This brings us close to the matter immediately at hand, the introduction of practical polities as they are played in connection with public works into the problem of making and keeping the city of Tientsin linked to the sea by a permanent deep water channel. As the average North China resident is aware, the Haicho draws its waters from several up-country tributaries, the most important from the point of view of harbour development being: the Peiyun-ho and the Yungting-ho, the latter being the excuse for the present drive upon the funds of the Hai-ho improvement Commission, which will be discussed shortly. It' is the Yungting-ho, draining an aren of 47,000 square Kilometres to the north and west of Peking, which has been xesponsible since ime immemorial for the Po silting up of the THai-ho, and for the periodic and serious floods which have inundated the surrounding territories, and even itself, as was the case in 191 sampans superseded Public conveyance throughout large areas in and out of the Concessions.
It was the 1917 freshet which led to the organization of the Chibli River Commission by the Chinese Government. This commission, composed of Chinese and foreign engineering experts, was instructed to study and formulate plans. for the control of the flood waters of the entire province and to provide also for the pennament. navigation of the Hai-ho.
The Chibli River Commission completed its work and submitted its grand scheme in 1926—a plan for the control of all the waterways in the province, entailing a total expenditure of $86,000,000, of which $39,000,000" were earmarked for the improvement, regulation and control of the Yungting-ho.
action was taken upon the Commission's: recominencations and, with the advent, Jast yéarvot the National Government at Nanking, the Chihli, River Commission was dissolved aiid superseded by the North. Chin Fever Commission, functioning under: ithe Reoonsteuction, Bureau.pf. the Nationa Government a-body which anaintains an elaborate office system and: has to. the -present, accomplished province,, exactly. nothing constrective: im.this
The River Silts Up In the meantime, in March, 1927, heavy freshets in the Yungting-ko
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.