Suiyuan Railway Progressing:
Brigands as Ever: A Land to Be Developed From " Correspondent.
Hsipaotou, Aug. 5.
Constructiom trains are now running as far as Salahsien (Saratsi), and tickets will be sold to this place on the 6th instant. Salahsien is 90 li east of Hsipaotouched. About a month ago it was captured by robbers, these people levied a tax of $3000 om the local Chamber of Commerce but did not do much looting, the only shops that suffered: being: those selling saddlery. There has been a shortage of sleepers and this has held up the railway construction work. We understand that this difficulty has now been overcome and the line is expeded to arrive in Hsipaofou at the middle or end of September.
Business at Hsipaotouchen has been at a standstill for the past two months. This especially applies to the Yellow River trafic to Ninghsiafu. This is due to the large bands of robbers infesting the countryside. although it must be admitted that the robbers have treated the inhabitants with greater consideration than the soldiery who have been despatched to clear the country. The—first movement of junks for the past three months started out from Hsipaotou on the 2nd instant. when about 200 junks were engaged by a representative of Gen, Ma. the Chenshoushin of Liangchoufu, to transport his cargo of sugar, cloth and general sundries, to Ninghsia-fu. This man came to Hsipaotou several weeks ago with 10,000 piculs of came) hair and wool. He disposed of 2,600 piculs locally and the rest in Tientsin, and is now returning with the proceeds in goods and silver. He is able_ to make the trip because he has about 200 of his own soldiers with him. About 10 days ago the local merchants requested the Chamber of Commerce io obtain milit: protection for them for the junks going West. They agreed to pa; as much as $30 per junk for thi Nothing has been arranged so far. It is believed that the military want more than this amount.
Room ror More Farner The countryside here is very sparsely populated. It would seem to be a good idea for some of the overcrowded provinces to arrange for the migration of some of their surplus people. This especially applies to those as which suffer-"ed from the recent. famine. The land for 500 li to the west of Hsi-paotow at present is chiefly pasture cultivation has only been carried out to any great extent near to Paotou and to Wuynanhsien. There are a great number of irrigation canals which are fed by the Yellow River and the land ought to be good for. wheat, etc., also it has the advantage of being cheap. At present the countryside has a more
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