An Investigation in Anhui'
We have received from_ the Christian Patriotic Society of Hofei, Anhui, a summary of the report upon their investigations into the opium business there. The' report states that there are known to be over 300 places where opium is sold in the city, and at a conservative estimate the trade in the drag amounts to over $1,000,000 a yea>. The Magistrate and Commissioner of Police have abundant evidence of these facts, but dare not try enforce the law against the traffic because it is carried on under the protection of the military.
Regarding one of the families engaged in the trade, the report states that they are nation-wide renowned. They are said to. bring the drug from Fengtien to Pengpu by rail, and then have it, forwarded through the soldiery. The military are also concerned in the trade, and so widespread has it become that the price has fallen from Tls. 10 to Tls. 6 or Tls. 5 per ounce.
The morphine trade also has had an enormous growth. The principal drug stores of the city have so! about $70,000 of it during the past year. As to the smaller shops and secret dens together with the in-jesters of the drug, there is no way of finding out with any accuracy the amount of business done, though it is believed to be no small item.
No doubt, the report concludes, our city is fairly typical. If so, what must be the extent of these evils for the whole country? We fear it is coming to be greater even than before the prohibition opium was attempted. May we not hope that those who are concerned for the welfare of the country together with those wh" have a responsibility for social reforms will fearlessly undertake a thorough investigation of this matter.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.