proper authorities, for the carrying out of the terms of this Agreement, and I would ask your Excellency to be so good as to inform me with whom I can enter upon the necessary negotiations preparatory to the initiation of the work.\n\n## 3\n\nissue of the permit in respect of the Ping-ting Chou coalfields alone began on the 1st January last; that the rate of compensation would be increased above $2007 a-day after a certain period; and that the Chinese Government would be held responsible for the payment of the claim.\n\nOver three months have passed and the compensation due to the Peking Syndicate up to date amounts to $20,000. Yet I see no indication that the permit applied for eighteen months ago in accordance with the terms of the Syndicate's Agreement will be issued, and I am obliged to press the matter once more on your Highness' attention.\n\nThe situation as it stands is not without grave danger to the credit of the Chinese Government. A solemn covenant signed by the representative of the Shansi Bureau of Trade, sealed by the Tsung-li Yamên, and confirmed by Imperial Decree is being violated by the high authorities of Shansi at the bidding of certain agitators, students, and officials, and if a flagrantly illegal proceeding of this nature is not vigorously suppressed by the Central Government the result must be a diminution of prestige in the financial markets of the world.\n\nI have the honour to request your Highness to take the necessary steps without loss of time to compel the Shansi authorities to perform their manifest duty in this matter, and so avoid an addition to the claim for compensation which has already been presented.\n\nI avail, &c. (Signed) J. N. JORDAN,\n\nI have, &c. (Signed)\n\nGEORGE BROWN,\n\nAgent-General.\n\nYour Highness,\n\n## Inclosure 4 in No. 1.\n\nSir J. Jordan to Prince Ch'ing.\n\nPeking, April 15, 1907.\n\nI HAVE the honour to inclose herewith copy of an application which was addressed by Mr. George Brown, Agent-General of the Peking Syndicate, to his Excellency Tong Shao-yi, Vice-President of the Wai-wu Pu, on the 18th December, 1906, with regard to the carrying out of the terms of the Shansi Smelting Agreement of 1905.\n\nMr. Brown informs me that he has not yet received a reply to this communication, and I would therefore request that he may be favoured with one at the earliest convenience to your Highness.\n\nI avail, &c.\n\n(Signed)\n\nJ. N. JORDAN.\n\nYour Highness,\n\n## Inclosure 5 in No. 1.\n\nSir J. Jordan to Prince Ching.\n\nPeking, April 15, 1907.\n\nIN a note of the 31st December, 1906, I had the honour, in accordance with the instructions of His Majesty's Government, to inform your Highness that the claim of the Peking Syndicate for damages at the rate of $2001 a-day for each day's delay in the\n\n## Page 238",
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    {
        "id": 412036,
        "series_id": 27,
        "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine",
        "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案",
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        "document_key": "CO129-344 - Public Offices & Foreign Office - 1907",
        "page_number": 536,
        "title": "CO129-344 - Public Offices & Foreign Office - 1907",
        "content_text": "# [This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government]\n\n## Inclosure 6 in No. 1,\n\n**Agreement for the Establishment of Smelting Works in Shansi and for Joint Working of Shansi Iron Mines.**\n\n1. WHEREAS the Shansi Bureau of Trade, having been granted the sole right to work iron and coal in Yu Hsien, Ping-ting Chow, Luan, Tsechow, and Pingyang Fu, entered into an Agreement with the Peking Syndicate in the 24th year of Kwangsu (1898) whereby the Syndicate was requested to work the aforesaid mines for a term of sixty years, now it is further agreed as follows:- China being desirous to join in the working of iron in the above-mentioned places, namely, Yu Hsien, Ping-ting Chow, &c., and of coal and coke required for smelting purposes, the Peking Syndicate consents to such participation to an extent of one-half share. The joint working to be for a term of sixty years, and the term to run from the date of the issue of the (Governor's) permit to work. During the continuance of the term, the Chinese and English Managers shall be of equal number and have equal powers. In apportioning the capital in the joint working, the Syndicate may bring into account, as part of their capital, all preliminary expenses which can be shown by vouchers to have been expended actually for affairs in relation to iron mines. All details of such joint working will be settled by a separate Agreement. As regards the above-mentioned coal-mining areas, if, when the time comes, co-operation is desired, the matter may be discussed between the Shansi Bureau of Trade and the Syndicate.\n\n2. The Chinese Government will provide funds for the erection of smelting works in Shansi, where the ores of the co-operation may be smelted into pig-iron in order to facilitate its conveyance by railway. These smelting works shall be established either near the place where the iron is produced, or near the railway at some convenient place to be mutually agreed upon. The latest and most approved foreign type of smelting plant will be selected. If when the time comes the Syndicate can supply plans and estimates, they may be handed in to the Chinese Director-General of Works, who will select the most suitable pattern with a view to economy and rapidity of working. If the industry is flourishing, and an extension of works would be profitable, the Chinese Government should be consulted as to the best mode of effecting such extension with a view to the mutual benefit of the mines and works.\n\n3. The charges for smelting are to be reasonable, and will be mutually decided upon hereafter. Coal and coke actually required for smelting will be supplied from the mines mentioned in clause 1, if so desired, on special terms at a somewhat less price than is charged to the public, and the Syndicate will give the preference to the works in regard to such supply. After the works have been established, the Chinese Government shall always maintain them in good order; and the Syndicate shall, not without the consent of the Chinese Government, send its ores for smelting to any other places or otherwise dispose of them. Conversely, there shall be no delay on the part of the smelting works in smelting the Syndicate's ores handed over for that purpose.\n\n4. The smelting works, and all extensions thereof, shall be the property of the Chinese Government. The Director-General of the works shall appoint a suitable expert as Smelting Master. If at the time there is no properly qualified Chinese, an Englishman will be appointed. The agreement with such smelting-master will be signed by the Director-General.