From Our Own Correspondent, Changchow, July 14.
Changchow is greatly agitated at the present time by the imposition of a new tax on fruit trees, (which is also being in Tongan and Chuanchow). This tax is regarded as a most unjust one, and strenuous opposition is being offered amd its repeal demanded. Fruit has been taxed for a long time, and that tax was paid without demur, but the trees are now to be taxed annually. The value of the monopoly is $30,000, but the people farming the tax are to get $15,000, and only $35,000 will be received as revenue. This does not mean, however, that only $50,000 will be paid by the fruit-tree growers.. Young trees and old trees which do not bear are to be exempted from taxation:, but the tax collectors are sure to include some of these in their demand for taxes; also the growers will underestimate the number of trees for taxation purposes, and this will lead to arrest and imprisonment, successes, fines, etc., so that the amount the growers have to pay may well be double the figure stated above.
The fruit growers are threatening to stop planting fresh trees and to chop down what they have already. It would be a calamity if fruit growing were to be ruined in this district which produces such abundance of fruit of every description, and for which it is justly celebrated. The agricultural societies are uniting to oppose the tax. Ten societies, including the one in this city, those in the market towns, and the village associations, have combined to form one organization yo fight the measure. Meetings-of protest are being held, and one of the leading men in the city is at the head of the movement. Threats against his life have been made by those who are farming the tax, but he is determined in his opposition. The opponents of the tax have made an offer to the authorities that they will make one payment this year of $33,000 on condition that the taxation of fruit trees is finally abandoned.
When Chen Chiung-ming was in charge of the government of Changchow he tried to introduce a tax on fruit trees but -vas convinced by the representations made to him that it was an in-juncus measure, and thereupon dropped it.
The money raised in taxation at that period by Chen Chiung-ming was used in improvements and beneficial measures, as our new roads and park, eto., testify, but the money now raised in taxation is swallowed up by military chiefs pursuing their owa ambitious projects and devoid of any public
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.