Directory_and_Chronicle_1918 — Page 704

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TIENTSIN

a break was made by floods in the East bank of the Pei Ho at Li Shu Chen (above Tungchow), which caused the deflection of the waters of the Pei Ho, the main tributary of the Hai Ho, to the Pei Tang River, which enters the Gulf further North. This was attended with grave consequences, and enormously increased the burden of the Hai Ho Conservancy Board, whose dredgers were thereafter employed ceaselessly in the endeavour to keep the river open for steamship navigation to Tientsin. There are five dredgers at work at the present time. The breach at Li Shu Chen was repaired by December, 1916, after which the condition of the river-bcd progressively improved. The mud obtained from the river-bed has been usefully and remuneratively employed in the filling-in of the foreign Concessions, which work began in 1910. The whole of the ex-German Concession below the Canal has been filled in, and portions of the French, Japanesc and British Extra-Mural Concessions have also been filled in. The total dredged in 1915 was 235,406 fang, of which 193,371 fang was pumped ashore and 40,035 fang dumped. The revenue acquired in this manner by the Board amounted, in 1915, to Tls. 100,000, which was very useful in view of the great increase in expenditure occasioned by the extra work. The deepening of the Bar Channel has progressed satisfactorily, the powerful suction-dredger Chung Hua having been engaged per- manently on this work since 1914. The Bar dredging-plant was in 1915 improved by the addition of two hopper barges built especially for this work.

In the latter part of the Summer of 1917, in consequence of the torrential rains which succeeded an unusually prolonged period of complete drought in the interior, a vast tract of territory in the Province of Chihli, estimated at about 15,000 square miles, became flooded to a great depth, rendering thousands of Chinese homeless and causing wholesale destruction. On September 24 the Foreign Concessions were invaded by the flood waters as the result of the bursting of the banks of the Yu Ho, or Grand Canal. A tremendous volume of water poured across country, and the British Extra-Mural Areas and Extension, the greater part of the old Concession, the whole of the Japanese Concession, and parts of the French and ex-German Concessions were flooded, in many places to a depth of five or six fect. Europeans in the inundated districts had to seek refuge elsewhere, while the plight of the Chinese was pitiable. The local Consular and Municipal authorities promptly organised remedial measures. After technical advice had been procured, it was decided by all the Foreign authorities to construct dykes round the territories within their jurisdiction and to endeavour to punip out the water enclosed within the dykes before the approach of the severe winter. The scheme progressed rapidly, and within a few weeks the flood waters inside the dykes were pumped out, while there was a progressive fall in the water outside the dykes. Both the Foreign and Chinese did all that was possible to alleviate distress. Refugee camps were built and conducted under efficient supervision on approved sanitary principles, with the result that the fears entertained of an outbreak of epidemic diseases were dispelled. Public opinion demanded that the problem of the Chihli waterways be tackled finally and comprehensively with a view to preventing a similar disaster in the future, and the Chinese Government appointed a special Commission, under the chairnianship of H. E. Hsiung Hsi-ling, and including foreign experts, to examine the questions thoroughly and to subinit recommendations to the Government.

The enormous amount of silt conveyed to the sea and deposited in the bed of the Hai Ho caused the condition of the latter river and the Taku Bar to become dangerous to navigation. The Bar in particular was, in November, in a deplorable condition, and many steamers could not get over. When circumstances permit of a resumption of dredging operations an improvement will again doubtless be effected, but the fate of Tientsin as a port and trading centre depends upon the efficient tackling of the whole problem of the Chihli waterways by the Chinese Government.

In the winter of 1914-15 ice-breakers were utilised in the Hai Ho, and there are now four such vessels the property of the Conservancy.

Work on the bar was commenced during 1906, the Shipping Companies and British Municipality having come to terms in regard to financing the work. A channel of some depth has been made with lakes and is now being used by vessels, as it offers an additional 14 inches depth of water. In January, 1909, a conservancy scheme received the sanction of the Diplomatic Body at Peking and the Chinese Government involving the raising of a loan of TIs. 870,000 to cover initial expenditure on tugs for raking the bar, a complete dredging plant for the bar, and a second dredger for making a fourth cutting in the river. The service of the loan and the annual running expenses will be met by an increased levy of river dues on cargo and by a shipping tax. The trade of the city no longer depends entirely on this route, however. The railway now carries nearly 50 per cent. of the city's trade with the interior, and railway development generally in the district