September 18, 1905:] --
have agreed to pay an annual royalty. That if the people were to destroy any of the com pany's property they would be only doing harm to their own countrymen.
BOAT TAX.
Viceroy Shum, as you probably know, is very anxions to put a stop to gambling in the Kwangtung Province. There is, however, a hortage of revenue, and His Excellency found it impossible to cut off that derived from this source without replacing it in some other way,
Some people now ask, why not reimpose the tax on boats ? The last mon polists failed because they used European measures to calculate the tax to be imposed on each craft. A riot ensued The menopolists at that time offered $280,000 per annum for the right to tax all boats in Kwangtung Province. I am well acquainted with the farmers in question, and they told me that they expected a pront of about $1,400 000 a year.
and the Government cancelle the concession,
Now, if the Chinese Government were to take the matter up themselves they could collect a large amount of revenue from a source so ex-
tensive that it would not cause any great individual hardships. The number of boats, large and small, in the Kwangtung Province is something like 300,000. Au average of $4.50 per craft would bring the figure to over a million dollars.
Take for instance the British portion of the
canal at the back of the Shameen. There are abont 800 boats of different sizes which are taxed by the Municipal Council as follows:-
Sha Teng (sampan). There are about five hundred of these, the tax being from $. to $4 each per annum.
Cha Teng (tea boats). About eighty; taxed from 84 to 8 each per annum..
Yuen Po Teng (joss paper boats). About fifty
in num er taxed from $4 to $8 each per annum. Tun Po Teng (boats where one can hire a bed to pass a night in). About one hundred in number, taxed from $4 to $5 each per annum. Chu Hong Teng (pig's bran boats). About fifty in number, taxed from $4 to $8 each per annum. Sze To (silk junks). There are about twenty of these, taxed from 812 to $15 per annum, Trere is also an additional fee of twenty cents for issuing the license. The to al amount of revenue collected from these boats is about $5,000 per annum.
A great nuisance to thcss residing on the back of the Shameen is caused by the canal -being congested by th se boats. Quarrels take place day and night, fighting and what not. Over a hundred of these boats are occupied by prostitutes. At times so densely do the boats crowd together that a floating bridge is made
from China town to the Shameen.
What would happen if a conflagration broke out amongst these toals? The Shameen would be over-run by all sorts of bad characters, who would certainly rob the residences during the excitement.
During the night a rearing trade is done by hawker's boats, the cccupants of which advertise their wares at the top of their voices. What is the use of a Municipal Council at all if it cannot arrange things better than this? This awful noise is kept up till two o'clock every morning.
I would further point out that though the bridge leading from the Chinese town to Shameen is guarded by a police- man, who searches all parcels that are taken out by Chinese to the oily, the back part of the Shameen all along the canal is not policed at all! What is to prevent robbers or thieves dumping stolen goods into a sampin
...
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
places. Most of the boats here are above.board business craft, and not brothels in disguise. Perfect peace and harmony prevails. Two policemen walk up and down the bank, and this in spite of the fact that the French concession is not nearly so long as the British.
Canton, 8th September.
THE WISDOM OF\THE VICEROY,
In a previous letter, I mentioned that a merchant named Ng Po Kwong had petitioned Viceroy Shum for a concession to build the water works of the Canton City, &c. Since then, another citizen here, by the name of Ho Kai fan, has also applied for the same privilege His Excellency Viceroy Sham is reported to bave replied: I have discovered that the petitioners, Ng Po Kwang aud Ho Kai Sau, are not substantial business men, that they possess no capital of their own, that their sole object is to segnare the concession in their names first, and to make capital out of it afterwards. I have a suspicion that if they acquired the concession they would hawk it round among the different European firms in the hopes of raising foreign capital to float the project and, of course, at the same time, to benefit their own pockets. I have observed that all epidemics, such as plague, cholera and typhoid generally spring up in the winter and Spring seasons, and the majority of the people do not know that clean- liness is essential to the preservation of health. A a matter of fact, a great many of the people do not take any trouble to look after their health, nor haye they any notion of cleanliness aud sanitation, and large numbers of them have contracted diseases through drinking impure water from the wells and canals. In Canton very few wells have pure water that is suitable for drinking. The natural y some of the filthy water in the drains wells are all made so close to the drains that filters into the wells. During the Winter. season when the water in the wells is it becomes much more filthy, repugnant and very low,
fall of germs. It should be no matter of surprise that those people who drink water from these wells are liable to contract diseases which germinate in the Winter season and break out in the Spring season. I have gone into the water works question very carefully and I am certain project could be completed without much diffi if it is placed in skilful hands this gigantic culty. It will not only be a great benefit to the place but the concessioners will also be able to
make an enormous profit from the business. But it would be very dangerous to grant such an important concession to people of insufficient standing. I am aware that His Excellency Cheong Cook Nam has been lately appointed minister to examine into the com- merce of foreign countries. I know him to be a man of excellent reputation, and he is con- sidered to be one of the wealthiest men in the able to raise the large capital, and to enc1urage Kwangtung Province. I am sure he will be his own countrymen to take up shares in a concern that would be so profitable and bene ficial to the city. I have, therefore, placed the water works proposition entirely into his hands, for him to draw up the necessary regulations shares in the concern.' of the company, and to invite people to take up
11
APPOINTMENT OF MINISTERS.
