The recent heavy rains, the floods up country and the overflow of the Yungtingho have had a very marked effect on the Haiho, so.much so that practically all the silt in the upper reaches between the lower swinging berth. to the International Bridge has been washed away. There is now plenty of water in the river anda 12. ft, draught is easily feasible within the limits of Tien-transfer to Taiyuan, has to "tical intents and purposes the scheme. "re members of the commission are awaiting his successor General Heu Yun-shan, who was until recently the Governor of Suiyuan, to come down to Tientsin and see what he proposes to do about the matter, but it is thought unlikely that he will take the same interest as' did his predecessor, General Shang Chen, tsin Harbour, In fact, the water 35 now risen to such a height that is only within a couple of fect from the shore on either side, and! at high tide even the ordinary native! craft, devoid of masts, are unable! to pass underneath the International Bridge, something which has never occurred since the opening of the International Bridge. shipping, the Intern ize is closed to vehicular traffic every morning for half an hour between 7.80 and 8 so as to raise the leaves of the bridge and allow the passage of river craft.
Dame Nature herself has prac cally scoured out the river of all silt'and mud with the exception of some Neary. patches which have gathered right at the bottom of the iver on the Hotung side near the International Bridge, but the Haiho Conservancy Commission's dredger Hsinho is now at work at this spot fand it is expected that shortly the ast lot of remaining silt will be removed. Deep-draughted steamers are yet unable to proceed to the Upper Reaches because of the prevalence of silt in the first and third being and river cuttings, but this is gradually
are optimistic' in help views by the end of next month all the silt will have been washed out to the sea and that it will be possible for steamers.once again to proceed to their accustomed berths at the British and French Bunds which they have forsaken for over a year.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.