To the Editor of the "Norra-Cuina Datty News."
Srr,—I have just discovered that residences in Chinese territory cannot be supplied with service by the Telephone Ca. Is there a Chinese Telephone Ca? If so, I have not been able to discover it. Everything in Chapei seems to be mysterious. For an_ alleged offence in North Honan Road you have to go through the Settlements to a dirty little alley off North Thibet Road to settle the difference. If you want a telephone installed. you would probably have to give it up as a bad job. after making innumerable inquiries. If you want a decent road you have' to make it yourself. If you want to cross a creek you must bridge it yourself. Innumerable instances may be given to show that, if there is anyone at all in control, he does no controlling. And yet Chapei collects taxes! What do they do with it? Roads projected 10 or more years ago are still noted to the effect that "so much" is required to be given up for a public road. Not only that, but existing roads are more and more encroached upon by land-grabbers with no one to say them nay.
Now, Sir, efficient ce-operation between the Councils, I presume, could not but fail owing to the pet-tines of the ordinary small Chinese official, and the only remedy would then appear to be Setilement extension. I have no axe to grind, but I am a resident of Chapsi, and I paid good money for which I worked hard to be so. I am therefore entitled (in any free country you are!) to the fruits of my labour. What is the result? Every man develops a bit, even a little bit, of civic pride by long residence in any place. In 10 years' residence I have seen public works undertaken individually at private expense, roads metalled and then immediately dug across and left like that until filled in again by some public spirited resident. Every step you take. in Chapei, in fact, your civic pride is outraged. The examples are too numerous to mention.
I have a suggestion to make. The Shanghai Civic League might take a hand, and see if a scheme cannot be evolved, which will include all Shanghai and suburbs in the League. The benefits accruing are hard to determine, but it does not need much imagination to see what a happy community would result from the close ce-operation of all the various Councils, including Chapei. Nantao and Pootung, later on to include, perhaps, Kiangwan, Naziang and other places which are suburbs of the mother city, Shang-already in a fair way to become
Iam, ete., Shanghai, Nov. 5.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.