\n\nExcept as modified by the foregoing four rules, and by the detailed Agreement to be hereafter drawn up, all the clauses in the original Agreement hold good.\n\nThese Regulations are drawn up in English and Chinese, and are signed in duplicate, one copy of each to be held by the respective parties as evidence.\n\n(Signed at Peking the 3rd July, 1905.)\n\n(Signed)\n\n(Seal of his Excellency Shêng Hsuan Huai.)\n\nG. JAMIESON, Agent-General, Peking Syndicate (Limited).\n\n## AFFAIRS OF CHINA\n\n**CONFIDENTIAL**\n\n`(21623)`\n\n## No. 1.\n\nSir Edward Grey to Sir J. Jordan.\n\n`(27192)`\n\n534\n\n(July 30 JUL 07)\n\n### SECTION 1.\n\n(No. 80.) **(Telegraphic.)** P.\n\nForeign Office, July 5, 1907.\n\n**CHINESE Engineering and Mining Company.** Your telegram No. 127 of the 29th instant. Our Court of Appeal after full investigation held that transfer was valid, but maintained that the provisions of the Memorandum must be observed, and that an inquiry should be held to decide what damages, if any, in respect of their non-fulfilment were due to the Chinese Company; we cannot go behind this judgment. Offer of the Company to arrange the appointment of an Assessor has so far, understand, been declined by the Chinese. I agree with Sir E. Satow (vide his letter to which you refer), under these circumstances, that we should strenuously resist any attempt on the part of the Viceroy to dispossess the Company of their property, unless it be in accordance with a judgment of a British Court in China.\n\nThe Company's case is doubtless somewhat weakened, on the other hand, by the fact that the transfer was never confirmed by Imperial Decree, though it appears to me that their assumption in the negotiations that an official of Chang's position was authorized to conclude an arrangement was justified. Any reasonable compromise to which the Viceroy will assent might therefore, I think, be accepted; it should, however, be made clear to him that we cannot allow the property of the Company to be confiscated. You might urge him, in the first instance, to consent to the nomination of Assessors as the judgment of the Court of Appeal directs.\n\n`(2570 e-1)`",
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    {
        "id": 421258,
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        "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案",
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        "document_key": "CO129-360 - Public Offices - 1909",
        "page_number": 47,
        "title": "CO129-360 - Public Offices - 1909",
        "content_text": "This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]\n\nC.O.\n\n46\n\n1189\n\n**CHINA TRADE**\n\n**CONFIDENTIAL**\n\n[38938]\n\nNo. 1.\n\n[November 9.]-\n\nSECTION 3 || JAN 09\n\n(No. 267.) Sir,\n\nSir C. MacDonald to Sir Edward Grey,—(Received November 9.)\n\nTokió, October 4, 1908.\n\nI HAVE the honour to transmit herewith a Report by Mr. Gordon, Acting British Vice-Consul at Dairen, on the Seoul-Wiju Railway, and the proposed new railway-bridge over the Yalu.\n\nMr. Gordon had my authority for proceeding to his post by way of Seoul and Mukden so as to enable him to form some opinion of the workings of the South Manchurian Railway and its principal branch line before entering on his new duties at Dairen.\n\nOn receipt of Mr. Gordon's Report, I lost no time in calling the attention of Count Komura to that part of the Report dealing with the proposed bridge over the Yalu. I addressed a note to his Excellency informing him of my despatch No. 12 to you of the 20th January, the terms of which you were good enough to approve in your despatch No. 51 of the 28th February.\n\nHis Excellency promised to look into the matter and send me a reply before long. I am hopeful that, in the present mood of the Japanese Government in regard to questions affecting China, the answer may be satisfactory and the decision to construct a fixed bridge cancelled.\n\nI have, &c.\n\n(Signed) **CLAUDE M. MacDONALD**.\n\nInclosure 1 in No. 1.\n\nReport by Acting Vice-Consul Gordon respecting the present Condition of the Seoul-Wiju Railway, and the proposed Yalu Railway Bridge,\n\nThe Seoul-Wiju Railway.\n\nAS the general features of this line have already been reported on by Sir A. Hosie and others, I propose to confine my remarks to the engineering conditions.\n\nThough fast trains have been running over this line since the 1st April, the through train from Fusan covers the distance from Ryuzan to New Wiju, 309.4 miles, in 15 hours 10 minutes—the railway is by no means in a complete condition, and trains have to pass over the temporary track for distances amounting in all to over one quarter of the total.\n\nThe new line is used from Seoul as far as Kaijo, a distance of 48 miles, with the exception of the bridge over the Kintsuko River (36 miles), which is at present crossed by a wooden trestle. The piers of the new iron bridge are well advanced, and it should be ready for use by the spring of 1909. From Kaijo to the 80th milepost, the old track is used. Two bridges near the 90th milepost are still unfinished, and the embankments are not yet completed as far as Shinbaku, 97 miles. From Shinbaku to about 1 mile before Kosui, 111 miles, the new line is not yet in use, but is regained at Kosui station, and followed to about 2 miles before Heijo (Pingyang), 164 miles. Between Koju, 141 miles, all the smaller bridges and culverts are of wood. The bridge over the Taidoko River just before Heijo is temporary; the new one is in course of construction.\n\nOwing to the line having been broken by floods, I had to take a slow train to Heijo and stay the night there, and as it was dark by the time Koju was reached I was unable to observe this section of the line closely.\n\nNear the 177th milepost, a bridge of 14 spans of 24 feet is nearly completed, and the girders are in readiness for placing in position. From Teshu, 196 miles, the temporary track is used for a distance of 2 miles, and also for a similar distance from...",
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    {
        "id": 422869,
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        "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案",
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        "document_key": "CO129-362 - Public Offices - 1909",
        "page_number": 272,
        "title": "CO129-362 - Public Offices - 1909",
