Prices still continue to soar, and even local commodities are getting far beyond the pockets of the poor. Coal for example is over $3 a picul, when usually at this time it is less than $1 for that quantity.
One reason for the high prices is that the Customs have opened stations in Hengyang and Lokeo and all coal between Hengyang and Siangtan must Pay 60 or 70 cents per picul; another reason given is that the mines at Leiyang and further up river cannot work to capacity because of lack of miners, The Presbyterian Mission held its annual meeting in Siangtan between May 9 and 15. Nineteen members were present, The Rev, W. T. Blackstone was elected chairman and Dr. Frank Newman vice-chairman. The review of the year shows progress. The medical work in four stations reported a record number of patients at clinics and in-patients. More than 60,000 individual patients were treated and the number of in-patients was often more than the four hospitals could comfortably care for. Lack of staff and the difficulty of getting medicines from the coast have been difficult problems to solve. The Rev. W. H. Clark has been loaned to Kunming for student work for another year, while the Rev. A. H. Birkel has been assigned to the Changsha Station.
The three middle schools with which the mission ce-operates have had good years. The junior middle school at Henyang was compelled to move to Kweiyanghsien in the Chenchow station area and has had record enrolments. Yali and Fuhsiang have remained in Yuanling, where they moved shortly after the war began. More than 1,000 students are enrolled in these school. Refugee primary schools have also been opened in several places and primary schools have continued in all but one station.
The order has gone forth that all women under 40 who cannot read are obliged to learn to read and literacy classes have been opened. Some women with children have been excused put unless good reasons can be shown they are compelled to study.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.