To the Editor of the Norra-Cuma Dary News.
Dear Sim,—After sending away my last letter on two special points relating to the Yellow River district, I continued reflecting on the subje and at last consult Richthofen's letters which Thad not opened for some The result has been resolve to send another letter supplementing my former one. Verbum sapientibus satis est is all very well, but in these day one of mental absorption by business and the pressure of official duties ''a word to the wise is not always sufficient."
My. present object is to draw attention tothe geographical positi and the new course of the Yellow River and to point out the practicability of utilising this change of circumstances ina very important manner for the comfort snd wealth of the people, the promotion: of commerce, and the future requirements of the Empire, And this of course bears uj the question of repair of the old gap or the fixing and facilitating their ver in its present channel. For if the new course can be made to further the interests of the Empire in every respect, then it would be the very acme of folly to neglect this opportunity and perpetuate a sore evil, " China's he How then does the matter stand? Baron Richthofen, like all other travellers, was Pomertally, impressed with the contrast tween the riches and variety of the resources of North China, and the poverty and helplessness of the people—what is and what might be one of the finest parts of the globe suffering from utter stagnation and exposed to miseries such as famine and flood from which it could easily be delivered, The Baron carefully considered this problem and in various aspects, and speaking of "the means of improving the condition of the Northern Provinces" says "These are all comprehended in one proposition—inuprovement of the means of intercommunication." Again he says, In the central and Southern provinces great improvements are possible without such measures; but inthe orth this is the cardinal point on which all others are dependent." His great remedy was a railway reaching from Honan-foo or Tung-kwan to Shanghai or some place on the sea coast on the Kast, pointing out that by this means the whole of those rich agricultural and mineral regions would be immensely developed, and going so faras to affirm that "The superior quality of the wrought iron made in Shansi would render it possible to export certain descriptions to countries on the Pacific Coast." He strengthens his argument by further affirming that It is very probable that the northern provinces, will eventually become the manufacturing ions in China,"
In all these views he is absolutely correct, A railway would indeed be the best means of opening up these rich regions but water communication is the next best, And now we have the Yellow River tap pit these very places and connecting them all together. This certainly deserves the attention of all merchants, and especially of the Government of China.
Another aspect of this question is still more important, The Baron saw the manifest. geographical importance of this region of Honan in its relation to the North West. To quote his own words,—The great prospective importance however of the region under consideration is founded on its. geographical position, The of Honan-foo is the only future gate to the North-western provinces and central Asia from the East." leo calls it "The Gate of Central Asia" and de-prelates this being considered visionary, establishing this contention' by showing that the configuration of the country admits of no other—inountains on the north and mountains on the south show that "The physical features of eastern Chin allow only of this one and no other passage," Attention therefore should be concentrated on the Honan passage." He is right in this respect as the writer can testify; and it is a fact of the very highest importance both as regards commerce and politics and strategy.
But this change of the Yellow River leads directly to the mouth of this passage, and presents us with a waterway to and from it.
But there is yet another physical fact which adds immensely to thecommercialand ical value of this It is also the Gate or Mouth of nature's highway to Europe. A railroad through Burma, connecting with the Indian lines, would no doubt be a grand achievement. But such
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.