Rival Level Lowest at Hankow Since 1891
Shanghai, Oct. 16.
The front of fate which "stalks incalculably through China's economic progress is again evident in the Yangtze, While the agricultural femer has Been one of the best in many years, bumper harvests and production being reported throughout Central China after a succession of poor years, the water level in the Fiver Is the lowest since 1891 and is falling st the rate of a foot a day.
At Hankow, the river level yester-was 17 fect and although ordinary river shipping has not been 'MMlected, ocean vessels are being seriously inconvenienced.
Marked differences in water levels were also shown in yesterday's read Ings st other river ports compared with last year. At Kiukiang, the Feading yesterday was 108 fect, as against 36 feet last year. At Ichang. the level was 165 fect, compared with last year's reading of 269 feet, and at Anking the depth of the river war 181 feet as against 324 feet in 1985.
Two ocean-going ships are aground river, one, the s, Mariette, carrying iron ore, and on its way beached off Chinese cargo steamer proceeding up river, being ashore off Collinson slond. Telographlc information was received yesterday of a drop in the evel of the river in the channel at the lower end of the Wild Boar Reach of eight feet in 13 days. The reading on October 14 was 25 feet, with the Wuhu watermark at 135 feet, as opposed to. 39 feet. The Wuhu watermark was 199 feet on the frst of this month.
Big Cargoes Arrive From 1801 to 1695, a period of 44 years, the Hankow watermark has nly. four times been below 25 feet fon October 30, so that a reading of 17 feet on the 18th 1s excep!
'A drop in the river of of Is also extremely ra large-draft steamers are finding ther certain channels are. safe for ocean-going steamers as the sound-Ings are' rapidly changing.
Companies operating on the Yang-fne are not disturbed by the low water levels as the Yangtze steamer's draft 1s not more than about 12 feet. All companies report good business owing to the splendid season which has resulted in bumper outputs In all lines of cotton, vegetable Seeds and oils. Vessels are reaching Shanghai with capacity cargoes from Hankow where great activity noted in this elly, which taps. the trade of Central China,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.