        "content_text": "## \n270 \n\na distance of about 150 miles. The places mentioned are stations within the care of his particular branch of the mission, and are well known to him. He assured me that eight-tenths of the cultivated land in this region had formerly been under opium, but that on his recent trip he had not seen a single plant.\n\nFrom Hsiaoyi my road lay southwards to Pingyangfu, crossing the Lingshih pass and traversing the towns of Hochou and Hungtung. The district immediately to the north of the pass is mountainous and dry, and has never been of much importance as regards opium cultivation, but the country between Hochou and Pingyang was second only to the Chiaocheng department in the extent of its poppy fields and the quantity of the drug produced. The Fenho here flows along a broad valley flanked on either side by gently sloping foothills intersected by a number of streams joining the main river at short intervals. The whole region is well irrigated and thoroughly suitable for the growth of the poppy, and in former years quite seven-tenths of the fields were given over to that plant. This year, however, its growth has been put down with extraordinary severity; not only is the cultivation absolutely prohibited, but even stray stalks of self-propagated poppy growing by the side of the fields are not allowed to pass unnoticed. One man at Hungtung was actually beaten because a single plant was found in his wheat-field; and the people complained that during the sowing season the laoyeh (local official) came and grubbed in their land with his own hands to look for poppy seeds. In ground that has formerly been under opium there is naturally a probability that a few stray plants will reappear, though none may have been sown, and the danger of this provides the yamên runners with an excellent opportunity for blackmailing the farmer, of which they are not slow to take advantage.\n\nIn this district, as well as in some others I passed through, there had been attempts to sow opium together with peas, the idea being to root up the peas later and leave the opium, or vice versa, according to whether or not the prohibition might be disregarded. The trick, however, was discovered, both the crops were destroyed and the land was confiscated. Indigo is, to a limited extent, being introduced to take the place of opium. It is a more profitable crop than wheat, and always commands a ready market as a dye for the ordinary blue cloth so much used in China for the making of clothes.\n\nAt Hungtung, I was able to get information covering the west of the province from Fensi to Isichou and down to Puhsien. Here, as elsewhere, the reports were favourable, the officials were showing great activity, and the poppy was a thing of the past.\n\nFrom Pingyangfu to Hotsin, near the Shensi border, was my next stage. Hotsin is truly described by the resident missionary, Mr. Gillies, as the \"back of beyond.\" It is at the very edge of the province; it is not on the road to anywhere; the district is desperately poor; and, moreover, the country has never been noted for the production of opium, the little that was grown having been practically suppressed some four or five years ago by the imposition of a heavy tax in aid of the local schools. It speaks well, therefore, for the thoroughness of Ting Ta-jên's methods that even this remote spot should be visited by deputies from the capital. It is a pity, however, that they have not turned their attention to a large establishment here that is openly doing a thriving business in the preparation of cowhide, hoof parings, and other refuse as an adulterant for opium. I was assured at Hotsin that all the country northwards as far as Hsiangning and Kichou, about 35 miles distant, had been cleared of the plant.\n\nHaving travelled as far west as this, I took the opportunity to make a day's excursion into Shensi, which is only about 10 miles further on. The Yellow River, which forms the boundary between the two provinces, has to be crossed in a ferry-boat at a place called Yu Men Kou, named after the Emperor Yu, who, together with Yao and Shun, formed the legendary trio that were supposed to have ruled in the golden age of China, about 2300 B.C. Amongst his other achievements, he is said to have instituted the ferry service at this particular spot.\n\nOnce across the river there was no lack of poppy cultivation, the fields extending nearly to the water's edge. By this time (11th June) the opium had all been harvested, and the labourers were engaged in cutting off and collecting the capsules for the manufacture of opium oil.\n\nThe duty of enforcing the regulations in the south-west corner of the province has been entrusted to the salt commissioner resident at Yüacheng, a large commercial town not far from Chichchou. This official, of the rank of taotai, has shown great activity in the issue of proclamations, uprooting of poppy fields, and punishment of offenders. He has threatened to fine opium-growers six times the value of their crop, and in one case, at least, has made good his threat; a man who had planted opium in a small patch of ground, about the tenth of a mow, near Icheng, was made to pay 20,000 cash. The taotai's jurisdiction comprises an area of over 4,000 square miles, and I was informed by two members of the China Inland Mission who had recently journeyed through it that it was uniformly free from opium cultivation.\n\nFrom Hotsin I travelled eastward to Kiangchou and Icheng. At the latter place I was shown a letter received from the missionary living at Luaufu, stating that the same stringent measures had been taken in the west of the province as those in force to the east of the Fen Valley, and this statement was corroborated by communications from residents at Lucheng and Licheng. On leaving Icheng, I travelled over the mountains to Tsechoufu in the extreme south-east of Shansi, crossed the border to Chinghua, the terminus of the Peking Syndicate Railway in Honan, and so returned to Peking by rail.\n\nMy journey lasted exactly a month, and covered a distance of over 400 miles, through what were formerly some of the most noted opium-producing districts of the province. I did not, however, from first to last, see a single field in Shansi under poppy cultivation. Where I have been unable to speak from personal observation I have quoted from information kindly supplied by missionaries, as being more reliable than that derived from native sources, although I did not fail to question the Chinese themselves whenever an opportunity occurred, and both missionaries and natives were unanimous in affirming that the suppression of the poppy was complete.\n\nThis report, it will be noticed on reference to the map, only covers the southern half of Shansi, as it was unfortunately impossible to visit the regions to the north of the capital as well in the limited time at my disposal. According to Ting Ta-jên, however, the troops stationed at Kueihuacheng and other districts in the north have received orders to patrol the country, and see that the prohibition is rigidly enforced, and this statement is confirmed by Mr. Larsson, a Swedish missionary living at Tatungfa, who states that, beyond one or two unsuccessful attempts to sow poppy with cabbages, there has been no opium cultivation in the parts visited by himself and his fellow-workers. This is the extent of my information on the north of the province, but I am told that the amount of opium grown there was comparatively unimportant, and, in view of the thoroughness with which the orders of the Taiyuanfu authorities have been carried out in the remotest parts of the south, there is no reason for doubting that the same has been the case throughout.