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THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
generally what foreign rule hes dene, and wherein the administration of the last two years has differed essentially from that which ile Chinese maintained. There is no need of Esurance that the city to be handed back is rastly different from that which was taken cver, untoward as have been the conditions for anything like the improvement of which the plae is capable. If it were to remain in foreign bands for another two years, it is not tco much to assume that it would pass cut of the recognition of those who knew it in its Clincre days. Fince foreigners, with their (yes open, can detect no difference between one Chinese city and another, it may Le doubted if ratives, decking at pictures or taken blindfold fer of injection, could cistingnith between them ordinarily; for a city consists of a wall erclosing low, dingy, nondescript houses, on ranew ill-imelling aucets; and that des cription applies almost uniformly throughout rey part of Chira which foreigners bave Len. Its twelve miles of wall have come down and the mcst careless ol seiver would rew at Tientsin part from the nest. In place of the wall there is a road around the city, 60 feet wide. Even the natives, haid-pressed as they are for icem, avoid contiguity to the wall, whose naturiiccretion of dampness and monid become in time augmented by the filth of a common dump. This too has been removed, Id the air, free for the first time to sweep through the streets, res ches them without con- tamiration. Where the return fire of the foreign guns destroyed houses, work of late has locked to an increase of ir-space rather than to building-construction, and it has leen possible in certain quarters to lay cut streets anew, of respectable width. In a place whose population is estimated at something more than 1,000,000, ard which was always utterly heedless of ɛani- taly law, it is not practicable to approximate the extent of disease. No che denies that in former ye18 Tientsin maintained the native avenge in this respect. When the biting cold that comes early and goes late here drives the lumin kind into fastid hovels, cause and effect Laturally work along non-resisting lines. But since the foreigners teck charge, the streets have been kept reasonably clear of filth, and the continucus nic of fresh air administered to them hes so far dissipated disease geims, and while other native cities suffered last winter firm scarlet fever, small-pex, and the other usual epidemics, there was no widespread sickness in Tientsin. Conditions here invited such &flictions more than in places undisturbed, for in spite of recent extraordinary demand for lalcar, ibe troubles of two years ago had acute result here, in the devastation of dwellings, in uin of native enterprises, and in general privation and poverty. If disease was ever to gain foothold, and cause havoc among the multitude, this was the most auspicious time for it. Its failure to do so may be credited to the care and judgment of foreign governmental supervision. As elsewhere in the North, the Lreak-up of haphazard bande, who had gone aimed into the outbreak, the creation of a lawless element made homeless and hungry by the blight of the allies, and the wholesale desertions from the Imperial forces, threw upon this region thousands of men, determiced that it should feed and clothe them, without return on their part. Over the thirty miles of stretch between Tientsin and the sea, solitary traveľ involved the certainty of robbery, and travel in ary company was safe only under armed guard. The situation was i finitely wore, and with Letter cause, than it ever becomes around Can- ten, where pirrcy still flourishes, for here out- lawry wis not only the easiest way to get a livelihood, but to many it seemed doubtless the only way. How native authority might have dealt with such a situation may be judged from conditions in the northern part of this pro. vince, where the flower of Imperial soldiery, comprising some of the famous commands of Yuan Shikai, whom that warrior-statesman graciously restrained from attacking the foreign armies in 1900, lest they might annihilate them, and who are now led by one of the greatest of the native heroes, Gen. Ma Ya Kun, have proved powerless to suppress the robber bands that roam that district. The robbers go where they please, do as they like, and report says they have pooled their interests, so that at short
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THE T.P.G.'S WORK.
(July 14, 1902. notice, 4,000 of them may be allied under an If there were a channel, a trip of 70 miles by organised ccmmune, to resist interference. Staff water would bring the bips bete. The rail councils among the Chinese are as mysterious connection at Tongku cuts distance to about as those of state, but in agent of Yuan Shikai, 40 miles but it is made at great delay in time, just arrived from Paoting-fu, reports that when and even if cargo-boats avoid the "rils, and Ma joined his troops on this Lorthern detail, come up the river, the cost of trarshipments he called bis advisers together, and addressed and he damage re handling, pat en goods a tax them to this effect: "There are 4,000 robbers that no other country would stand. Foreigners ont on these plains. Since we have been sent propose by this improvement to save a port for here to capture or kill them, of course we must the Chinese. Nothing except this improvement do it If you overtake the robbers, and they can save it, for other aspirants for Enpremacy sbow fight and prove too strong for you. I hope have already appeared and since Tientsin has no you may all make your way back safely. Since manufacturing industry, exports of wool, hides, I am a little lame. I think I will start now. camel wcol and straw braid, which constitute There may be a medal or something awaiting the cutputs into the markets of the world me at Peking." Whatever may be thought can quite as conveniently be shipped from of the
