Another step of considerable _importance was the decision of the Government to further the development of China's natural resources, as evidenced by the Standard Oil Company agreement for the exploitation of the North China oil fields, signed in February of the present year. These oil fields were stated to be of enormous value. The following figures were instructive in this connexion. During 1912 the imgood reason to believe that upon ite conclusion they would be vigorously Borneo, Russia, Burma and Japan pressed. (to put them in order of the imf the first and possibly moat portance of supply) exceeded 198,- of the developments which have occurred during the last twelve months (000,000 gallons of a total value of the establishment of s National Irrigasome Hk. Tis, 25,000,000. Through mand Water Conservation Bureau at the revenue to be obtained from this Bureau an; ones ation, work Peking. Until the establishment are this source alone the economic changes twas carved oat only with regard ta local that might be brought about were needs, the result being thet much patch-considerable. work' was done, which every year be-"The Minin came more difficult to maintain and which by the Chinese Government" during the at the crucial moment failed, as the Es'another expression of " desire to take period under review may be considered almost annual record of floods has proved.
The work of the Bureau is to centralize and direct local efforts along the lines of advantage of her resources, Mining Regulations have been drawn up in the manent and also 4 comprehensive scheme to secure Pet- past at frequent intervals, but never have assistance on larger chi ment tach feet for by ete Say so closely epprozimated to what The most jeoninaals at present was Beaded. They are still nob alto trid. incomplete, and give evidence of factory, being some! trary having been afacted by thave not fitted best fitted to supply it with every cent statistics available the following are the principal metals imported into China chance of its successful operation. during the year 1912.
By efficient drainage under this pro-2,170,000 value 7,070,000 Is Bk. Tis. posal some 17,000 square miles of rich agricultural land would be} 122,000 3,629,000 rendered immune from the devastation caused by constantly recurring floods. Consequently many thousands of human beings now 20 often i rendered homeless and devoid of food, would upon completion of this found in aban work, be able to live in comfortable million tacle are inatractit ould figures given, totalling some 15} prosperity.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.