\n\nThe measures taken in Shansi against opium have, as was to be expected, enormously increased the price of the drug, especially in the neighbourhood of the capital, but less so in places near the frontier, on account of the smuggling. An ounce (\"liang\") of the best native article cost formerly about 300 cash. At Taiyuan it now fetches over 1,000 cash (roughly 1 dollar), at Pingyangfu 700 cash, and at Hotsin 600 cash. As two-thirds, or at the very least a half, of the adult population (both male and female) consume a certain amount of opium, they are, of course, very seriously affected by the rise in the cost of the drug. The poorer classes are unable to continue buying the quantity to which they have become accustomed, and so, in order to derive the same effect from a smaller amount, they have taken to drinking instead of smoking it. It would appear that a fifth of the amount consumed in the pipe, if dissolved in water and taken in that way, is sufficient to satisfy the same cravings. A great many, of course, are endeavouring to break off the habit altogether, as is evidenced by the large sale of anti-opium medicines, but it is to be feared that those who buy the ordinary pills sold in the shops obtain but little relief, whilst the few Government refuges, where a proper course of treatment is prescribed, are unsuccessful because the patients are not cared for on the premises, and if left to themselves they have not the force of will to follow out the instructions, which entail a certain amount of suffering in the preliminary stages of the treatment. In the mission refuges, on the other hand, where the patients are not only under constant supervision during the course, but are kept on for about a week after the treatment is over to make certain they are really cured, a considerable amount of good is being done, and the number of people who pass through these institutions is increasing rapidly. At Ichang, for instance, Mr. Trüdinger, the missionary in charge, informed me that their refuge had treated 120 patients during the last six months, as against thirty or forty in previous years. Nearly all of these were of the poorer class, and were being driven to give up the habit by the increasing price of the drug; those who...",
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        "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案",
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        "title": "CO129-363 - Public Offices & Others - 1909",
        "content_text": "## Page 239\n\nThe province for ever. Any slackening of the firm attitude at present maintained by the officials would mean its immediate reintroduction, and many of the natives hope that this will be the case. At all events, the first and most difficult step has been taken successfully, and now that the people have become reconciled to the prohibition, it should be easier to guard against any attempt to grow the plant again.\n\nOpinion in Shansi is divided as to whether the action that has been taken is, as some people aver, the result of a general scheme on the part of the Central Government to deal with the question of cultivation in one or two provinces at a time and that Shansi happens to be one of the first, or whether the sudden activity shown in this part of the Empire has for its sole author the energetic provincial treasurer, Ting Pao-chuan. The former theory would seem to be supported by the fact that in the adjoining province of Shensi, where the poppy is still grown, proclamations are said to have been issued stating that in 1910 the cultivation of opium will be stopped there in the same way as has been done in Shansi, but in either case, it appears to be entirely owing to the energy and zeal of Ting Tajên that the prohibitory measures have been rendered as effectual as they have.\n\nWhen at Taiyuanfu, I was accorded an interview by his Excellency and informed him of the object of my visit to the province. He spoke at considerable length on the subject of opium and appeared to be very much in earnest. He complained of the difficulty of stopping the cultivation in Shansi when, across the border in Shensi and Honan, there were no such restrictions. The import of opium from other provinces was strictly prohibited, but, though he did what he could to prevent smuggling, it was to be feared that a considerable quantity of the drug was brought over in that way. According to him, Indian opium had never been imported into Shansi, and the fact that they only had the native article to deal with greatly facilitated its early suppression. This statement with regard to Indian opium is, I think, correct and agrees with information I received from opium-dealers in other places. He then turned to the question of revenue and stated that the amount formerly derived from the Tungshui tax was 300,000 taels, whilst the extra tax on poppy land brought in another 200,000 taels, but that by increasing the duty on matches, oil, wine, tobacco, furs, and other articles, they had almost made up this deficit of 500,000 taels.\n\nI give these figures for what they are worth, but they can hardly represent the true facts of the case. If the Tungshui tax were 115 taels per picul, this would mean that only some 2,600 piculs had been accounted for. It is probable, however, as Ting himself admitted, that a large proportion of the duties actually levied never reached the Provincial Treasury at all, and that office, in turn, would not acknowledge all that was received. At all events, he distinctly stated that, as regards the financial side of the question, they were not experiencing any great difficulties.\n\nThe Government, he said, were about to establish in the big centres throughout the province ten official stations for the sale of anti-opium medicines and the treatment of patients, and it was proposed to spend 3,000 taels on each. He himself had sent spies all over the country to watch for any attempt at opium cultivation, and rewards were being offered of 10 cash each for every poppy stalk brought in to the officials. It is certainly true that \"weiyuans\" from the capital are being sent on tours of inspection to the remotest districts, and I was frequently told at various places I visited that an official had just been there to examine the fields.