In the autumn of 1931, it wi! be remembered, an international commission of engineers mob in Shanghai to consider the future necessities of the Port. Growing out of this undertaking arose. the Targer idea of conservancy of the Yangtze and in December of that year Mr, Fs Palmer, the British member of the Port of Shanghai Commission, with Mr. Von Hei dens tam and Mr, Yang Pao-ling, submitted to Peking certain re" commendations, On the strength of these the Chinese Goveroment fet tip a representative body, presided over by Mr. Kao Ling-wet, to take charge of. all questions conecruing the improvement of the Yangtze, which, in turn, apinted " technical committee. A Survey' Department was organized under the charge of Mr. G. G. Strocbe, an engineer of consider able experience in the P. W. D. of the Philippine Government, to carry out a system of necurate levels between Hankow and Woo he Sung, to make hydrological measurements ut suitable controlling points on the river; and to prepare topographical surveys such places as may, from time, bo}
Finally in September and October last Mr. Palmer return-el to the Far East and made an inspection. of the Yangtec as far as Wanhsien. His report on this nancetion is now available for publication and we give below summary of its main conclusions.
'2000 Wor The report opens with a warm tribute to."the vast amount alyable. work which "hae hoon performed by the. Department, in Rich's short" anne of. time—tno afacworthy" because, ab ite the operations ofthe nent included the training, Tunused to seientife: work particular nature. 'The! isted! with the) teal ami rotbusiagm in currying out Moir Gutiog at all thes and under all conditions of weather, that they have now reached -t' degree of ypetence, which has probably] never before been peartes 4 Country. and approaching th best tandarite of nny ther place 12 the warld."" Helpful und. whole hrenrted. cooperation was alan ceived from other bodies spetsalls: ing in similar work.
Mr. Palmer then proceeds to give a. bret description of the course of the Yangtze, taking it) under three sections, é.c. Ichang} to Chungking, Tehang to Hankow, Hankow to Woosung. OF" the no gros ioo provement can be" eonsider-Seven pensile, apart from additional marki of channels Already contemplated. As regards the Tchang-Hankow stretch. Palmer remarks that "the surves staff engaged has been, and still is, much too small to afford the Fallest information in voqsed 9 Ghngnele"", But the value of the trade. have Hankow and -the manner in''which it ig aotwally Handied exclude the necessity any espennve see of impve monte FROM HAXKOW TO WoosuNa, Remains the reach from Han-to Woosting and the poss bilities of so improving it as to facilitate access tq Hankow by vessels of deep, draft all the year Me. "Palmer begins minute description of {his important waterway, enumorating the points wiiers difficulties occur and paying tribute to the Work of Mr. Carrel and" the river inspectors under him in keeping navigators informed, og to depths and ditections. And he then discusses the Uhren questions: (1) What fin. provement is possible; (3) "What would it cost; (3) Would it pay?
WHEN poss opsevcTION ocoun't He Kas no difficulty in concluding that. to make Hankow access sible all the year round to occangoing steamers with drafts of 20) Turning then to Fixer steamers, to 36 ft is out. of the question.
Palmer says:—""The diagrams of Restricted Navigation Deptt Sil show thit in the years 1917- 18, 1918-19, 1919-22 and 199299, 1t! was not possible to take fo Han-
"Q) Drawing 10 ft. during periods varying from'o to 84 days, with an average of 23 lays.
Drawing 12 ft. curthg periods varying from 0 to 91 loys, with an average of 54 days, and fag Drawing 15 tty during periods varying from 0 to 110 days, with an" average of 80 day "Tu 1990.81 there was no difficulty for the 10 f% draft steamers, but for those drawing 12 ft, thera were 16 restricted days and for those drawing 18 it. there Wore 76 restricted days In 1918- 19, all these drafts were -unrestricted."
Improvement being considered necessary, would the cost of the desirable, "though of perhaps necessary' training works pay?
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.