Chungking, Sept. 25 Time changes many things. Among the unusual sights to be seen these days in Chungking is the smokestack bus. The buses which run between Chengtu and Chungking use crude of instead of gasoline and, therefore, dispel a considerable amount of smoke. Someone conceived the clever idea of extending the exhhaust pipe clear to the top of the bus, thus preventing the passengers in the car behind from choking.
And, speaking of changes, there is tone thing very dificult to change in Chungking and that is a ten-dollar bill. Because of the scarcity of silver dollars in the market, all transactions fare made in large denominations of Paper money, the small denominations of $1 and $5 being given. out to the soldiers, Even the largest banks are unable to" supply sma change.
'A great effort is being made now im Chungking to suppress the sale and use of opium and all the smaller opium shops have been forced to close. Opium is still being sold. however, in the larger stores under different names, such as nan yao (south ern medicine) or nan (southern pills). Aman under thirty years of age must try self-cure; man past thirty years Is allowed, under special licence as an incurable addict, to continue smoking. The steps taken toward suppression, though discouraging, are Travellers Vexed by Tax Collectors Tt was not long ago that a traveler going from Shanghai to Chung king, Kalting or Chengtu had undergo a series of about twenty Inspections and confront almost equal number of Szechuen Special Inland Tax Bureaux, which are likin stations in disguise, These series of inspections begin at Hankow with the Chinese Maritime Customs, con-Uinue in Ichang with the Bandit or Communist Suppression Bureau and all points west with the Opium Suppression Bureau, Salt Gabelle and the Navigation Bureau. Then, just as you are about to close your trunks With a sigh of relief and a "thank goodness It's all over!" the Inland Tax: Bureau inspectors pounce upon you.
"The same procedure greets you in Wanshien and wherever the happens to anchor for the night. It not, however, until your eh Chungking that the serious tro begins. You are inspected when you into the city and when you come Out. It makes no difference if you have already pald a tax on a certain article or not; you will be required to pay a second time as you depart it the article appears to be taxable Of the Inspector Is in a bad mood. Getting in the boat, you pass a final judgment as your baggage is inspect ed for the jast time—that is, until you reach the next port!
With the presence of Gen. Chiang. in Szechuen, many badly needed reforms have been made possible. The methods of inspection and taxation have been greatly modified and systematized, "Under the revised Taws, a party of inspectors represent Ing the various organizations and bureaux boards the ship at Tchang ind inspects the baggage for duty fand taxes as the boat puffs through the Yangtze rapids. The tax, though amounting to the same, represents all the other "taxes" and your nightmare ends there.
Army Relleves Unemployment The presence of Nanking troops in Szechuen has been a source of ployment for several thousand sons. The tea trade, which is considered the most important trade between China and Tibet, has been practically at a standstill for the last three months, because the coolies have decarted their usual places to carry rice for the army at more attractive prices. As a result, there alarming shortage of tea in Ta-Isienlu, and what will the Tivetans do_ without their tea?
Construction of the airport outside of Yachow is a big task. Several thousand farmers and soldiers appear like so many ants crawling about. The task is enormous, involve Ing the levelling of several hills and the filling of many small gullies; the result, however, will be well worth the months of labour. Imagine with what pride the workers looked up {to the sky as the first aeroplane Jand-ed_in Yachow on September 151 Gen. Chiang issued orders sometime ago for the building of a new motor road to Tachienlu to be completed by November. The surveying party has completed the necessary work, but the possibility of its completion in the allotted time is doubtful. Tt 1s reported that a modern suspension bridge will be built Ludingchow. The old bridge, which was partial -ayed by the Com-ras partially destroyed by the Communists, will be repaired for pedestrians. About twenty rafts, fully Toaded with road-making machinery, material for the new bridge and re-alte for the old one, are expected fo arrive in Ludingchow soon.
Conspicuous on the stretch between ing and) Tachienlu. are block houses or watch towers recently erected by order of Gen. Chiang, because of too-frequent robberies on the highways. These towers, which are three stories high and built of mud, stand within rifle range of each other. If occasion demands, they will serve as a defence against the Communists, 'To make the story com~ plete, it must be related that upon Several occasions, the robbers used these towers as convenient hiding' places, came out unexpectedly upon the travellers and robbed them.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.