\n\nAt Taiyuanfu itself, the dens have all been closed, and the opium shops, of which there are about forty, are under strict police supervision. A system for the registration of smokers has been instituted, and the procedure is as follows: the purchaser, when buying the drug, is asked his name, age, address, and amount of daily consumption, and these details are entered in a book of forms and counterfoils. The form, when filled in, is handed to him, while the counterfoil is retained by the shop for the inspection of the police. Each succeeding time that the purchaser goes to buy opium, he must produce this form, and the amount of his purchase is marked on it, but the amount must never exceed that of the time before. The form lasts for three months, at the end of which period a new one must be taken out, and the amount of daily consumption decreased, the idea being that, in due course, the smoker will be obliged to abandon the habit entirely. Whether this procedure is strictly insisted upon for everybody, I was unable to find out, but I imagine the richer classes buying a large quantity at a time would have no great difficulty in evading it. I examined two or three books of counterfoils and found that it was generally small amounts that were bought.\n\n## Page 240, 241 (Continued from Page 239)\n\nThe capital is the only place in the province, at present, where any attempt is made to regulate the sale of opium. There are no restrictions whatever in other towns, and even in places only a few miles distant from Taiyuan-fu, the registration system is unknown.\n\nOne result of the suppression movement is a thriving trade in anti-opium remedies of all sorts. Advertisements for the sale of pills are to be seen in every street of the capital, and in one shop that I visited, there were no fewer than twelve different kinds of medicines, some of local manufacture, but a great many seemed to be imported from Japan. They contain, as a rule, a large proportion of morphia or inferior opium mixed with boiled cowhide or other deleterious substances, and the people who take them to cure their cravings merely exchange one form of the vice for another. The medicine trade is proving so profitable that the Chinese are manufacturing pills from all sorts of things quite regardless of their curative properties, a favourite native recipe being millet (\"hsiao mi\") boiled in opium and mixed with cayenne pepper (\"là jiao\") and other Chinese condiments, and it is said that these concoctions are far more ruinous to the health than the vice they are taken to cure.\n\nWith regard to the cultivation of the poppy in the neighbourhood of Taiyuan-fu, I learned, on good authority, that the plant was nowhere to be seen in the districts of Shaoyang to the east, Yütze to the south-east, and Hsukou, Taiku, Chihsien, and Pingyao to the south. It has never been grown in any quantity round Shaoyang, as the soil is unsuitable, but the other places to the south lie in the Fenho Plain and are therefore favourably situated for the production of opium. Some of the farmers had sown with poppy in the hopes that the prohibition need not be taken seriously, but had been severely punished for their disobedience, and it may be safely said that none of the drug was harvested in the district in question. I could see for myself that none was grown in the immediate neighbourhood of the capital, though in former years, poppy fields stretching along the banks of the Fen were visible from the city walls.\n\nOn leaving Taiyuan-fu, I proceeded westwards to Fenchou-fu, passing through the districts of Chiaocheng and Wenshui. As has been mentioned above, this region was once famous for its opium. In the spring, the entire countryside as far as the eye could see was covered with poppy fields, and the crop grown in the valleys to the north of Chiaocheng produced the strongest opium in the province. This year, however, no trace of it was to be seen; wheat and barley were grown everywhere, and though I spent some time inspecting the valleys off the main road and looked carefully for the plant in out-of-the-way and hidden spots, it was without success. In the neighbourhood of Wenshui, there had been one or two attempts to disregard the regulations, but they were speedily discovered and punished; in one instance, I was informed, the offender had been beaten 100 blows and wore the cangue for a month. Deputies from the capital, it was said, were continually visiting the district and inspecting the fields. They avoided the local yamêns and stayed at the inns, like ordinary travellers, and it was only if he had offended that the unfortunate farmer discovered that he was dealing with an official.\n\nAt Fenchou-fu, and at Hsiaoyi, a day's journey further south, I met two missionaries, who, independently of each other, had recently made a tour of the region to the west of those cities, and they remarked on the complete eradication of the poppy. One of these gentlemen had travelled through Wucheng to Yungningchou, and then northwards for about 60 miles to a place called Huma, along the Peichuan River, and had then returned to Hsiaoyi viâ Ninghsiang, the whole journey covering a distance of about 150 miles. The places mentioned are stations within the care of his particular branch of the mission and are well known to him. He assured me that eight-tenths of the cultivated land in this region had formerly been under opium, but that on his recent trip, he had not seen a single plant.\n\nFrom Hsiaoyi, my road lay southwards to Pingyang-fu, crossing the Lingshih Pass, and traversing the towns of Hochou and Hungtung. The district immediately to the north of the pass is mountainous and dry and has never been of much importance as regards opium cultivation; but the country between Hochou and Pingyang was second only to the Chiaocheng department in the extent of its poppy fields and the quantity of the drug produced. The Fenho here flows along a broad valley, flanked on either side by gently sloping foot-hills intersected by a number of streams joining the main river at short intervals. The whole region is well irrigated and thoroughly suitable for the growth of the poppy, and in former years, quite seven-tenths of the fields were given over to that plant. This year, however, its growth has... \n\n## Page 241 \n\n...been completely stopped. \n\n[2494 p-1]",
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        "title": "CO129-363 - Public Offices & Others - 1909",
