'T'ang Ch'iung, administrator of mines in Yunnan, asks leave to adopt new system for transporting Government copper from Tungeh'win and Chaot'ung. Ten years ago the old routes were adopted again, and the copper from Tungch'uan was sent to Litchow, part by Chaot'ung and part by Weinivg. The share which fell to the Chaot'ung route was then about 200,000 catties, while the ordinary merchandise travelling by the same road was 4,000,000 catties. The Government paid for the transport of each picul of copper a fraction under thirteen tael cours per day's journey; while merchants gave over twenty cents. Still there was no difficulty in getting animals because the number wanted was comparatively small, and further the carriers obtained return freights Wy carrying Hlupch cottons to Yenchingfu. But of late the amount of copper to be carried has increased fourfold; while the return trade in cottons has decayed, and from bad seasons the price of provender has yone up immensely, being: now 1,400 cash per bushel (tou) of maize, and 1,800 cash for rice. The freight is not enough to pay for the food of the mules and ponies, most of which have gone off to Kueichow or Szechuan, Leaving only six or seven hundred animals available for government use. There are some 400,000 catties of copper detained on the road, and another 200,000 which are waiting at the mines. If nothing be done, the forwarding business will come to a complete standstill. Tke memorialist proposes te adopt the old system employed for lead on the Weining route, namely to pay for the transport from stage to stage, and to employ men as well as cattle to carry the copper, Tu these mountains men can only take fifty catties, and with the present cost of food they must be paid good wages. It is hard to say therefore whether the new system will be as cheap as the old one, or whether it will cost a little more. At any rate it will afford a livelihood to a great number of persons. When it has been tried for a few months, permanent regulations can be made.—d ppruced.
9th April.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.