Ichang, Dec. 26.
The accident to the new winter steamer. Tsesui, on the way up to Chungkin'g, was fortunately not very serious, and it was possible to execute the necessary repairs where she was. She is now running again.. 7 Considerable interest is being taken in the possibility of winter trade on the Ichang-Chungking run. Another new steamer, the Kiangnan, has now been placed on the yun, She was built by the Kiangnan Dock Ca., and they are understood to be retaining their ipttdrest im her for a times [She left yesterday morning on her maiden voyage to Chungking, with at full cargo. She is said to carry 160 tons on a draft of five feet and has a speed of 143 knots.
There is every prospect of the venture being a success, as freight is now very high, and Tls. 98 per pale is being paid for cotton yarn from here to Chungking. The captain of the new steamer is Captain Bell-Syer, who has had considerable experience of the upper reaches of the Yangtze. Gen. Sun Chuen-fang has now removed all his command from Tchang and its vicinity, and the last of his staff departed on the str. Kweilee a week ago. Reports are current here that he may be sent to Fukien to take part in the struggle that is going on there ILLEGAL TAXATION, Gen. Yang Sen, formerly commander of the Szechuan Second Army, is still in Ichang. About a fortnight ago he issued a proclamation that he intended to levy an extra tax of $1.50 on each bag of Szechuan salt that was landed here. Thad merchants immediately protested and appealed to the Salt Administration, which encouraged them to resist such: an. illegal tax, and representations were made to the proper quarter Now Gen. Yang has gone further and has declared that, if he '{s not maid this tax, he will confiscate by seizure the salt. that. comes here, and he has already held up some of the junks in an attempt to get them to pay. Of course, this money is supposed to be for the support of his Second Szechuan Army, but it is difficult to understand why a defeated Szechuan general should be allowed to come into this province, and make attempts to raise money. It is clear, however, that he is well supported, and Gen. Wu Pei-fu has told the merchants, in answer to a protest sent to him, that he does not wish to interfere, and that they should make their own terms.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.