Hankow, Oct. 10.
I have just returned from a hurried visit to the "West of the Hills"—Shansi, the province, which for some years past has been teach ing the rest of China the way to do things, The vivid impressions left upon the mind of things seen, heard and imagined, certainly confirms the many reports of the peace and prosperity within its borders.
Travelling by ricsha, on the great provincial highway from Taiyuenfo ight to the Honan border, a di tance of 1,000 li, there was not a Tumour or even & suspicion of Tawlesnness, This speaks well for the Governor and the well-ordered government which has made a clean Sweep of these armed "gentlemen of tthe toad." I understand the northern portion of this military turnpike penetrates even to a greater distance and negotiates the plains of Mongolia. It is po permitting, to cover the entire route, by motors days.
This year evidently marks epoch for good crops. Rain has fallen in abundance and nothing within the Last decade can hold up anything in comparison to the plentiful harvests now gathered in, Coal and Iron Deposite Entering the province by the old route of Huniluh-Hsien, the well Fegulated French railway spans the distance to the eapital—Talyuantu—ju" about eight hours. This is. a rear. achievement compared with tie old mode of transportation. by cart and mule litter which traversed the rugged circuitous paths of the mountains via the four "heavenly gates." As the train winds in and out the steep. mountains, a new set of observations crowd the vision 4 Southerner. That forti friable soil, known as towers, en fantastic shapes, side, and cave dwellings, ut out en for the frat But the most startling obvation is the wonderful coal and {ton formations tapped by this line. It is computed these coal deposits: are the largest in the world. Well can this are be called the Black, country of Chin strolling the streets of the Capital, it was difficult to realize that here, and in the environs, no less than 159 foreigners had been cruelly massacred in. the Boxer outbreak, only 25 years ago. The Streets have been groatly widened fand_ many so-called improvements have graced the town since. those dread days.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.