Local authori ies have received a telegram from Peking which states that on the 4th inst. an Imperial Edict was issued appointing Mr. Chan Tung Shang (formerly Hoppo's Treasurer) minister for China to Belgium. Yesterday Mr. Wong Ko, a Tartar "Hanlin " here, alo
195
Canton, 9th September.
VICEROY'S DOCTOR ARRIVEDAUS The celebrated Doctor Chan Lin Fong, who was summoned by Viceroy Shum, arrived here yesterday with another Doctor named Li Ping Shu, a member of the Offcial Medical Soolety. They both took up their gavrters in the Viceroy's Yamoù.
BUN NING MAGISTRATE IN DIFFICULTY. Recently several trades in the Sun Ning distriot petitioned Viceroy Shum, charging the Sun Ning Magistrate, Chan Yick, with em. mitting some very serious offence. His Excellency immediately issced an order to suspend him from duty. He was brought to Canton yesterday and handed into the custody of the Poon Ya Magistrate, who has sines received official instructions from the Viceroy to investigate the case.
-- WEN TAUTAI'S NEW APPOINTMENT, Cheong Cham Yeong and Chan Sin Pia (Taotais), president and vice-president of the Cheong Pin Hok Tong, of Canton, have Shum to proceed North to review the grand received official instructions from Viceroy Naval Manoeuvres of the Pel Yang squadron. will be appointed acting president of the college. During their absence, Tantai Wen Taung Yao...
GOVERNMENT OFFICES, **
mentioned that Viceroy Shum ordered the In my correspondence of the 30th ultimo I following offices to be removed to the Governor's Yamen, viz:-Sin-Hau-Kuk, Li Kin Head Department, Chief Police Station and the Sha- Tin-Knk. Since issuing the above order, His Governor's premises, and to make an estimate. Excellency has deputed au officer to survey the of the cost of certain alterations and repairs, A few days ago the officer sent in his estimate, which amounted to about 15,000 tasis. When Viceroy Shum saw that the total sam in the report ran up to five figures he immediately rescinded the order..
EARTHQUAKE,
At noon to-day a rather severe earthquake seconds. Many people sail their houses were occurred here. The shock lasted several
shaken.
HA CHAN TONG. --
It is said that a merchant here has offered
$120,000 to Viceroy Sham for the re-opening. of the "Sing Song" houses in Ho Chan Tong. As the offer is such a tempting one, I have no doubt that he will accept it.
BOYCOTT CONTINUES.
There is no doubt that Viceroy Shum has boycott. He has imprisoned several of the been lately endeavouring to orush the American chief agitators, issued proclamations sternly prohibiting all public meetings and speech making, and warned the people that if they are caught posting insulting placards, he will Notwithstanding these stringent measures cause them to be most severely punished.
there has been very little sign of abatement of the boycott movement. Yesterday a Chi nese friend of mine told me that only few days ago the baycott committee had sent printed notices to all the traders and resi dents in the city directing them to have the I went and made a copy of the notice. Almost notices posted on the walls of their premises.
every shop or residence had one posted on its front. Here is a literal translation of it: (Headed with largə charactera). “This family or shop (as the case may be) will not purchase american goods." (The following is in small characters) "Americans have maltreated the Chinese. This is contrary to reason or right principles. Now the people of our country are united in retaliating by not purchasing American
and, for that matter, going off in sampana received a private telegram saying, that an goods. This is only a proper course to adopt.
themselves with their booty,
Again, suppose there was a riot in Chinatown; with the congested traffic in the c.nal the mob could walk over the boats on to the Shameen.
Imperial Ediot had been issued appointing him minister for China to Italy.
TRIAL OF THREE BOYCOTTERS.
Yesterday, the three arch-boycotters Ma Tat Now, the big question is: how is all the Shan, Poon Shun Ming, and Ha Chung Man, enormous revenue collected from these boats by who were arrested by order of Viceroy Shum in the Municipal Council disposed of ? To the meeting which was held at the Kwong improve the canal? Not a bit of it The canal Chai Hospital, were tried before the Nam Hoi is silting up every day with rubbish thrown Magistracy. I believe orders were given not to try the case in public court. No olerks,
into it. This is not so in the French conces-
|
If any of our countrymen should transact business with the Americans they must be devoid of the sense of shame.'
A tobacco factory has been started in Honam and it is said they are turning out cigars and cigarettes by the thousand daily. An express was circulated by this factory the other day which is worded as follows:—(Headed), ̈ ̈ ̈ ̈ ̈ Do not smoke American cigarettes and cigara. Oar brand is much cheaper and better"
"In order to meet the
given up
Wishes of
sion, where not more than one row of boats | interpreters, or yamen runners were permitted | our countrymen who mand is allowed to lie idle, and at night time here to be present at the inquiry. The Nam Hoi | American cigarettes and cigars we have three parts of the canal is clear of boals. The Magistrate spoke Cantonese to the prisoners, established a large factory in Honam. We system as carried out on the French concession, and their statements were taken by the Nam i shall be pleased to receive orders from mer
chants and traders, "t indeed, is perfect. No noise: no quarreling for Hoi personally.
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