Peking, Sept. 9.
Straightening out the flood channel to the west of the Wu Ting.
Ho to carry the mountain torrents from the northwest directly into the main river below the city is one of the measures recommended to prevent a repetition of the disastrous flood of July 13 in Kalgan by Mr. 0. J. Todd, en China Internatioral Commission.
Mr. Todd in his report to the Commission also recommended that the old stone bridge be replaced by steel structure of two spans of 80/ feet each, in order not to restrict the low of any possible flood water A wall built from the east end of the bridge on the left bank of the On his recent inspection trip to Kalgan, Me. Todd found that the Taoyin'was doing splendid work with his soldiers and police in clearing up the debris and removing the sand and silt from the city streets.
In some. places. this was ten fect deep. An ad on August 1 had ca estimated to weigh 1,000 Ib. one or two miles down from the foot hills into the main streets of the city.
So frequent are floods that in certain neighbourhoods the merchants keep on hand special planks, well fitted together to make a water tight compartment four feet high in front of their shops. They hold themselves ready at all times to put up these barricades and reinforce them with sand bags to save their stocks.
Mr. Todd confirms previous ports of the great loss of life and millions of property damage caused by the flood there this summer when the river suddenly broke through the dyke and swept over a flat area inhabited by about 5,000 people living in mud huts. It is estimated that 3,000 of these' people were drowned or buried in the debris of their own houses. The old stone bridge served as a dam to the flood waters due to the silting up of the channel and the large proportion of space taken up by the piers and masonry work forming the arches.
The Commission sent $4,000 worth. of grain to Kalgan. From among. the refugees, 200 heads of families were recruited to do work in re-
Pairing the damage to the streets of the city. But the local authoritjes have handled the situation so well, bringing the military to the work of reconstruction, that the Commission at present are carrying on no further relief work there.
Mr. Todd's chief recommendation in regard to, the situation tu the Paotingfu region would be the granting of further funds on the part of the provincial government for the upkeep of the dykes. Chibli has appropriated $500 yearly for the upkeep of some 250 li of dykes in region. Each district has raised further funds and contribut-labour, but the provisions have been inadequate.
Tt was felt at the time of Mr.
Todd's inspection trip that it would be necessary to make further investigations in late September or early October in order to ascertain what portion of the population. would be able to return to their farms this year and what portion of the remaining population would be available for construction work, China International Famine Relief Committee.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.