To the Editor of the *"Norra-Cama Dany News."
Brm,—It is already certain that the port of Tientsin is to be one of the most important in the Far East, quite irrespective of any political "changes which may take place in the control of the regions to which this is the natural gateway. The internal commerce of this natural centre has been distributed in part by four waterways—the Peiho, upon which Tungchou is situated; the Paoting-fu river; the Hsiahsi or Lower West river, and the Grain Transporting river, or so-called Grand Canal," rising in south-eastern Shansi and north-western Honan and _—flowing through southern Chibli and western Shantung to join the Peiho in front of the often-destroyed Roman Catholic Cathedral at Tientsin, Since the railway has carried the tribute rice arriving from the south directly to the Peking granaries outside the Chi Hua gate of Poking, the old fleets of grain-boats which used to be such a picturesque nuisance on the Peiho have been abolished, the vessels themselves having boon sold and transformed, used in other places, or broken up. The river traffic on this once important route has been "reduced almost to zero.
In place of the miles of house-boats and other craft which used to line the banks at T'ung-chou, there are now but a scant half-dozen house-boats glad to make an engagement at a very moderate price for half a month ahead. The river has boon allowed to shoal up unvexed by intelligent regulation, and as the railway management prefers. to strangle water traffic, strangled it is. The Paotingfu river has. always been limited in its usefulness by lack of water in the upper part, the series of locks serving to make the little available water go as as slowly) as possible. The river might as well be omitted from consideration altogether, for in summer, and frequently at all seasons, it being all used up Shuntéfu region for irrigate cordance with some regulations doubt-ess drafted by " Yao and Shun."
There remains the Grand Canal, by far the most important of all, whicl never in the dryest season fails to carry some boats, and which, as just mentioned, affords an inlet and an "outlet to several provinces.
Within the past two years several causes have operated to diminish the amount of boat traffic on this stream. The fow fleets which remained of the inland tribute-rice transportation reaching Linch'ing through the real Canal have, since 1902, been definitely abolished, effecting a great saving in actual expense and cutting off fa great waste in smuggling, for which purpose alone the relic of the past soams to have been successfully nourished.
Tu like manner the grain tribute from Shantung (millet, etc.), cumbrous and costly, has also been stopped, releasing a large number of boats for other purposes.
The opening of the Pei-Han railway to the borders of the Yellow River has made it possible for travellers to reach inland points much more quickly and more cheaply than by boat. In the recent examinations at Kaiféngfu, to which Chihli scholars (by the thoughtful kindness of the Peace Commissioners of 1901) were obliged to go, all the travel was by rail, and none of it by boat as formerly. Per contra, the building of the railway of the Peking Syndicate from Taok'ou to the coal mines in the foot-hills of Shansi and Honan has given employment to a large number of large junks for two years or so, in carrying wood, rails," and machinery; and when coal is actually put on the market, it must be through the agency of boats, Taok'ou being at the head of large junk navigation. Yet despite the absolute decrease in the amount of boat traffic on the Grand Canal, its difficulties and obstructions have never been s0 serious as in the years since the Boxer bubble exploded. For many miles before its junction with the Peiho the Canal is a narrow and a crooked stream, often not more than thirty yards in width, and in places not more than twenty yards. All sorts of vessels have been in the habit of anchoring in these tortuous bends discharging cargo and awaiting their convenience, or the "troubling of the waters," for taking on more. Each large junk has a smaller boat behind, and each of these absorbs much of the exiguous space in this congested channel, till passage in either direction is frequently an impossibility. This state of things has always obtained ut intervals, but what I wish now to point out is that it is becoming—indeed has become—chronic, and no remedy in sight.
In the early part of the season it is not' so much felt, but each year in May and June, and again towards the close of navigation in October: scenes are witnessed. The Custor rier was fixed (by the late " Proviional Government") at the gate of the earth rampart, some six or eight li from its former site outside what was ande the north gate. Yet the only effect has been to fill the whole space from here to the confluence with the Peiho with a mass of stranded, and often struggling craft, some of them only desirous of being let alone, and others most anxious to get on, but all alike as helpless as corks trying to pass one another in the neck of a bottle.
The Tientsin streets lined with uniformed police, who seem to be efficient and intelligent. No overcrowding, no blockade is there allowed, But in this one vital artery of water trade and travel, confusion and old night reign supreme. Every pig-headed boatman (and as a class they have inflexible views of their own right and the duties of others) scorns to be at full liberty to punt his clumsy tub into "the midst of a wild welter of vessels all hopelessly struggling to got somewhere, and of ling in vain. Then with they arrange their oars for a mat-shed, spread out their chocolate-coloured bedding and sleep the sleep. of those to whom time is not a condition of thought, and who have a fixed conviction that "All things come to him who waits" (except what he is waiting for).
The poor foreigner, however, who "must" get somowhoro, sends his cards to the police headquarters, to the Chén-t'ai's yamen, to any and all officials seoming to furnish any gleam of help, and the result is a trusty band of faithful pioneers who enter thon a struggle with fate with heroic zeal. As the outcome of, ton hours of unremitting exertion, and by the friendly aid of boatmen who would never stir an inch but for the show of! visible authority, one's house-boat may be forwarded half a mile, or possibly a mile, with just as much remaining for the next day, and than the next. After submitting to this terrible ordeal twice every year, the writer has been obliged to do for 8 term of years, the "happy thought" persists in suggesting itself, is there no remedy? Common sense certainly suggests that the rules applicable to the land should be relentlessly applied to the water—no occupation of space not used, no loitering around for future cargoes, a clear channel always kept for vessels in both directions, and water police to see that this is enforced by day and by night. Is thre anything absurd about so simple an expedient Can anything be more absurd than the waste of time, of capital, and of temper to which tens of thousands are now uselessly subjected? With the growth of the port, boat trafic will not tend to diminish. Why not grapple with the problem and settle it by some means while it is not yet too late?
The waters of the Canal are at present drained off at a point 130 li above Tientsin to irrigate some "rice land" on the soda flats about Hstnch'eng, which once were "dumped down" from the Peiho. The Haiho Conservancy having put a stop to this waste of navigable fluids, the next best thing appears to have been to take it from the Grand Canal, which can still loss spare it. Were the entire flow of the Canal available every day, the evils would be much less, though still serious enough. I suppose the long-suffering Editor is probably mentally inquiring long ere this: " What have I got to do with this business? This is not my {uneral'—take it where it belongs!" But if we do not write to Mr. Editor," with a series of "Now, Sirs," what shall we do? To whom shall we write? (I may mention incidentally that I have taken occasion to lay the matter before Trang faot'ai of the Lmperil Maritime Customs. If he says Wind, it will blow—if he says Rain, it will fall.) One thing soams assured. Thin, must improve, for they cannot possibly remain as they are, and it is difficult to tee how they can be worse Lam, ote., Anruux H, Saitu.
Tientein, 30th June.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.