New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-04-07
TAMSUI. FORMOSA.
IMPORTANCE OF THE PORT NOW BLoCkApED ID
JAPAN-A RAILROAD BUILT UNDER
DIFFICULTIES


DIFFICULTIES.
r..u, tho Formosan port which the Japanese
&,vv IL now b!ockadlng is the most Important
to an that island. Its name is very much
,r,s,omer II being that Of river and large dis
,rlct but not OF town or city. The lamsu' river
| = small stream flows from the north centfai par.
| ~ IN. island In n generally western direction anu
empties into the Formosa Channel On 'he "ofuet"
hank nelr the mouth Is the city or Ho-Bey here
a,o situated the Tamsui custom-house. missionary
church consulates and number OF mercantile
offices Forts and earthworks on either sIde vi ''c
str.arn are supposed protect the place from ha'a
descent or pirate fleets. Its real protection. now
ey.r lies In the shallowness OF the waters about
the place. The bottom Of the sea for many miles
In or.rv direction Is being filed up with the al
I,v,un and detritus brought down by the spring
freshe,s 4 mile from IIo-Bey is IA sand shoal OF
gr.at extent oyer which there are only htteeh ieet
~ water al the highest tides. Usually there are pe-
tween thirteen and fourteen feet OF water on the
bar This prevents any large or deep-drauSht YES
,s ,r,rr entering the river. and forbds any
naval or strategic value to the place Inc scenery
- very beautiful. bo,h at Ho-Bey and along the
stream Steam launches and other craft connect
Uo-Iey with Twa-tu-ta. the business city, ten
miles inland. The trip Is very enjoyable Inc
waters are dotted with vessels OF all kinds bringing
,n,rcho ndlse down for export carrying imported
foods into the interior The vegetation Is so thcK
AS To cover the roCk!est hills The colorlnS Is N''d
and intense Everywhere are fertile cultivated helds
and farms where the tirecSs Chinese owners secure
Ave and six crops year HIS smut IN the vista OF
cultivated lands forest and wilderness. and far away
~ the south In clear weather can be seen the blue
outlines OF the giant mountains in the centre or
the ISLAND. Twa-tu-tia IS n prosperous mercah'"e
city which H. practically suburb OF the handsome
walled city ~ Tal-peh-foo the capital OF Fornosa
The TWO together have 4 population OF over -''V"'
The rlace IS Of great interest. 1t Is the seat OF
he
handsome official residences. During the french
war il was :ho headquarters OF General Llu M'"e
Shang one OF N, few heroic characters III 'na'
conflict. Though ignorant and superSutous' ne hau
a broad intelligence and. rarest OF al IN manda-
rim he had a high regard for Western science
Tindin, that the drinking water very impure
n. engaged foreign engineers and sunk artes'an
wells which provided an lnexhaustibe supply OF
purc water They are carefully walled and protect
cd ana pour out an overlooking stream he con-
structed a railway from Ketung TO Tai-peh-ioo
thence to Blu-kl and thence southwark to the
middle Of the island. II his intention To eN-
tend II to Tal-wan-foo and Takow. the southern
treaty ports AMI thence 10 the South cape but
Chinese conservatism and superstition were 100
much FOR this brave cd soldier Inc Dul'uiHS
OF the road dragged and came to IA standstiI. ana
then he transferred 10 province Ill >oF'"
China .., .ho
lahorers and swore 1t should not pe buiiii anJ
Governor issued proclamation that II shouiu' an.
prove his words chopped OH uo%cH
heads The track laying then went smoo'niy On,
Before long the popuace BEGAN 10 misapp.opr'S1tr
ties spikes. plates. bolts and frogs Again Few
heads we're Topped and a procliinA'.o s,u'i an
in. the householders living along the me OF ,the
road responsible for It's integrity The steal!ns
stopped a. II by III. gle. The road was nnished the
rolling stock put on ana ioromStion besun. Al Al
heard that IN the foregn-devil country whenever
foreign-devil stcam-wagon ran over man IT had
old man. with characteristic Chinese ideas. said
goodby to his family and went out and lay upon
III, ok. tipfl n rn. n ear 4
Snrcrnor and With loud lamentations quoted the
10y T dmauSrd damages FOR the death OF their
ancestor. The official consulted his foreign ensi,
nvcr s,;c ms an indemnity Within two days an old
woman was over and killed. within week
seven aged persons met The same voluntary death.
although the compensation had been reduced TO
SlW The Governor became enrased. and issued
commit suicide or about railway, or TO be
found near railway, with suicidal intent lie or,
or m.nals prob btei the asking receiving OF dam
Gne and imprisonment for any and all members Of
"A family to permit any Of Their number to commit
m nu,yt'f fel o" de Sc activity. ''
There are fortfca,i9ns. barracks and an armed
Mere 300 troops there. most OF them we'll drilled
These were the soldiers who routed the French
sui The Governors successor was cast in another
mould H S m the ar be oG rspoT n1d
drew pay for that number OF men from the I'm.
be he had more than 15S and these Were untitled
raw leves whose rations stolen and whose
pay was Always In arrears At Ho-bey there are
supposed to be $500 troops and at one time that
number really was posted there Under the present
admir- tstratiOn there not over 40.
lie who conquers Ho-Bey conquers Tal-peh-foo |
and the north of the Island. including the other
treaty port of Ke.ung. Such conquest would be
a severe blow to the Chinese Government From
Tarnsui are exported the famous Formosa Oolongs,
10 the amount OF about 200O0O0 pounds year. and
almost az much pao-chong. tea for native use.
IL also exports camphor. camphorwood. hemp. coal
and gold The customs rece pts are about 10000 |
tae,s or N.00W0. The customs receipts OF kelung |
are about $4,000. The Internal revenue and taxes |
OF the district amount to about 100000 more. The |
Government also own valuable coal and gold mines
which have paid and can easily be made to pay as |
high as 100000 year.