To the Editor of the "NortH-CxiNA Datty News."
Sim—An article which is given prominent place on the front page lof your issue dated July 31 and is headed "The Congested State of the Huangpu," reads somewhat strangely.
This article, which you state is "contributed," mentions "our correspondence' columns" and "our readers" as though it were your Jarticle or written by your staff. -It, authoritatively states that the Huangpu is regulated as well as lis humanly possible, and uses the expression "We take it upon ourselves" when giving some informa tion regarding the inspection of Taunch. Iaodahs.
This letter is obviously written jby or for someone who feels some ity for the very lax state "lof affairs that exists in the har-rth hour and at the jetties, and it does much to confirm the impression expressed by your Inst week's correspondent, "Ulysses," when he said that it seemed to be "nobody" business" to attend to the affairs mentioned. Pechaps he should have said that nobody wants the business.
T wns very impre: sed by the clear way that "Givssea" noted the prin-Copal defects in our harbour traffic admicetration, and with many feaperience ea the river, T
Jendorse all that he-ssid as being true and not exaggerated.
On any night one can see boats jand junks plying on the river with-lout lights, or worse still, with a ight placed in the cabin so that it will not blow out, but ready: to [Produce at the Inst moment, or, in case of collision to show that the steam-launch laodah is to blame.
It is quite common to see a half dozen lightless native boats between Lay Road and the Customs Jetty.
Tt is not difficult for a "layman" ito understand that any craft that thas no light may be arrested by ithe Harbour Police. Such vessels jate a menace to life and property, jand if the Chinese Government for-Ibid the enforcing of lights on such jeraft you will be doing " good turn ito the many people wi move about on the harbour if you give publicity to ithe matter.
With reference to the unlit buoy; the Iaodah showed no inefficiency in avoiding an_unlit buoy on a dark night. The inefficiency ies with the authorities who permit a buoy which is in the fairway to be unlit, Rega the "contributor's" remarks regarding jetties; I consider that the authorities are to blame for the present state of affairs, (They should take the trouble to regulate. the traffic so that there is Jalways a clear berth for a Munch ito go alongside the Customs Jetty, Nanking Road Jetty, Wayside Jetty, and Lay Road Jetty. Launches not actually discharging or taking on passengers should be made to lie jin tiers above or below the clear they are called for. This requires organization and contro}, and is obviously the duty of ithe Harbour authorities.
The Customs Jetty during the a a glaring? example of lack of control. Ferry launches of Jail sizes and shapes crowd to the jetty, and passengers have to felamber at the risk of their lives Jover half a dozen craft, some of [which are not even tied up, and no attempt ix made to regulate this traffic, Each ferry launch should be made to come alongside the pontoon land then leave and make room for ithe next one. This again would [require the organization and control that is so apparenity Incking.
Your contributor has such utterly wrong idea of London and Hongkong that I make no comment fon his remarks regarding those ports. His attitude and timitations fare clearly indicated by his remarks regarding the Indy and the Chinese feet.
You cannot do a better thing, Sir, than to invite correspondence subject from the people re to make use of the ferry the river by day and They know the risks that they have to run, and although they are yamen" (whatever that means in instance) many of them could gest remedies that your "con does not think of.
Tam, et
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.