Under the leadership of e: mier Hsiung Hsi-lin and ex-M ter of Education Fan Yuan-lien and other prominent native gentry of Hunan the heads of the various educational, industrial and agricultural associations in Changsha have just petitioned Gen. Chang Chin-yao, military governor and acting civil administrator of Hunan, with reference to the establishment of a mining ore refining factory by the American Pacific Development Corporation and the mining bureau of Hunan, According to the petition, the people of Hunan have no objection to the ce-operation of the abovementioned Pacific Development Corporation in refining iron, tin and antimony ores produced in the famous Shuikoushan and other mines in this province in view of the friendly relations between China and the United States; but as the Shuikoushan and other mining properties belong to the pro-vinea of Hunan, no official can sign any agreement for ce-operation with foreigners without the previous approval of the provincial assembly at Changsha.
For instance, the former agreements signed with the Japanese Okura and Mitsui companies in Peking and Shanghai for the developnient of mines were not put into effect. chiefly because they were concluded, without the sanction of the people of Hunan, by certain Chinese officials for purposes other than the development of the said mines.
Further. in the year of 1915, when the late President Yuan Shih-kai tried to effect full control of the Shuikoushan mines for the purpose mortgaging them to foreigners in the interest of his monarchical movement, Mr. Tao Shih-teng, director-general, who was appointed by Yuan Shih-kai, was forcibly ousted from his post by the natives.
For the purpose of protecting the interests of the people in the Shuikoushan and other mining properties of Hunan, the members of the former provincial—assembly passed a resolution to the effect that, in all matters concerning the administration of the Shuikoushan and cther mines, the previous approval of the provincial legislature must be obtained by the parties concerned otherwise their agree: ment would not have the necessary legality.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.