Having recently taken the double trip between Wuhu and Luchowfu a few notes on the present and prospective facilities of travel and trade may not be unacceptable to readers of the "North-China Daily On this run as well as on the Yangtze the spring has ushered in competition in the launch business. Some years ago there was a rate cutting for some months, after which the three companies combined and ran under the Japanese flag. Evidently Japanese had the controlling of the whole business, though they did not appear much in the foreground. Now a Chinese firm has started business backed up, it is said, by Earl Li and the Kong family who hold a fairly important position in Luchowfu and even over the border in Kiangsu.
'The firm proposes to get on new and faster boats. Indeed, I am credibly informed that when the water is high enough a new towboat with first and second class cabins above and the steerage below, lighted by electricity will be put' on this run, At present the -water is very low and the boats only get to the west end of the lake, passengers being transferred to small boats for the last 60 li to Luchowfu.
Fares are about one-third charged a year ago. Doubtless when the launches can run through and do the 360 li in one day there will be further cutting of prices and all boats will be more or less crowded.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.