The best Chinese coal comes from Shantung and Shansi and the wealthiest mines of the country are said to be in the latter province. comparison with Japanese coal, the Chinese article is somewhat dearer, this being due to the fact that the Chinese mining companies find more expensive to send to various Ports of shipment than the Japanese, who have only to meet bigger work: ing expenses, whereas the Chinese, though Inbour is cheaper, Yace the constant threat of re. the commandeering of rolling stock, in which they send their coal, Tack ' of transportation fac higher railway charges, and in one form or another and in one place after another. This, then. coupled with the fact that the Chinese coal is not of such a good quality fumes the public to refrain from yin Chinese coal.
Should there be fewer obstruc-should more capital be \coming, as well as the provision of note rolling stock by the Government, there appears no reason to doubt that the Chinese coal mining industry would progress rapidly.
already mentioned, Shanghai imports 3,000,000 tons' of coal annually. Of "this amount, the Kailan Mining Administration, o-British company, claims about 1,060,000 tons, the Japanese and the Foshun collieries coming next on the Jist with 500,000 tons each. Only 250,000 tons "come from Chinese collieries, the remainder—yoing anthracite, Most of the Chinese mines have suffered heavy losses during the past five or six years and not a few of them have been compelled to spend operations whilst most of the others are heavily in debt. To mention a few:
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.