Ichang, Sept. 3.
For some time some of the salt merchants have been anxious to use the steamers for the transport of £zechuan salt to this province, but there has been a good (deal of opposition of one kind and another. It was at last "thought that the attempt might be made, and the Took-Yuen was r.ady to leave Chungking a week ago with a cargo of salt on board. When the junkmen heard of this they collected to the number of 400, made their way on board the steamer, and smashed up everything that was smashable on the, decks. Panels glass, furniture, crockery, etc., were reduced to ruins, and the damage must be costly. The steamer is now being held up.
Of course, when the steamers begin to carry salt, that, will mean that about the last thing that is left for the junks is" also taken from them, and it is the old story of machinery against human endeavour. It must eventually fall to the machinery, but meantime the junkmen fear they are going to be done out of their work, and this is their way of making a protest.—Reuter.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.