accuracy of this report. it is certain a better place, unless special effort be made that Ma es spent more time at Peking to retain this market. Other ports might since the return of the Court than in pursuit also as conveniently become distributing points of robles, and that for services rendered for the imports now dumped here. Chinese in guarding the flight or return of the Im-administration of this city never produced more perial party, or for hencurs yet to be won, he than 20,000 faels for the Imperial treasury Las been the recipient ci varios gaudy tekens. from the item known as native customs. It was A foreign battalion would prolibly clear the an item quite distinct from the present cou- country. That task locks hopeless with in tribntion of 700,000 taels to the customs, from entire division of the native troops. Here order the provisi nal government, but since the same has been brorght about end travel with safety place furuished both funds, distinction may be bas become possible through the efforts of the ignored for the purpose of showing that from police nearly all natives, under fercign direc- whatever source, the city gave the general tion. The stretch to the sea comes within the government only the smaller sum at a time when it was under no expense for improvement district of this provisional government. The police system has covered it no better than it as at present, and when collections were doubt- has covered the city. But cutlaws hereabouts less much larger. Chinese are arguir g that the have understood that business was mernt, and general government is a loser under the present that authorities were after them in earnest, and administration, because Tientsin formerly con they have gene where they fel reasonably sure tributed to the government a total of 2,500,000 Where for taels. That sum consisted in 1899 of 1,000,000 of immunity in their operations. eign force maits the people are peaceful, from Imperial Customs, 250,000 taels from although, except at centres of pipulation, that native customs and 1,000,000 taels from the force is now hele large, in China proper. salt tax. Last year, although business had not recovered, customs, including the city item, reached) 500,000 and official estimates say that the amount this year will be at least 2,000,000 taels, exceeding by 750,000 taels the best Chi- nese collections, in times of normal business from port and city charges. There was no salt-income last year and there can be none for. two or three years, whether Chinese or foreign- ers may be in control, because the allies con- fiscated the salt two years ago; and under the Chinese method of collecting salt by evaporation from the sea, the stacks of salt that yield revenue must stand two or three years, in order that the bitter taste from the sea may be seasoned out of them. There has been official computation on what the alt-tax should have yielded; had it been handled honestly; by which it appears that instead of 1.000,00 taels, it should have produced 2,500,000 faels. If the salt-tax were in operation under the provisional to Peking in government, the revenue the present year would thus approximate. 4,500,000 taels, or £350,000 more than the Chinese hore passed over in the best year ever had. that the port
The juiciness of official plums in China has long been notorious, but the present conditions of govern- ment here make this the first instance of authoritative computation on the subject. With places as rich in pickings as this scattered over the cmpire, the tenacity with which the official class clings to its traditions, and wishes above all things to be let alone, may be appreciated. Considerations such as these do not argue here against the proposition that the Chinese are entitled to rule their own districts. regardless of the lessons now conveyed as to the need of official reform. There may be officials in the provisional goveri ment to whom $1000 Mexican per month, or £800 per year may not come as easily again as now, and who wish to held on as earnestly as the Chinese wish to renew their old grip. One may hear also pretty talk of native reseniment that the walls bare been taken down, and of intention to reco. struct as the foreigners get cut, so that the sinells now vagrant may again be penned up within the city. Nobody has inti. mated that the Chinese will be stopped if they wish to rebuild, but the river improvement must go on, and unless councils wholly selfish prevail there will be enough work of undoubted practi- cal value to be done, in putting and keeping the city in commercial trim, to give natives occupa- tion for some years, without working overtime for the sake of sentiment. Military order esta |blished the administration now in power. It
The government has been international in its administration. Its German, French. Jaj anese, Italian and Russian directors preside in turn at meetings of the supervisory council. Its Secretary is American, with French, German Japanese and English under secretaries. The police serve under a British Chief, & Major; a French Captain hus charge of the Sanitary Department; the Treasurer is German; a Nor- wegian is Director of Public Works; an Am. erican presides over the chief cut. The Chinese Secretary of the government is an American Tientsin who was formerly President of University. Members of the Council receive each $1,000 Mexican per month, the chiefs of the departments each £800 per year. There are 600 foreign police who receive $29.000 Mexican per month, and 1,157 Chinese police, who receive $16,500 Mexican per month. Cost of the government, including maintenance of works, has been 50,000 taels per month. The government has collected about 2,000,000 (aels per year out of which it has constructed 15 miles of street; it has built highways along the river front, besides turning the site of the city wall into a boulerard; it has constructed a fire drawbridge and smal r bridges; it has thrown into recreation grounds portious of the cld city just within the old walls, where only dumps existed before, and it has suppressed beggary in public, a nuisance insufferable to all except natives in every Chinese city. It has given 250,000 taels towards the improvement of the river and 760,900 taels yearly to the Im- perial Maritime Customs. in Chinese years the city gave nothing for either iver-improve- ment or to the custom fund. The river scheme is a Protocol arrangement, which must be pushed to success if the city is to hold its place as leader in northern business. As the Chinese never spent a dollar toward saving the river, it is quite probable that they never would have done so of their own initiative. Skippers yet bring goods north who remember when they
the up to
city and turu I could steam
their ships in the stream. Nothing much When larger than a gunboat can do that now. cold weather breaks and the hills melt they send down dirt, with the snow and ice, and that which does not clog the stream with bars in the interior, helps to fill the channel here and So the underwriters on the way to the sea.
than twelve forbid ships drawing more feet to cross Taku Bar unlightered, and there, eleven miles off shore, they must await weather, which will enable cargo-boats to go out to them.
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