July 23, 1906.
Swire's Pootung wharves. When the accident occurred the weather was perfectly clear and the quartermaster who was on watch says that although he was keeping a good look out, he saw nothing until he heard the explosion and saw the water rise like a water-spout, drenching $ him with warm water.-N.-C. Daily News.
CHINESE MINING ENTERPRISES.
lrss
more
It has probably struck many of those who have happened to note the large number of applications to start mining operations in the various provinces which have been reported from time, to time, that by now China ought to be fairly bristling with newly-opened mines of all sorts, or at least preparations for them. When the new mining regulations were promulgated it will be remembered that there was a regular scramble to get mining concessions allotted to Chinese so as to outwit and forestall any and all possible foreign applications. When it was found that these were not pouring in, and there was no immediate danger of foreigners desiring to invest their capital under such un- favourable conditions as the Chinese Govern- ment offered, the Chinese set about things with a little
little baste and s method. The applications did not cease, in fact they are said to be still going up to the Board at the rate of two or three a day, with a regularity which has at length attracted the attention of the Board. After careful inves. tigation it has ascertained that most of these petitions are bogus schemes got up for the purpose of obtaining credit or to attain some other end, and that not one of them is being carried out. The petitioners are in most cases possessed of neither the knowledge nor the means to work mines, but who know very well how to turn the permit granted them
account in other
The Board has now therefore decided that in future anyone petitioning for mining rights must give indisputable guarantee that he really has the capital for the undertaking, and that the mine will be really worked before any certificate will be granted as the present condition of affairs is farcical and altogether contrary to the Government intentions. That this will result in any great mining development we do rot for a moment believe, for the Chinese have not in the past proved themselves possessed of any mining skill save where the mineral has lain- close to the earth's surface, aud they have a deep rooted objection to underground barrow. ings and are easily discouraged by difficulties
to
ways.
such as are to be met with in mineral areas in China. The costliness of mining work is another grave obstacle in Chinese estimation, as so much of the money raised for the purpose is actually required to accomplish the work, whereas in most other undertakings there is a generous nominal margin which offers score for the play of those business qualifications which essentially belong to this country.—Peking Times.
WHAMPOA AGAIN.
The Chinese correspondent of the Canton * Daily News has the following notes:-
Owing to the rapid growth of Japanese trade in Canton and the two Kwang provinces, the authorities in Japan' have decided to open a Consulate in Canton. This will be done, we hear, on the 1st of October.
It is projected fo build a railway from Canton to Whampoa to be connected there with the Hongkong (Kowloon)-Canton railway.
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE RÉPORT.
A MINISTERIAL FALSE STEP
One of the most frequent causes of complaint in North China railway stations has been the intolerable crowd of Chinese of all classes and descriptions which habitually swarms on to the platform and invades the trains on arrival at any station. The alarm which the bomb incid- ent caused last year. the Peking Times says, afforded the Chinese the necessary illustration of the inadvisability and danger of allowing thesa promiscuous gatherings. The plan was then adopted of instituting a regulation that only bona fide travellers should be allowed on the platform at Peking, and that those wishing to meet friends or to see them off must procure a five cent ticket for the privilege. At first sight the idea promised to work well and we all know that it is only ticketholders who are allowed on the platform of a station in any country with a properly organised railway service, and those who have been to Japan are and how excellently it is carried out. But as a aware how very strictly the rule is enforced preliminary to any such regulation being satisfactory there must be a proper and com- plete organisation of the luggage and cargo questions, otherwise the object of keeping the platform clear is not only defeated but very great hardship is necessarily entailed on those who have extensive goods traffic on the line. The recent imposition of the five cent ticket in Peking was felt both vexatious and borden. some by those who had goods arriving daily by the trains, and by sometimes more than one train a day, a considerable number of packages meaning perhaps several trips in ordes to take them away with a charge of five centt each time, and the Chinese naturally found is a terrible tax. Foreigners in business, hotele and the like, presumably protested against the tue foreign Minstere inconvenience, and through the doyen made a representation to the Waiwapo which led to the withdrawal of the regulation.
As the newspapers have mentioned already it is intended to build a tramway on the new bund, from the eastern end to Yin Tong, and already a survey of the road has been made. It is also reported that it is not yet decided whether an electric or a horse traction tramway shall be built. In the case of an electric tram way a double line will be wanted and it must be remembered that the tract is a very long one. In the case of a horse-tramway it is only necessary to build one line from the public garden (which is proposed to be built by the Viceroy) passing through the different conces sions on the band. In this case the ricshas and carriages could pass to and fro on the road. The government is already communicating with the firm building the tramway as to the taxes which are to be levied.
