CHANNEL OF THE WAN RIVER, "Lux, Magistrate of Han-yang, and the anb-Magistrate is reclamation, with reference to the falling away of the North bank the of Han, near Chuh-chia-tsin jetty. A sandbank has risen up in the river, which by obstructing the course of the waters has driven them round right against the bank, until the evil has become one difficult to resist, and unless means are instituted to protect the place, the whole of the riverine street will be undermined and It is therefore now determi channel for the river throng bank, by digging out a deep the length of 2,000 chang, beginning from Ch'ing Ch'ang Ho to the Chen-chia temple. By this, the water flowing down from above will be able to descend in a straight course, the old channel will be divided, Chieh-chia-tain will be no longer exposed to the brunt of the stream, and by one effort a lasting work will be performed, Digging will commence on the 15th of this month, and orders are to be given to residents on' the island to remove. This proclamation, then, oxpects all living on the bank where work is to be done, and whose houses will interfere with the proposed channel, to more within days, those farther off within 10" days, and those still more distant within the year. All must be careful to regard this order, and any delaying this important work by contumacious refusal or delay will be severely punished and made to move. Let none say due notice has not been given. Tremblingly obey. A special proclamation, "Yen, Prefect of Han-yang, Lin district magistrate of Han-yang, and St, sub-magistrate, issue a proclamation for general information.
With reference to the falling in of the Chieh-chia-tsin jetty at Hankow, whereby great injury i Likely to accrue to the place, instructions have been received from H1. E. the Governor to consult over and institute measures of protection, so that repairs may be commenced. The Prefect and Magistrate thereupon got together the chiefs of the elders, and held an investigation into the subject, when they decided that to open a deep channel through the island which has risen up in the district between the Yung-yn Ho and the Chen-chia temple, and likewise, for the purpose of turning off the fierce current of the river, to embank and face with stone the South bank by the Chuan Heiang Lane, would be of great advantage to the various jetties at Hankow; they therefore sent up report recommending the commencement of the work, All this ison record. But in this case the undertaking is an extensive one, and the ex-Penses considerably, so that great exertion will have to be used to obtain the money and to be able to report progress. Now the opening of this channel for the river will greatly benefit the various damaged riverine streets from the Chen-chia temple to the Lung-wong temple, and for assisting this important work, action identical to that contained in rules for repairing the wall must. be taken, namely to make a levy from rent of houses. Besides ordering deputies to investigate this, the writers must issue this proclamation, which expects the merchants and people of Hankow, whether landlords or house renters, to know and understand that, in making this opening for the river and banking up and facing the South bank, the shopmen and copie residing in the riverine streets by the then-chia temple are largely benefited, and therefore, from the second moon of this year up to the completion of the works, according to the exact amount of the rent, a monthly tax of 1/5th will as in old rules be levied on all house-owners and house-renters, and disobedience and refractory conduct will be severely'punished. Letall tremblingly obey. Do not disobey. A special proclamation."?
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.