The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-07-09
WHERE SEYMOUR IS held
Tientsin, "the Gate to HEAVIER"
and lis Environments.
Tie Third Commercial Seaport in
characterization on the Pci-HO
traor,!innry Skill Shown by Ma
tivcs In Modelling Small Figures.


In view OF it's being the door through
which the allied armies must march
against the enraged Boxers. there is GER
ain grim humor in the very name of
modern name. having been conferred upon
a small fishing village and trading centre
at the time when Kubia Khan established
his court at Pekin in 1884 Prior to that
period the chief city of the great state of
Chilli had been PaotingFu. which was
situated southwest of the capital on the
imperial postroad which runs from Mouk-
den TO Pekiu, and thence southwark to
the great cities of the Empire.
The establishment of the capital In the
ting-Fu, but only to a limited extent. On
the other hand, it gave an impetus to
Tientsin which might be compared to the
boom of Western city. 1t was so much
easier and cheaper to go to Pekin by water
via Tientsin than 1t was overland that a
lTdut SbUu dug up WHICH ooSi Va
by hundreds. then by thousands, and final
ly by tens of thousands of junks.
Even of greater influence was the en-
largement and extension Of the canal sys-
TEN of the Empire by kubla Khan, who in
1880 opened the celebrated Grand Canal,
which gave direct communication from WI
Chau and Canton on the south. Ichang and
Chung Kiang on the west. with the i'm
perial capital The Grand Canal ended at
Tientsin, from which small and medium
sized boats could go UP the river Pei-ho
twelve miles to Tung Chau, the port Of
Pekin. Between Tung Chau and Pekin was
another canal. final link in the water
chain which tied the Empire together.
For centuries the major part OF the tax
of the Empire was paid in grain, food arti-
cles. and manufactures. These were
shipped by the Grand Canal to the capital,
their transportation giving employment to
an army of workiugmen which in seasons
of prosperity has been estimated at a mil
lion souls. The effect upon the little vii
lage OF Tiantsin may be easily imagined.
1t grew as the proverbial bay tree. and,
of course, attracted enterprising men and
capital from Paotlng and other big cities
in Chilli and ShantuDg.
To it fiocked the powerful coolies of the
Shantung peninsula. Industrious Japan
csc, and Korean traders. Mongolian drov-
ers, and Manchurian adventurers. Its
growth was steady and babe defiance to
the many wars which that part Of the
country had witnessed. In the fifteenth
century it was notable for its wealth and
commercial power, and in the sixteenth it
began to be the centre Of an artistic move
ment which has not died even yet. During
the Manchu conquest 1t suffered severely.
and thereafter witnessed many rebelllons
small and large. which were crushed by
the simple Oriental expedient of universal
massacre.
Ticntsin Under the Present Regime.
When the Manchurian rule was firmly
established and the Empire was again COM
paratively at peace, Tientsin started upon
a new career Of prosperity The growth
rapid at first. was soon retarded by new
customs and laws. The administration be-
gan the practice of committing taxes in
money. In place Of forty junks, each bring
ing fifty tons OF rice single imperial
junk would now bring SIS, cG0 in bags of
silver. This change in. tie national I'm
ancial system produced corresponding
changes in the industrial world. In the
present century the sea Of official cor
ruption has risen higher than ever, trade
has diminished. and even Tientsin has felt
the claw and tooth of corruption.
Between 1850 and 1850 its growth was
very slight The TAPPING rebellion increas-
ed its military Importance and made it
well known to the western world. Here 1t
was that Lii Hung Chang and the royalist
generals received much of the munitions
of war which they employed in crushing
the vast rebellion. The place became popu-
lar to the official as well as to the mer-
chant, and when the war was closed 1t was
recognized as the joint catpial Of the pro-
vince along with Paoting-Fu. Neverthe-
less neither OF the two cities had the full
power of the capitals OF the other pro-
vinces. The great politicians of the State
had taken away ore BY one the privileges
and rights Of the provincial capital and
exercised them from Pekin
This ended, however. when Ii Hung
Chang made TientsSAis Official home
Yet even here Chinese Civilization has
comical illustration. Although for thirty
years Tientsin has been the actual capt.
tai OF the province OF Chilli, upon the off
cial books Poating-Fu is still the capital.
The yiceregai yamen is still open for the
transaction of business in Poating-Fu,
bat its inmates, though robed in splendor
the provincial officIaldom Is to be found
exclusively at Tientsin. The growth under
the present regime has been astonishing
even for China. In 1850 the population
was estimated at 500 ,0GG, in 1880 at 500 900.
while at the present time, according TO the
local authorities and the Tientsin Cham
Der of Commerce. 1t has reached million.
MeanderinEs of the Pei-HO.
'Tinnfsip ie third al
port. being surpassed only by Shanghai
and Canton. Its trade during the past
year, at least that part of it which came
through the customs. was about $50, 900, 900.
and the tonnage of its shipping was over
/ 800. 600. The rate of growth in popula-
ton is about . per cent year. in ship
ping per cent, and in trade per cent.
The city has four frst-Slass banks. branch
Offices of five European banks. and some
thirty native banks.
The progress of the city is all the more
when It's Disadvantages are
aiken into consideration. The Pei-Ho or
Peh-Ho sometimes called the Tientsin
River is one OF the most unruly streams
Known to commerce From Tientsin to the
mouth at Taku 1t is sixty miles long.
the distance between the two
points Is but twenty-five miles. In this
brief space the river turns and bends In
| way warranted to arouse the Indignation
and profanity of any sea captain. Its
channel changes from day to day, now
close to one bank and then leap
ng over to the other.
Boats in ascending and descending this
,cdy OF water touch the banks every few
niles Luckily there are not many stones
md no reefs. The shores and bottom are
If soft mud, which. while it may hold
hip, seldom inticts any serious damage.
.arge ocean steamers cannot go up the
'ei-Ho. The commerce is confined to
inks and Lighted craft