        "content_text": "## 240\n\n\n## 31\n\nbeen put down with extraordinary severity; not only is the cultivation absolutely prohibited, but even stray stalks of self-propagated poppy growing by the side of the fields are not allowed to pass unnoticed. One man at Hungtung was actually beaten because a single plant was found in his wheat-field, and the people complained that during the sowing season the laoyeh (local official) came and grubbed in their land with his own hands to look for poppy seeds. In ground that has formerly been under opium there is naturally a probability that a few stray plants will reappear, though none may have been sown, and the danger of this provides the yamên runners with an excellent opportunity for blackmailing the farmer, of which they are not slow to take advantage.\n\nIn this district as well as in some others I passed through, there had been attempts to sow opium together with peas, the idea being to root up the peas later and leave the opium, or vice versa, according to whether or not the prohibition might be disregarded. The trick, however, was discovered, both the crops were destroyed, and the land was confiscated. Indigo is to a limited extent being introduced to take the place of opium. It is a more profitable crop than wheat and always commands a ready market as a dye for the ordinary blue cloth so much used in China for making clothes.\n\nAt Hungtung, I was able to get information covering the west of the province from Fenhsi to Hsichou and down to Puhsien. Here, as elsewhere, the reports were favourable, the officials were showing great activity, and the poppy was a thing of the past.\n\nFrom Pingyang-fu to Hotsin, near the Shensi border, was my next stage. Hotsin is truly described by the resident missionary, Mr. Gillies, as the \"back of beyond.\" It is at the very edge of the province; it is not on the road to anywhere; the district is desperately poor, and, moreover, the country has never been noted for the production of opium, the little that was grown having been practically suppressed some four or five years ago by the imposition of a heavy tax in aid of the local schools. It speaks well, therefore, for the thoroughness of Ting Tajên's methods that even this remote spot should be visited by deputies from the capital. It is a pity, however, that they have not turned their attention to a large establishment here that is openly doing a thriving business in the preparation of cowhide, hoof parings, and other refuse as an adulterant for opium. I was assured at Hotsin that all the country northwards as far as Hsiangning and Kichou, about 35 miles distant, had been cleared of the plant.\n\nHaving travelled as far west as this, I took the opportunity to make a day's excursion into Shensi, which is only about 10 miles further on. The Yellow River, which forms the boundary between the two provinces, has to be crossed in a ferry-boat at a place called Yn Men Kou, named after the Emperor Yu, who, together with Yao and Shun, formed the legendary trio that were supposed to have ruled in the golden age of China, about 2300 B.C. Amongst his other achievements, he is said to have instituted the ferry service at this particular spot.\n\nOnce across the river, there was no lack of poppy cultivation, the fields extending nearly to the water's edge. By this time (11th June), the opium had all been harvested, and the labourers were engaged in cutting off and collecting the capsules for the manufacture of opium oil.\n\nThe duty of enforcing the regulations in the south-west corner of the province has been entrusted to the salt commissioner resident at Yücheng, a large commercial town not far from Chiehehou. This official, of the rank of taotai, has shown great activity in the issue of proclamations, uprooting of poppy fields, and punishment of offenders. He has threatened to fine opium growers six times the value of their crop, and in one case at least has made good his threat; a man who had planted opium in a small patch of ground, about the tenth of a mow, near Icheng, was made to pay 20,000 cash. The taotai's jurisdiction comprises an area of over 4,000 square miles, and I was informed by two members of the China Inland Mission who had recently journeyed through it that it was uniformly free from opium cultivation.\n\nFrom Hotsin, I travelled eastward to Kiangchou and Icheng. At the latter place, I was shown a letter received from the missionary living at Luan-fu, stating that the same stringent measures had been taken in the west of the province as those in force to the east of the Fen Valley, and this statement was corroborated by communications from residents at Lucheng and Licheng. On leaving Icheng, I travelled over the mountains to Tsechon-fu in the extreme south-east of Shansi, crossed the border to Chinghua, the terminus of the Peking Syndicate Railway in Honan, and so returned to Peking by rail.\n\n## 35\n\nMy journey lasted exactly a month and covered a distance of over 400 miles, through what were formerly some of the most noted opium-producing districts of the province. I did not, however, from first to last, see a single field in Shansi under poppy cultivation.\n\nWhere I have been unable to speak from personal observation, I have quoted from information kindly supplied by missionaries, as being more reliable than that derived from native sources, although I did not fail to question the Chinese themselves whenever an opportunity occurred, and both missionaries and natives were unanimous in affirming that the suppression of the poppy was complete.\n\nThis report, it will be noticed on reference to the map, only covers the southern half of Shansi, as it was unfortunately impossible to visit the regions to the north of the capital as well in the limited time at my disposal. According to Ting Tajên, however, the troops stationed at Kueihuacheng and other districts in the north have received orders to patrol the country and see that the prohibition is rigidly enforced, and this statement is confirmed by M. Larsson, a Swedish missionary living at Tatung-fu, who states that beyond one or two unsuccessful attempts to sow poppy with cabbages, there has been no opium cultivation in the parts visited by himself and his fellow workers. This is the extent of my information on the north of the province, but I am told that the amount of opium grown there was comparatively unimportant, and in view of the thoroughness with which the orders of the Taiyuan-fu authorities have been carried out in the remotest parts of the south, there is no reason for doubting that the same has been the case throughout.