The coolie route between Tienyang and Tsingsi is also being improved. The peasants living along this route are being used to widen the path, straighten, the bends and. lessen. the grades, 'This Is resulting in increased frame along this important Inland highway, Hundreds of coolies dally travel this route and many caravans from Yunnan are choosing this road over which to travel to and' from their native province, Despite these outward signs of progress and the employment "of thousands who otherwise would be lie, there i still considerable unrest in various parts of the province, year ago for several months this diswiet was overrun by bandits and most of the main routes of travel were almost deserted and the loss to business was appalling.
Finally a very energotle magistrate was sent into the district and instead of pussy-footing with the robbers as hhls predecessor had seemed to do, he at once rolled up his sleaves, took off his kid gloves and began to show tone and all that order was going be restored. At once the weak order of firing a few shots Into the air while robbers ran into the hills with their booty changed to direct alm Fesulling in wounding and capture of many of the outlaws, 'Those captured were given a fair and impartial tral and. those' who were proven guilty of highway robbery paid the penalty with their lives. Soon the countryside was quiet, rob-ory' ceased and business resumed its former mensure of prosperity, That hralseworthy order has ones more changed, and the kid glove tactless are again being used, The result Is that robbery Is increasing by leaps and bounds, "Gunshot sounds can be heard by those living within the city walls and armed robbery Is being reported un every hand, emeers Fall to Perform Duties Two days ago two travellers were coming Into the city. Both were carrying loads of merchandise as well as bedding and clothing, As. they were passing through a section of the country known to be dangerous sud-only several robbers sprang out from the roadside and, fung shots, threa-toned the men with death if they dared to resist, 'One man laid down' his load while the other who was a little behind stopped his load and ran for his life. The robbers did not ransack the loads, but, picking them "up Intact they hastily made for the hills, When the local officer was notified of the rob-very soldiers were sent, but when they reached the place where the robbery had occurred they refused 0 Ko further as they said the robbers might be in too great numbers for them to cope with them.
Tt is this friendly spirit that seems to exist between recognized outlaws and paid servants of the Taw that causing the bandits to become bold, As long as officials and soldiers feat offend the tender sensibilities of highwaymen so long will the travel Ung public have to run the risks of travel which surrounds them now on every side, The safest commodity to transport over country roads these days seems fo be opium, A few days ago a caravan brought into one of Kwangs!'s western cities 800 cases of Kweichow opium valued, it is said, at $8,000,000. This opium is now beng shipped by boat and bus down to Wuchow as fast as the facilities at hand can transport it It is beng so well guarded that there la no danger that robbers will molest it in transit,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.