Three lengthy letters have been Aespatched by the Shanghai Chinese Ratepayers Association with refe ence to the alleged construction of roads by the Shanghai Municipal Council in Chinese territory. The writers, in asking the Nationalist Government to demand the retura of all Municipal roads situated in Chinese territory, say, in a letter Huang Fu, Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Mr. Y. Tong, Vice-Minister:—
"According to today's news: papers the Shanghai Municipal Council had begun the construction of more than 10 roads outside of the Settlement and in Ohinese territory when the Kiangsu-Ché- Kiang war broke out. After the cecapation of Shanghai and Woosung, by the Nationalist forces thes Shanghai, Municipal Councit suspended " these operations. Re-
Settlement to Nanking, 25 to Soo- the operators cal. chow nnd. 10 to Wusiky A steady "1. ithe called subscriber having ne been plaging more men to work ea cently, however, is seen daily, and a large telephone Instaled la. to be informed the construction of roads in the' number of foreign firms have listed themselves ax subscriber ooecial ymewtanser from, the] Western District, and in the repair Kaminitrtion Sat is 10 charged of oid roads. As these roads are in efficient Jong distance tel imp it of the Adminis: Chinese territory, the Counci vice to the places in question very considerable commercial value, Reports locally are that it is the Purpose of the Chinese Telephone Administration to extend the service throughout Chakiang and eventually to Peking. The latter undertaking, however, allows of a certain amount of scepticism. Authorities point out that under the existing Chinese system of drastic "squeeze" all along the line, in the various territories traversed the undertaking could not possibly be on a paying, basis to the construction company, When long distance telephone construction begins to be viewed in the light of "public utilities," foreign experts point out further, there will be some hope of the Shanghai-Peking telephone service.
Quite apart from this, however, the good results of the present expansion are wed with much satisfaction by those who have been watching developments. The Chi-nose in charge of" the work are described 08 eompatent executivog troubles in this vicinity he the work to be carried on. Four changes in the executive branch of the construction work have taken place during the past year, politienl mainly but in spite of thig handicap the' work has pro-
'A. definite schedule of hours during the day when the long distance service is available to subscribers
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.