\n\nThe measures taken in Shansi against opium have, as was to be expected, enormously increased the price of the drug, especially in the neighbourhood of the capital, but less so in places near the frontier, on account of the smuggling. An ounce (liang) of the best native article cost formerly about 300 cash. At Taiyuan, it now fetches over 1,000 cash (roughly 1 dollar), at Pingyang-fu 700 cash, and at Hotsin 600 cash. As two-thirds, or at the very least a half, of the adult population, both male and female, consume a certain amount of opium, they are, of course, very seriously affected by the rise in the cost of the drug. The poorer classes are unable to continue buying the quantity to which they have become accustomed, and so, in order to derive the same effect from a smaller amount, they have taken to drinking instead of smoking it. It would appear that a fifth of the amount consumed in the pipe, if dissolved in water and taken in that way, is sufficient to satisfy the same cravings. A great many, of course, are endeavouring to break off the habit altogether, as is evidenced by the large sale of anti-opium medicines, but it is to be feared that those who buy the ordinary pills sold in the shops obtain but little relief, whilst the few Government refuges, where a proper course of treatment is prescribed, are unsuccessful because the patients are not cared for on the premises, and, if left to themselves, they have not the force of will to follow out the instructions, which entail a certain amount of suffering in the preliminary stages of the treatment. In the mission refuges, on the other hand, where the patients are not only under constant supervision during the course but are kept on for about a week after the treatment is over to make certain they are really cured, a considerable amount of good is being done, and the number of people who pass through these institutions is increasing rapidly. At Icheng, for instance, M. Trüdinger, the missionary in charge, informed me that their refuge had treated 120 patients during the last six months, as against 30 or 40 in previous years. Nearly all of these were of the poorer class and were being driven to give up the habit by the increasing price of the drug; those who are not troubled by pecuniary considerations would seem to be making no effort to abandon the vice; on the contrary, some of the richer families boast that they have laid in enough opium to last them for fifty years to come. The breaking off of the opium habit is not such a difficult or lengthy affair as is generally supposed; three weeks or a month being as a rule sufficient to effect a cure, even in bad cases. At Hotsin, I met a man who had been accustomed to smoke 4 oz. a-day, an exceptionally large amount; the average smoker seldom exceeds a tenth of that quantity, say, 4 or 5 mace. He was, however, completely cured and had not touched the drug for several years.\n\nThe method of treatment adopted in most of these refuges is as follows:- For the first five days, the patient is given doses of morphia equivalent to the amount of opium he has been in the habit of consuming; after that, the dose is decreased daily by a tenth until none is given at all, and at the same time, the patient is nourished on good food and is further strengthened by means of ordinary tonic medicines. The difficulty lies in the fact that the victim has usually taken to the drug in the first instance to gain relief from some disease, and on his abandoning the habit, the malady reappears. Dyspepsia, for instance, is responsible for a good...",
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        "document_key": "CO129-383 - Public Offices - 1911",
        "page_number": 497,
        "title": "CO129-383 - Public Offices - 1911",
        "content_text": "# AFFAIRS OF CHINA\n\n**CONFIDENTIAL**\n\n## SECTION 4.\n\nNo. 1.\n\n**(No. 197.)** Sir,\n\nSir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey.--(Received May 22.)\n\nPeking, May 6, 1911. IN my despatch No. 67 of the 5th February, 1908, I had the honour to transmit the printed copies of an agreement, signed on the 21st January of that year, between the Shansi Bureau of Trade and the Peking Syndicate (Limited), for the redemption of the latter's concessions in Shansi.\n\nI have the honour to transmit herewith copy of the letter from the syndicate's agent-general at Tien-tsin, informing me that the total amount of the indemnity referred to in article 2 of the agreement, viz., 2,750,000 Hong Ping Hua Pao taels, has been duly paid to the syndicate on the dates specified in article 4 of the agreement, the last receipt being issued on the 29th ultimo for a final payment of 458,334 Hong Ping Hua Pao taels.\n\nI have communicated the above information to the Wai-wu Pu in a note, copy enclosed, dated the 4th instant, and have at the same time reminded them of the promise made to the syndicate in article 7 of the agreement with regard to possible future loans which the province of Shansi might require in connection with mineral development, as requested in the last paragraph of Mr. Brazier's letter.\n\nI have, &c.\n\nJ. N. JORDAN.\n\n### Enclosure 1 in No. 1.\n\nPeking Syndicate to Sir J. Jordan,\n\nYour Excellency,\n\nApril 29, 1911. I HAVE the honour to refer to the agreement between the Shansi Bureau of Trade and the Peking Syndicate (Limited), for the redemption of the principal and supplementary covenants for opening mines, manufacturing iron, and transporting minerals in five localities in Shansi, namely, Yu-hsien, Pingting-chou, Luan-fu, Tsechou-fu, and Pingyang-fu, signed by my predecessor, Mr. George Brown, agent-general of this syndicate, and Mr. Liu Tu-ching, head of the Shansi Bureau of Trade, on the 21st January, 1908, and sealed by the Wai-wu Pu, copy of which contract was duly signed by your Excellency and stamped with the legation seal, and now beg to inform your Excellency that the total amount of the indemnity referred to in article 2 of the above agreement--2,750,000 Hong Ping Hua Pao taels--has been duly paid to this syndicate on the dates specified in article 4 of the agreement, and that receipts for each payment, as received, have been duly given on the due dates, the last being issued to-day by myself to Mr. Liu Tu-ching, for the final payment of 458,334 Hong Ping Hua Pao taels.\n\nShould your Excellency be reporting this to the Wai-wu Pu, for the information of the Governor of Shansi, I would beg that reference be made to the promise, in article 7 of the agreement, that \"if by any chance the province of Shansi shall hereafter desire to raise a foreign loan in connection with mines, working of iron, or transport of minerals, the province of Shansi shall notify the Peking Syndicate (Limited), and if the Peking Syndicate's proposals are in all respects fair and moderate shall then proceed to further negotiations.\"\n\nI have, &c.\n\nJ. W. R. BRAZIER,\nAgent-General.",
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    {
        "id": 492131,
        "series_id": 27,
        "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine",
        "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案",
        "series_use_hku_proxy": false,
        "document_key": "CO129-475 - Governor Sir Stubbs & Acting Governor Claud Severn - 1922 [5-7]",
        "page_number": 61,
        "title": "CO129-475 - Governor Sir Stubbs & Acting Governor Claud Severn - 1922 [5-7]",
