Norwirnsraxpixe that the unusually long prevalence of Southerly and Westerly winds has increased the temperature of the present autumn considerably above the average, and has at the same time increased the prevalence of fevers and other diseases, the people of this Province have been fortunate in other respects. Seldom has so productive a harvest been known, taking the usual products of the soil and never has, in all probability, the yield of cotton, in proportion to the extent cultivated, been so great. The absence of great heat or of high tides daring the summer, and the long continuance of dry warm weather in the autumn have both tended to this end, while not only is the cotton crop large in quantity but excellent in quality. As a natural consequence of this state of affairs, the roads into the Settlements have presented, in the early moi a curious appearance. Train after train of coolies carrying enormous bales of cotton, slang on bamboos across their shoulders, pass along the country roads, beginning their monotonous " lo haw" long before the sun has appeared over the horizon. The cotton merchants' stores are crammed with the article being compressed into sacks for exportation, while cartloads are to be seen passing the buad at all hours of the day. Never, since the cotton famine in Europe lech to a forced trade in 1962.64, has sach a quantity of cotton passed through Shanghai. At present, with the Jow prices prevailing, the great rendezvous of the surplus stock has been the Kin-lo-yuen wharf. Day after day have the S.$.N. Co.'s steamers been leaving, piled as fall as the use of every available space could make them. "Floods'in the upper Yangtsze have for the last three years interfered seriously with the growth of cotton in the central provinces, so that this unusual crop in Kiangsa has not come too soon to relieve the requirements of the interior. Probably even Chinese statesman could be made to perceive, in such a case, the advantages which a quick and ready means of communication offers, in equalizing the wants of a country. The inhabitants of Hupeh get the cotton of Kiangsv, not only early in the season, in time to prepare their winter clothing, but at a cheaper rate than it could belaiddown in the old-fashioned junk. The people of Kiangsu, on the other hand, sell their goods in an active market, and reap at once the benefit of the good harvest which now they: can turn to immediate profitable account, Both sides are pleased and advantaged, while the owners of the steamers have also their profit quickly and securely.
We will: suppose for a moment that the whole of the river were open to steamers, to call and trade. Not only Kiangsu would derive the full benefit from the good crop of cotton, but Kiangpeh would also come in for the additional profit. represented by the cost of carriage to Shanghai or Chiukiang, as well as the advantage to be gained by arcadier market. As it is, Kinngsu derives nearly all the benefit, the other equally productive country being shut out by the enhanced cost of carriage. Again, many places nearly adjacent to the river Yangtsze_ require cotton, for their winter's use,.as badly as Hankow or Kiukiang, yet-they must pay the extra cost of carriage from one or other of those places, besides having to. wait till their better supplied neighbours are. helped, and, even after that, while slow native junks are conveying the article to their doors. It is well known that never were the inhabitants of the districts adjacent to the Great River in worse plight, yet the very things which they need for their comfort, and almost for their existence, pass remorselessly by their doors. They can see the cotton passing, piled up in bales on deck; yet they have to wait till it gets to a treaty port, is landed, paysliconce duty, barrier duty, and all the other charges which car be heaped on it, and after all this be further delayed by travelling in a slow craft which canon an average make about 60 lia day, before they can reap the advantage to be derived.
Suppose, again, the case to be reversed. They have had a good. harvest, their yards and storehouses. are overflowing with beans, with hemp and with rice. Five minutes might put these on board a steamer which would carry them to a good market in Kiang-sri, where perhaps there has been a scarcity, As it is ab present, they must reverse the operation; the produce, must be sent to Hunkow,. Kiukiang or Chinkiang, must wait while the slow. boats are carrying it, must be. exposed to all the chaucesof bad weather, of wreck and accident of all sorts, must pay. at each place heavy taxes, and. at last, when it does reach Shanghai, perhaps Japan or Canton has been able to. send the goods quicker and cheaper.
Now we would ask the Chinese ly, who gains by this style of doing Business? It cannot be.the farmer, who does not, meet a ready, market for, his goods. It cannot be the merchant, who exchanges, certain profit for the chance of heavy loss., It, cannot be the consumer, who has to.pay-in, the long ran for this delay' and all, these, expenses. It cannot be. the. government who, by making the tariff, too, high, and by checking the carriage, the goods, really reduce their. own takings,. Nor, finally, can it, be,,,.th juukimen, who would find much better, mo ployment and much quicker..pay, in carrying a large amount of produce'a, way to or from the, steam at the lowest possible, rates, a very. emi than in slowly and listlessly conveying,
quantity of it lideed, to long distances, from home. If then no, one can gain an advantage from the present, system,. while all would. devi tinue, any longer, a false system, involves loss of comfort and property to all concerned?
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.