The morning call., 1890-12-16
CHINESE FLOODS.
Consul BOwman's Report of the
foundations.
Hundreds of Miles Of Cultivated Land Under
Water and Crops Destroyed-Appeal for
Aid to Relieve Suffering.
Special 10 THE CALL.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 10, IS9O.-United
States Consul William Bowman in a report
to this Government over date of September
4. 1890, from the Consulate at Tien-Tsin
and made public to-day, throws some light
upon the disastrous floods which overlook
the northern part of China during the rainy
season. The following is brief resume:
The drainage of that part of the great
Chinese plain which is situated north of the
Yellow River for the most part centers at
and above Tien-Tsin, and the accumulation
OF water Is carried to the sea by the Pei-Ho.
or Hai-HO, between Ten Tsin and Taku
In ordinary season this stream is filled to the
brim by the July rains, but In seasons of
excessive rainfall, like the present, the
levees give way and the surrounding coun =
try is put under water.
The rains at Tien-T Sin began july 7th
which is the usual time for the opening of
the rainy season. On that day there fell
"a inches. On the 10th, 18th, 18th, 10Th.
10th and 21st of the month there fell %
inches of rain, viz, 400, $50, $40, 1.6O and
$40 inches respectively. Reports from the
country north and northwest of Tien-Tsin
indicate still heavier rains over the region
drained by this system of rivers
By the 10Th OF July they were aware
that catastrophe was imminent, and on
the following day the river banks gave way
on the eastern, and also on the western side,
just above the foreign settlement On the
eastern side the plain was covered with
water as far as the eye could reach. On the
western side part OF the French concessi on
was inundated and many Chinese houses
swept away. These two breaks did not re-
ieve the pressure, however, for they were
both below the junction of the rivers On
the I'D the levees of the Grand Canal, at
point distant about seven miles from Tien-
Isin, gave way, and this saved the city of
Iien-Ts from destruction, but lin doing SO
Hooded vast area to the south and west.
at the date Of writing the foreign settle
ment and the native city of Tien-Tsin were
like an island in the midst Of the waters.
On the. 2Sth of July. a meeting of
called to consider what measures OF relief
might be taken TO alleviate the sufferings of
the Chinese poor. They intend to purchase
grain for free distribution during the winter
and an appeal to the benevolent in other
countries will be made. A committee was
appointed to collect Information, and it re-
ported that, taking Tien-Tsin as the center
OF circle with radius OF about $50 miles
all the water falling within the northwest
quadrant should find its way into the Pei-Ho
Jucb hDUfC tuC Clty Vi 1ltU-1 Lie rivers
which drain this section of the country, and
which all meet just above lien sin are, be-
ginning with the Grand Canal aud going
round with the hands of the clock: The
Grand Canal, which, from Lin Ching Chow
to Tien-Tsin, is formed cut of the bed of the
Wei River; the Hsia-hsi River; the Shang-
hsi River; the Hun or Yung ting River, and
the Pei-Ho.
This year the rains came late. and tho
years supply seems to have fallen in less
than month. The mountainous districts
to the north and west of Picking emptied
themselves over the plains, which, in the
vicinity OF the sea, have no appreciable fall;
so that ON all sides to the west, north and
east of Tien-Tsin there is now vast lake,
The country round. SO far as the sea to the
east. and for distance Of from 40 to 60
miles to the west, north and south, is now or
has lately been under water, and the crops
are lost.
The banks of the Grand Canal burst in
two or three places near Lin-Chng- Chow.
and water pouring through the breach on
the lett bank was flowing toward the north
west OF lien Tsin, and added 10 the inun-
dations in that quarter.
The country immediately round Tieu-Tsin
was explored on all sides, one party making
circuit OF about thirty miles. The plains
all round were found to be flooded To a
depth varying from four to eight feet. The
observations made show clearly that the
raised land on which Tien-Tsin and the sub
urbs stand divides the current Of the flood
into two streams. Along line about west
Oh lien Ism the waters part, the greater
portion flowing east across the embank-
ments of the Hun-Ho and Pei-Ho. and the
rest south across the embankments of the
Grand Canal.
Another party went to the west past the
Hai-kwang-Ssu Arsenal, and entered the
nearest the city of Tien-Tsin. Proceeding
west, they came to Yank-Liu- Ching, the
town at the elbow where the canal makes a
right.angled turn to the south. Here was
found large breach, and few miles fur
ther on still another. Through the breaches
just mentioned the water was rushing on TO
the Race-course Plain, the water to the
north of the canal being two or three feet
higher than the water to the south. The
only outlet for the water issuing through
these branches is through the creeks which
fall into the Pei Ho in its lower sections. n
Is not until Pai-tang-k0u is reached that
the level Of the Peiho is low enough to
allow the floods to drain into it. Beyond
Pai-tang-kou the plain drains into the river
t wherever there Eli, is an opening, but
in any other direction, for between Ma
chang, on the Grand Canal, and Hsin Cheng
ON the Pel-Ho. there runs the Hsiao Chan
Canal, with very substantial banks, which
serve TO dam up the river and prevent the
pam DRAINING away in southerly direc-
Wv cS'Oio tllS SIldu
was constructed. On the other hand. this
canal is taking off a large quantity of water
from the Grand Canal and leading it by
safe channel to the Pei-Ho at Hsin Chene
One gentleman explored this Hsiao Chan
Canal by following the Grand Canal as far
as Ma-chang and then going through with a
strong current to the Pei Ho at Hsin Chang
In this canal the water-level was higher than
IN the plain to the north. and the country to
the south, being protected by the creek en-
5ankments, had escaped the general mum
dation, and its fourishing crops are the one
bit OF bright color in this sad picture.
Another gentleman followed the course of
the Pei-Ho upward as far as Pei-tsanp. and
at intervals beyond Hsi-ku found breaches
IN the raised PokIng road and In both banks
OF the Pei-Ho. through which the pent-un
waters OF the west we're flowing In an east.
erly direction. o'o'-
AS regards the number of persons who
Will be In want 1t was impossible to form
an estimate, but this is but a specimen Of
what exists for quite 100 miles in some d.
reetions. The destitute in the villages of
which Tien-Tsin forms the headuuarters
are being attended to by the officials and
the native benevolent societies, Al one
time there were 80. 900 refugees in and about
the city, principally women and children:
but the officials, fearing disease. took stens
TO send them back to their homes,
The general inn ression of the Chinese ia
That during the winter and spring there viii