'The Harbour Regulations still prescribe eight feet as the safe limit. for vessels to proceed as far as the lower swinging berth, but it is fervently expected by' the local shipping and commercial fraternity soon as the silt is removed from the first and third cuttings vessels drawing 12 ft. and over will be allowed to come up as far as the International Bridge, The Dairen Kisen Kaisha, with it usual enterprise, were the first firm to realize that the Haiho was returning to its normal condition, £0 decided to send their Tencho Maru, which has heretofore Been on the Tangku-Dairen run, thes ex-German Bund. The steamer successfully manipula ted the bad spots in the first and third cuttings, discharged and loaded her cargo and continued her return voyage to. Dairen without encountering any mishap. The steamer's draught was considerably over eight fect and though sh ignored the Harbour Regulations with regard to the eight foet limit, the Captain ventured the opinion that the Haiho was now in a very much better condition and that wher, the silt was washed out of the first The Customs Surtax Question The question now remains as to what is going to be dono with the Customs surtax which has already been collected onthe Haiho Tmprovement Loan, which now amounts to bout $200,000. There is a parently now no need to spend any money on the amelioration of the Haiho for the very simple reason that the river has rightod itself, oan attempt is being made to divert this money for the upkeep and improvement of the dykes and the rebuilding of the bridges which have Feen washed away by the recent' floods up country. But to this suggestion the Haiho Improvement. Commission raise objection on the seronnd that the money was vedic ed for a special purpose, the improvement of the Haiho, and as such cannot be used for other purposes.
The Commission admits that there is no need to. carry out any improvement work, but that it may be necessary later Von, perhaps next sar, But aa the Yungtingho was the cause of the silting up of the has also been the caus 0 going back to normal, the Hatho cannot possibly lapse into 8 previous condition for the reason that, the Yunptingho being in some places as much aa 20 ft, higher than the Haiho, all the water which has overflowed from the Yungtingho cannot possibly go back again into the Yungtingho unless force was used, The Haiho has been improved put back to its normal condition through the Gooding of the surrounding country and the overflow of the Yungtingho, Villages ave been destroyed, thousands of people rendered homeless and incalculabl damage done to the crops, and this has been the toll enacted for the improved condition of the Haiho,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.