Memorialist has received from the Grand Council the Imperial Edict of 18th Sept., 1892, to the following effect:—"The Board of Revenue supports the Memorial of T'ang. Chiung requesting that the rate allowed for the transport of the Yunnan copper may be raised by one tael per picul. To this we have already given our assent. Ina postscript memorial the Board requests that orders be given to arrange the copper transport on a proper basis. Trang Chiung has been at fault in past times and is now employed on his gued behaviour. He should therefore show extra zeal, but since his arrival in Yunnan and his reports of gradual success, three or four years have elapsed, yet no more than two consignments or copper are forwarded each year; there has been no increase whatever. He has indeed been neglectful of his mission, A generous rise being now granted in the rate of transport, he should do. hia utmost, and year by year add to his consignments. Should he still do nothing but talk, and exaggerate to cover up his shortcomings, let the Board of Revenue severely denounce him, and he will be punished with the utmost rigour. As to his former requests that he might be permitted to raise more capital, to be repaid by annual instalments, and that the mines in the Ihsi circuit (near Tali Fu) should for the present pay no taxes, the period mentioned in his memorial has now elapsed; let T'ang Chiung settle these matters at once. The consignments of copper from Yunnan have for the last few years contained a large quantity of iron ore and inferior copper, amounting to 80,000 or 90,000 catties in some cases, to more than 100,000 catties in others. This is preposterous. Let T'ang Chiung give strict orders that this do not occur again. Let him also keep close watch, and should such conduct continue, let him denounce offenders."
The memorialist ventures to point out that to produce a large amount of copper, it is necessary to obtain good ore and plenty of it. The quantity of ore depends on the number of men employed, but its quality is insjonnl lao power of wer be innpecvg, thu best ore is found at Ch'iaochia, but it only yields 7 or 8 per cent, or 10 per cent at the outside, while the Weining ore only gives 3 per cent. The Hstienwei and P'ingyi ore give also 3 per cent. (Note, all these places are inthe north-east of Yiiman. Wei-ning is just inside the Kueichow borderline.) This year's production of 1,500,000 catties of copper was smelted out of 31,000,000 catties of ore. The output of ore cannot be considered small, and the mines cannot be reckoned to be bad, yet the result is the small amount above mentioned. This is because the ore is poor and must be sifted seven or eight times. It is a work of 60 or 70 days to extract the copper, and the consequent expenses are great. The company is therefore embarrassed and the con-sigments of copper not up to the standard quantity.
The memorialist will use his utmost exertions to improve matters and hopes to succeed now that the rate allowed for transport has been raised. As to the repayment of the extra Tls. 100,000 raised by the company, a part, Tls. 40,000, has already been repaid. In consequence of floods this year large repairs are necessary at the mines and the company beg to be allowed to defer till next year the ent of the remaining is. 60,000. Mfemonalist is afraid that unless their request be granted the consignments of copper for Peking will be lessened. He has given orders that no copper will pass muster unless at the least of 85 per cent. touch, and that great care must be taken in smelting the ore. With regard to the mines in the Yibsi district, he observes that they are private enterprises, and as yet have had no success. He suggests that the question of taxes be therefore left in abey-since until these mines are worked with profit.—Reseript. Let itbeas proposed. Let the Bo rt of Revenue take note.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.