        "content_text": "THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS.\n\nWHERE TO STAY WHEN VISITING HOME.\n\n[March 25th., 1922.\n\nBASIL STREET HOTEL.\n\nKNIGHTSBRIDGE, LONDON, S.W. 3.\n\nRun by the owner, has the best situation, and is First Class one minute's walk from HARRODS, THE PARK, and SLOANE STREET, 100 Bed rooms with Hot and Cold water, ample Bathrooms, pleasing Restaurant and Lounges, Luggage stored for any period, also room for sorting and packing. \"En Pension\" terms from 22/6, Double rooms without food from £3-, Single from 11/6, Baths included. Excellent Cuisine.\n\nKNIGHTSBRIDGE STATION is in the building from which any part of London is reached in a few minutes.\n\nTelegrams: \"SPOTLESS,\" LONDON.\n\nNOW IN PREPARATION\n\nTHE CHRONICLE AND DIRECTORY OF\n\nTHE FAR EAST\n\n1922\n\nThe book is printed from New Type specially reserved for the purpose and uniformity in every arrangement greatly facilitates reference.\n\nBesides the usual Alphabetical List of firms of TRADES and PROFESSIONS at the larger Commercial Centres.\n\nThe Sixtieth Annual Issue.\n\nThe CHRONICLE and DIRECTORY gives the CLASSIFIED LISTS of CHINA, JAPAN, COREA, INDO-CHINA, SIAM, STRAITS SETTLEMENTS, MALAY STATES, NETHERLANDS INDIA, PHILIPPINES, BORNEO, &c.\n\nThe Directories and Descriptions are of :-\n\nCHINA - Weihaiwei, Peking, Tientsin, Lungchingchun, Changsha, Tsinanfu, Taku, Tsingtau, Peitaiho, Shanghai, Chinwangtao, Soochow, Newchwang, Chinkiang, Manchurian Trade Centres, Nanking, Wuhu, Kiukiang, Harbin, Hankow, Changchun, Yochow, Kirin, Shasi, Hunchun, Ichang, Antung, Chungking, Port Arthur, Dairen, Ningpo, Chefoo, Wênchow, Lungkow, Santuao\n\nJAPAN AND FORMOSA - Tokyo, Yokohama, Hyogo, Kobe, Shimonoseki, Osaka, Moji, Nagasaki, Keelung, Tainanfu, Takow, Hakodate, Anping\n\nEASTERN SIBERIA - Vladivostock\n\nCOREA - Seoul, Won-san, Chemulpo, Fusan, Kun-san, Pingyang, Nicolajevsk, Motpo, Chinnampo, Songchin\n\nFRENCH INDO-CHINA - Hanoi, Haiphong, Annam, Hue, Tonkin Provinces, Quinhon, Tourane, Saigon, Cambodge\n\nPHILIPPINES - Manila, Iloilo, Cebu, Zamboanga\n\nBORNEO - Sarawak, Labuan, Brunei, British N. Borneo\n\nMALAY STATES - Bangkok\n\nThe ALPHABETICAL LIST of RESIDENTS in the Far East contains the names of over 20,000 FOREIGNERS, arranged, with the Initials as well as the Surnames, in strictly Alphabetical Order so that any name can be found instantly.\n\nThe CHRONICLE covers the notable events together with the Texts of all the most important Treaties concluded with the Countries of Eastern Asia, the various Customs Tariffs, Trade Regulations, Chambers of Commerce, Scales of Commissions, Signal Codes, Tables of Money, Weights and Measures, and other Commercial Information.\n\nThe CHRONICLE and DIRECTORY, though condensed in every possible manner, contains every year more pages and now numbers nearly 2,000.\n\nIt is published at the Office of the HONG-KONG DAILY PRESS, LTD., and can be had from and Advertisements sent through the principal Booksellers in Asia and through LONDON - Mr. J. H. G. Murrow, 131, Fleet Street, E.C. 4; Mr. F. Algar, 58, Gracechurch St., E.C. 3; Messrs. G. Street & Co., Ld., 30, Cornhill, E.C.\n\nLONDON ............................ PARIS ...... Messrs. G. E. Puel de Lobel & Cie., 53, Rue Lafayette\n\nCAPE TOWN .....Messrs. Gordon & Gotch, Ld.\n\nSYDNEY ............Messrs. Gordon & Gotch, Ld.\n\nMELBOURNE ................... Messrs. Gordon & Gotch, Ld.\n\nBRISBANE ........................... Messrs. Gordon & Gotch, Ld.\n\nCALCUTTA Messrs. Thacker, Spink & Co.\n\n\"Times of India\" Office\n\nBOMBAY............................ Messrs. Thacker, Spink & Co.\n\nSINGAPORE ......Messrs. Kelly & Walsh, Ld.\n\nFEDERATED MALAY STATES... Kelly & Walsh, Ld., Singapore\n\nBORNEO............ Mr. F. W. Pinnock, Sandakan\n\nBANGKOK .“Bangkok Times\" Office\n\nDAIREN...Mr. F. J. Bardens\n\nTSINGTAU.........Messrs. Cornabe, Eckford & Co.\n\nFORMOSA Mr. A. W. Gillingham, Taipeh.\n\n\"Seoul Press,” Seoul\n\nNAGASAKI ........................... “Nagasaki Press \" Office\n\nKOBE-OSAKA......\"Japan Chronicle\" Office, Kobe\n\nTOKYO.......... Messrs. Kelly & Walsh, Ltd., Yokohama\n\nYOKOHAMA.........Messrs. Kelly & Walsh, Ltd.\n\nVLADIVOSTOCK...Messrs. Sinkevitch Bros.\n\nThe DIRECTORY covers the whole of the ports and cities of the Far East, from Netherlands India to Siberia, in which Europeans reside.\n\nNot only is the Directory as full and complete in each case as it can be made, but each Colony, Port or Settlement is prefaced by a DESCRIPTION, carefully revised each year, most of which will serve as accurate GUIDES FOR THE TOURIST, giving every detail in connection with the places, their History, Topography, etc.\n\nThe Information in these Descriptions, consisting of a hundred interesting articles packed with facts concisely set out, and containing statistics of the TRADE of each Country and Port, would alone suffice to fill a large volume.\n\nLarge Edition, pp. nearly 2,000, $12.00\n\nAbridged Edition, pp. 1,400, $8.00.\n\nDARLINGTON'S HANDBOOKS\n\n\"Sir Henry Ponsonby is commanded by the Queen to thank Mr. Darlington for a copy of his Handbook.\n\n“Nothing better could be wished for.”—British Weekly.\n\n“Far superior to ordinary guides.”—Daily Chronicle.\n\nVisitors to London should use DARLINGTON'S LONDON.\n\n“A brilliant book.”-The Times.\n\n“Particularly good.”—Academy.\n\nBY E. C. Cook & Enlarged Edition) AND E. T. Cook, M.A.\n\nLONDON AND ENVIRONS.\n\nNORTH WALES.\n\nDEVON AND CORNWALL.\n\n24 Maps and Plans. 60 Illustrations.\n\n60 Illustrations.\n\n10 Maps, 80 Illustrations.\n\nSAIGON ............................ Cie, de Com. et de Nav. d'Extreme Orient.\n\nTONKIN............Cie, de Com. et de Nav. d'Extreme-Orient, Haiphong.\n\nMANILA Philippine Education Co.\n\nMACAO ............Mr. A. A. de Mello\n\nCANTON ......A. S. Watson & Co., Shameen\n\nSWATOW............Jardine, Matheson & Co., Ltd.\n\nAMOY...............Messrs. Douglas, Lapraik & Co\n\nFOOCHOW.......... Messrs. T. Brockett & Co.\n\nSTRAIT SETTLEMENTS - Singapore, Penang, Malacca, Prov. Wellesley\n\nFEDERATED MALAY STATES - Perak, Selangor, Pahang, Negri Sembilan, Johore, Kedah, Kelantan, Trengganu, Perlis\n\nNETHERLANDS INDIA - Batavia, Demarang, Padang, Buitenzorg, Sourabaja, Makasser, East Coast of Sumatra\n\nBRITISH AND AMERICAN NAVAL Squadrons\n\nOFFICERS OF COAST AND RIVER STEAMERS\n\nSHANGHAI................... .Messrs. Kelly & Walsh, Ld.\n\nHANKOW AND OTHER YANGTZE PORTS\n\nPEKING AND TIENTSIN...Tientsin Press, Ltd.\n\nCHIFOO Messrs. Curtis, Bros.\n\nMENGGAME\n\n12 Maps; 58,\n\nVisitors to Brighton, Eastbourne, Hastings, Bournemouth, Wye Valley, Severn Valley, Bath, Weston-super-mare, Malvern, Hereford, Worcester, Gloucester, Llandrindod Wells, Llangollen, Aberystwyth, Towyn, Barmouth, Dolgelly, Harlech, Criccieth, Pwllheli, Llandudno, Rhyl, Bettws-y-coed, Isle of Wight, and Channel Islands should send for DARLINGTON'S HANDBOOKS, 1s. each.\n\nLLANGOLLEN: DARLINGTON & Co.\n\nLONDON: SIMPKIN & Co.",
        "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-475 - Governor Sir Stubbs & Acting Governor Claud Severn - 1922 [5-7].txt",
        "external_url": "",
        "rank": 0
    }
]