A communication from the American Vice-Consul at Chungking to his legation here gives an interesting account of discussions which have been in progress for some time between the consular body in Chungking, the Commissioner of Customs and the steamship companies concerned regarding the loss of life and property due to the sinking of junks during the passage of larger craft through the Upper reaches of the Yangtze. It is understood that the frequency of these accidents was largely responsible for the boycott of the foreign vessels at Chungking some time ago, and the communication in question points out that as six or seven new steamers are to be introduced into the Upper Yangtze service for the coming season the problem is likely to become still more serious.
It recalls that owing to the number of junks sunk in this manner the junk-masters and salt merchants petitioned the Commissioner of Customs at Chungking last summer asking that new rules should be drafted with a view to minimizing such catastrophes. At a meeting on August 18, the Commissioner of Customs submitted several proposed amendments to the Upper Yangtze Navigation Regulations which the consular re presentatives present. were oaked to lay before the steamship companies, The American Vice-Consul points out in his letter that the overloading of junks and excessive speed on the part of the steamers are the two factors chiefly responsible. The force of the proposed new regulations is that the Chinese Government should undertake that provision be made as soon as possible that all junks on the Upper Yangtze should have two feet of freeboard, while, on the other hand, the steamers should adhere to time and specd limits to be established from time to time by the consular body and: Commissioner of Customs.—Reuter. turned from Weihaiver is about,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.