Local Military Protection for Transport by River: Income from Taxation Peking, Nov. 27.
The international Anti-Opium Association has received from a perfectly reliable correspondent a statement concerning opium taxes at Ichang. It reiterates what has already been published from both Chinese and foreign sources on many occasions, namely, that a complete military opium monopoly has been established. The following is a resume.
The military authorities have made arrangements with the local opium merchants whereby the traffic at Ichang is under local military protection. Opium coming from Szechuan by river is to be provided transport from Patung to Ichang in boats escorted by soldiers and carrying the military flag.
The tax on this opium ati
collected by the Chi I Chuan Yun Ichang is $200 per picul, and is Company, which stores its opium! in two large warehouses just outside the city. Opium forwarded to Shasi and Hankow from Tchang pays an extra tax of $150 and $250 per picul, respectively. All opium dens pay a monthly tax of $1 for each lamp.—Reuter.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.