The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-12-09
Iii Hung Chang Seeking Information
i'm the United StRtes.

Washington Special to Chicago Record.
Ii Hung Chang has applied to the chief of
engineers in Washington for information
concerning the measures that have been
taken by our government to confine the Mis-
sissippi to it's banks, and has been furnished
with a quantity of charts, plans and other
documents descriptive of the levee system
and the operations of the Mississppi river
commission. Instead of restoring Earl Lii to
MS ola positions as grand secretary, member
or the council of state and Tsung Lii Yamen,
from which he was dismissed by the EN-
peror, the Empress doWager has directed
MIN 10 take charge of ong-contemplated
effort to prevent the annual overflow of the
Hoang Ho, or Yellow river which is famil-
larly known as "Chna's sorrow" This is
the second river in size in China. 1t rises i'll
the mountains of Siberia and flows through
the populous provinces of SEen-Shi, Shang-
81, Pe-Chee-Lee and Shan-Tung, draining
the northern half of the empire. For three
mountainous country, where the rainfall is
very great. For the remainder it flows
through low, fiat country which i'm some
places IS below the natural level of the
river and the waters have to be confined to
the channel by banks and bikes. In the
spring and fall torrents of water come down
from the mountains and rush across the
plains to the sea, carrying destruction with
them There is always a vast sacrifice of
llte ana property because the people never
take precautions again danger and as many
as 100000 people have been drowned The
river changes its course frequently, and for
several hundred miles on either side the
Some years ago when Ii Hung Chang was
Viceroy he employed Gen. James II. Wilson
or Delaware, who was second in command
during the recent invasion OF Porto Rico
ana is now in camp at Huntsville with his
army corps, to make a survey and submit
a plan for the permanent Improvement of
the situation. General Wilson spent some
time in China for that purpose, but his
plan was not adopted and his services were
dispensed with because his conditions and
methods were not agreeable to the man
uarlnS. He claimed the right to appoint and
discharge his assistants instead of allow
ing the mandarinS to fill his staff with
favortteS. He insisted also that the appro-
priation for The improvements should be
SUBJECT TO his own expenditure without in
reference from other officials. In other
words he insisted upon managing the husi-
ness himself, which would prevent the man.
darlns from making profit out Of the
improvement.
Lii Hung Changes appointment as director
or the improvements was therefore an APP
suspected that the Empress dowager was
glad to have an excuse for sending him to
distant province where his progressive
energy might be employed without inter-
1erIng with her own purposes. The ven
cradle earl has undertaken the work with
great zeal, and If he succeeds in protecting
the people of China from the danger which
constantly threatens them from this terrible
river he Will be entitled to the everlasting
gratitude of his country Until now they
nave depended upon making prayers and
burning incense to the dragons which have
control of this yellow river. The Emperor
has often issued edicts instructing the gov
eminent officials to make sacrifices and give
gifts to propitiate them hence the appoint+
ment of Ii Hung Chang to this important
ginning to filter through the Chinese super
Stition