Mar. 28.
Various events have con spited to bring about a conderable degree of congestion in the harbour, which to say the least is causing worry to shipping firms. A good intance of how dificult is the position is that a ship from the Pacific coast with a cargo of lumber has only been able to find a berth in the extreme upper reaches of the harbour, whereas for convenience and facility of unloading her cargo her natural berth would be almost at the other end, six or seven miles away, near. where the lumber yaed®Bte. situated. The fact that she is so for away must inevitably increase the cost of handling the lumber, but considering low congested the harbour can at times become, she may very nearly be said' to be lucky, for cases have occasionally' occurred in the past when the jabsouce of any berth. at all has caused steamers to discharge their cargoes at Woosung. The present congestion seems curious at a time when most firms are complaining of the dull state of trade, and rather suggests that the complaint is overdone. It is certain that a considerable amount of import is taking place, otherwise these ships would not be here, but this not the same thin dition of brisk business. Exports are by no means com mensurate with the volume of imports, and the result is that outward bound vessels are not carrying the cargoes which in 'a state of real prosperity they would expect.
Several reasons may be adduced for the present shortage of berths in relation to} the amount of shipping in. port. In the first place the Japanese destroyer flotilla has happened to pay its visit at the very time when merchant ships are atriving in considerable number. They are -oceupying:.berths ion prohibited without perm which would be available for the usual ran of shipping. It also. so happens that, through' one of those accidents from which no port can ever be quite free, a further couple of berths are out of commission ut the moment, [the mooring chain of a buoy having been broken. These fare contributory causes for the time being, but the fundamental cause for congestion is that more and larger steamers are using the port, and except in one or two cases, all berths are privately owned. We see [steamers between five and six hundred feet in length now looming right up into the har-hour, and of course they are occupying the space which accommodated two of the type lof vessels which formerly traded here. Then, as practically all the buoys and wharves are [private property, the owners fare naturally mainly concerned with ensuring that steamers of their own lines have the preference, and where there is any possibility of overlapping between the departure of one ship and the arrival of another, they are not prepared to let out their berths to other companies. Thus while this congestion is a fuct to-day, "it is none the less true that a number of berths are also un-ocoupied. Phey will, however, be occupied within a very few days by new arrivals, and between mow and then there would, not be sufficient time for another steamer, should it be berthed there, to discharge and Hond again, In Home ports where all berths are owned and under the control of the port authority, 'a great deal can be done obviate such a.state of affairs, The authority is able to allot any berth. it chooses to a steamer, und if necessary to have it'shifted at any time to another berth when room has to be made for " new arrival. This is, of course, the ideal way of having things done, and prospect of seeing it in Shanghai exists. A colossal] sum would be required by a harbour board, if one were constituted, to acquire from the private owners the possession of their berths, and anything of the kind seems out of the question. Much, however, could be done in' the way of bringing about an improvement were the necessary money available. In parts of the river where fines of mooring "buoys do not yet exist they could be established, and once in being' would be sufficient to cope with the quirements of the case for 'a considerable time to come.
Bo far, however, the necessary' funds are Incking, and in the present state of China's finances, with every depart ment in the country begging for doles from the Customs, is not easy to envisage any immediate relief in this respect. It must be borne in mind that! the laying out of " berth is very expensive matter, so much [so that until a generous allotment of money is made for the purpose little progress can be, made towards the desired betterment.
Tur ghastly ending is reported! of the family of Chao Wen-kuang, 'a former Manchu officer, who had lost pis income and was in des. perate circumstances, Laet, week he prepared a poisonous mixture! -of 10 boxes of sulphur matches bowl of water and compelled'
family one after another 10 rink, tinaaly fetlowing them him:
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.