Tue import trade of Tientsin has gone on increasing until the port stands next only to Shanghai, in its consump. tion of Foreign manufactures; but its export trade is nearly a blank; and this fact lends additional interest to the prospect which was held out some time ago, that the Chinese authorities actually. contemplated working the coul-mines of Eh ig to better purpose, and permitting the constraction of a road by which their produce could reach Tientsin at less cost and trouble. The creation of a new feature of trade is important in any case; bat it is expecially so in the ease of Tientsin, where the balance of trade is so largely adversothat we find an export of nearly Tls. 7,000,000 of treasure daring 1869, to square accounts. The matter has been recalled to us by perusing a paragraph in the Customs' Report for the past year, The export of Coal may one day be sufticient to render it more worthy of special mention, but hardly to very special consideration. I am told on gx that the Chinese Government se shen: selves about to work the coal in =11e hills to the east of Tientsin, employing foreign machinery for the purpose. The step is one which may lead to the ultimate development of the trade; but, as in all other matters in China where progress, from a western point of view, is concerned, nothing but aslow and cautions movement can be expected. I do not hear that it forms any part of the present plans of the high officer who is to direct and regulate the trade, to facilitate the transport by even so little as the laying of a tramway on any part of the road between the hills and this. This, however, may follow, as well as trucks drawn by an engine, from which the step to the long coveted passenger and general goods carrying railway would hardly appear great one. It is certain that, unless the coals are laid down in Tientsin at a vei much lower price than that at which they can be sold (10 to 11 taels) at the present time, there will be but moderate encouragement to continue the work. It will be i teresting to note the progress of this undertaking, for it may be hoped that it will assist, in however small a degree, in breaking through the prejudices which have hitherto stood in the way of the more general introduction of Western appliances, in developing the mineral resources of the country.
But the high official who was to accomplish all this has now gone to Europe, under a dark cloud of obloquy; and the events of the past year have directed the attention of the Chinese authorities rather to the enlargement of the Taku forts, than to works of a more peaceful character, Even ander Chunghow, who was supposed to be favourable to improvement, no step was really taken, The mine-owners and people expressed afrauk desire for extended trade. Wo believe even the Tsung-l Yamen once went so far as to promise Mr. Hart that a road should be con-stracted; but halted immediately, in terror at the concession. Still there is no doubt the subject was entertained daring 1868-9; and if only a flow of traffic could once have been est plished, the experiment of a tramway might pavo been eventually led up to. For the time, however, the project seems to have completely lapsed and while the Japanese are anxiously enlisting Foreign aid to develope the valuable coal-fields which have been discovered under their soil, the Chinese seem as far off as ever from making use of the mineral wealth with whicl Nature has supplied them. Nagasaki coal is brought to Shanghai, and carried to Tientsin; but the mines within a few hours journey of either port are condemned to lie untouched. In their care to guard the people against the pollution of foreign intercourse, the mandarins send away from the country hundreds of thousands of taels which would otherwise be spent in remanorating native labour and enriching native landowners.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.