Hankow, Jan. 23.
I have enjoyed the privilege of residence in China for a number of years, and during that time there never been a year when the sad voice of the pessimist has not been abroad in the land.
"The good old China days" of long ago has been harped in every minor key ad nauseam and ad infinitum. The tea trade, for instance, if one lists to the leaden voices of these sad singers, has long been on the road to extinction, and naught can bring it back. Each new phase of the country's history in the eyes of these pessimistic persons has been a retrograde step.
I would invite these croakers to visit Hankow at the present time—the tea factories are running full speed night and day, namely twen-t¥-four hours of work in these factories every day. Come and sce the daily processions of coolies—like busy ants, in lines from the water front, in close single file to the big godowns jammed to overflowing with all sorts of produce which is being shipped away as fast as the vessels can take it.
Despite the fact that at the time of the first Revolution it was predicted that China was losing her grip, and although there were many prophesies of disaster due to that upheaval and the consequent unrest throughout the land; despite the so-called White Wolf brigandage in Shensi, Honan, Shansi and northern Hupeh, which they said spelt business ruin to large areas; despite the ct that the richer class of Chinese in many instances have been endeavouring to hoard their money, thus creating ® most undesirable stringency in the monetary circula-despite the croaking of dulness of trade while the terrible conflict is raging in Europe, which according to all ict most disastrous to our mercantile life; and on top of all, despite the coup-d'état at Peking—the Monarphical Movement, Hankow trade today is in a legitimately healthy condition, and but for these many handicaps would have made even ing progress. Taking the ins as they have been it seems a most remarkable record.
T can hear some of these same old croakers and pessimists saying that these generalities are all right, but what we want in these days are facts. Well, here they are, and not to be gain said. The official Customs returns for Hankow for the past five years are appended hereto and speak for themselves.
The total receipts of the Hankow Maritime Customs for each of the last five years are as follows; indicating a steady increase yearly.
Hankow pays but little attention to the sporadic outbreak in Yunnan. Troops have been passing quietly through the Wuhan cities, creating but little comment, but the officials are busy. The 12,000 men of the 7th Division have already gone through to Ichang on their way to the scene of the disturbance. The first detachment of the &h Division, which has a strength of 9,000 men, arrived here last night from Peking and is also en route for Ichang and Yunnan. Fifteen hundred recruite joined the ud Division at Wuchang yesterday
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.