Siangtan, Oct. 24.
The effect of the war is noticeable is various ways. Prices have gone up on all foreign goods, in many cases without reason. In one shop foreign glass tumblers doubled in price within a few days of the opening of the war, for, ''The glass mines in England are now closed." Photo graphic plates also jumped half as much again. Probably wholesale dealers feared for the replenishment of their stocks.
Mines and The German staff at the Pinghsiang coal mines has been greatly reduced, for all but three were called to the front. Other nationalities are now represented there. One effect of the conclusion of the Han-yueh-ping loan is that one or even two new shafts at some distance from the existing mines are to be sunk. This will mean a greatly increased output. In normal times this has been about 3,000 day. A good deal of this turned into coke on the spot. For the past few months, however, the output has been only about half this amount, for the railway bridge at Liling, halfway to the n r, was partly destroyed by flood. It has not yet been repaired though a temporary bridge is now being constructed. This break in the line necessitated the carrying of the coal across the river by hand, either by boat or on a bridge of boats, The supply of timber for the mines could not meet the demand for similar reasons. Even for passenger trains the delay at the broken bridge often runs to three hours. Naturally the whole system has been disorganized and restricted.
When the bridge is repaired full work will start, and even now, due to a large order for coke (it is said from America) the daily output is much increased. The temporary bridge should be ready next month.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.