This, a correspondent pointed out, "was au unwarrantable interference on the part of the Ministers and is calculated to discourage the efforts of the railway administration to improve the organisation of the railway stations or take any notice of future complaints on the part of foreigners." It does not seem now to have been a false step. It is satisfactory to find that Ministerial intervention can be effectual, bat they ou hit to be certain what is wanted. They should have let the arrangement stand, and insisted on what oar Tientsin coutemporary now suggests, "that the railway coolies should. be created properly uniformed "porters", and be responsible for the removal of all luggage and cargo from the trains to an enclosure beyond owners can take the platform, where the delivery of it by their own servants",
PREACHING CHINESE HATRED.
The Canton Daily News, the new foreign paper at Canton, gives the following teresting translation :---
in-
The Sze Man Sun Pao of the 14th inst.
contains the following article about the 14th
of July:
To-day is, according to the Western calendar, the 4h day of the 7th month, that is to say the anniversary of the conquest of Anuam, and it is usual to assemble on this day in the different places of entertainment. We har merchants of Shameen are preparing the details now that the Freuch Consul and the French of the festival and that on the evening also a great firework display will take place. A good many merchan's of our own country have hired houseboats in time in order to witness the spectacle. The following must be remembered: Annam was formerly within the Chinese boundary but to-day it belongs to France. Therefore I think that on the day of this French memorial festival, the Chinese merchants should feel & hatred without limit. Who would imagine that they do not know that on that day Chinese blood was poured and Chinses lives taken? But notwithstanding they all go to If we think le matter enjoy that festival. over could our people still say twe love our country aud care for it?
45
FOREIGNERS IN THE CUSTOMS SERVICE.
published in the Tainpao (Tientsin), shows The following table compiled from statistics the number of foreigners of different nation- aliti s employed in the indoor staff of the Customs at the present time, and five years agoi
British... French... German
American
Japanese
Italian... Russian Norwegian Portuguese Dutch Austrian Belgian Danish...
Spanish
Swedish
Swiss
1906. 1901.
190
130
48
31
25
16
TO
9
11
The salaries of the Customs officials are ag follows:-
Hk. Tls. 24,00)
Inspector General Deputy Commissioners
Deputy
11
Assistant I. A
18,000
17
9,200
to
15, 00
7,500
+4
"
to
8,400
6,000
13
I, B.
5,400
II. A.
4,800
II. B
19
4,200
III. A
3,600
III. B. IV. A
3,000
11
2,400
IV. B..
to
1,200
1,800
The Tainpao uses these figures, as part of an article the tendency of which is shown.in the following: It will be seen from the above that the salary of the Inspector General and Deputy 1.G. exceeds that of the Viceroy and Governor, while the salary of the Commissioner and Deputy exceeds that of the Provincial Tizasuri and Judge; even the pay of the Assistants is much more than that of the Taotai. and Prefect. With such high pay to foreigners in all the Castoma of China, millions of taels have been issued during these several scors of. · years; it is really a great drainage to the country. It will be a considerable advantage if this sum is collected and circulated among our own people in our own country."
After describing the qualifications and examinations of candidates tor appointments in the indoor staff, the Tsinpao concludes :--
"Now according to these conditions there is no reason why, now that the essay system is abolished, our young men should not be able to qualify themselves for the Customs service. The requirements are simple: geography, universal history, and English; while the chief means of rapid promotion for foreigners, the knowledge of Chinese, is their native tongue, so that there are now hundreds of our young men who are in every way qualified to fill these posts and they should come forward and prove their efficiency. Will not our young men exert themselves to try to do a service to to their fatherland ? "—Ñ.-C. Daily News.
THE MANCHURIAN RAILWAY
The improvement of the permanent way and rolling stock of the Manchurian Railway is to be commenced this year and the necessary materials will be purcuased and engineers au- gaged very shortly. It has been arranged that about 50 of this year's graduates from the College of Engineering in the Tokyo Imperial University will be engaged for work on, the South Manchuria Railway
The shipment of coal at Tairon from the pier seriously interferes with the loading of other cargo, and a large warehouse is also required for the storage of coal. The Government
bada scheme under consideration to make Linsutan the coal port of the Fuchuu and Tenta collieries.
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.