In Hopel is found, as a mine of first rank, the big coal deposits of ifed the Kailan Administration, an Anglo-Belgian corporation producing from 000,00 to 5,000,000 tons yearly of good coal, about half of which is exported to Japan and various ports in China, through the port of Chinwangtao. In the southwest of the same province, in the region of Mentoukou, is a very large besin of anthracite. Some small working of this produces most of the coal used in Peiping, but this is mere scratching compared with the size of the deposit The gold deposits are next to the coal in importance. From Shanhaikuan to Neer Kalgan is a band of archean rock erosion has caused the formation of many placers both north and south the Great Wall, and in not a few static level before the Christian era, but nothing similar can be found in north China. Even in modern times few Chinese capitalists have been interested in the mining industry. and as a Tule their only interest has been.|the exploitation of the foreigners—Japanese or Western—who have been attracted by these neglected riches. Moreover, there still exists among the masses of the people the old superstition that working underground may awaken or anger the dragon who will bring dire calamities on people rash enough to disturb him.
While the Chinese are not mining-minded, they have their good qualities as mine workers. This qualification should be of great help in the future development of north China.
Difficult problems concerning the carriage of the coal and iron ore or pig iron to the places where they are needed must be solved in north China. Except the facilities of the Kailan mines, there is no route in that region permitting real transport tation of coal and iron to the sea.
A quick solution might seem to be to double the present track between Shansi and Tangku, changing the rails and sleepers of the present roadbed and strengthening the bridges. This would prove unsatisfactory.
1t the normal development of north China is taken into consideration, it is evident that in a very short time the Kalgan-Tangku Railway, even if double-tracked, will be just sufficient to carry the normal traffic in passengers, and agricultural and other ordinary goods, The present trafic, already heavy for a single track, is nothing compared to what it will be with in four or six years after restoration of peace.
The true solution will be the construction of another railway, double-tracked, reserved exclusively for the transport of mineral cargo, built with heavy rails and sleepers so as to permit a load of 25 tons per axle, at least. Unless proper preparations are made from the start, many future difficulties are easy to foresee.
"To transport the coal and iron, however, to the sea is only part of what must be done. On reaching the sea, a good harbour, well equipped with modern appliances, is essential. There is amazing prevalence of the notion that modern mechanical in-perhaps even earlier.
In the same geological formation exist outcrops of wolfram and, in the western part, numerous rich outcrops of galena. The existence of iron ore seems of appreciable importance. In proximity to the coal beds of the Kailan Administration exist important layers of refractory earth of good quality, particularly useful for metallurgical furnaces of all classes,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.