Omaha daily bee., 1902-02-23

IAlNlNGt Outhihubt jan Ho.-NDPS-
cial Correspondence Of TIT Beef
~ Il have seen the greatest won
tE4&8H der Of China / might almost say
1880 the greatest wonder of the world.
Il is the fight between the waters Of the
ocean and those OF the land which takes
place here at every tide, when the mighty
Pacific, rearing It's snow white head to a
height OF many feet, comes galloping up the
Bay Of Hangchow In q vain attempt to con-
quer the Tsingtang river, which there meets
II and is lost in its waters.
l saw the struggle standing or Us sea
wall which the Chinese have here built to
keep back the ocean. This wall is as high
as a three-story house. 1t is built Of gran
lite, the stones in places being bound to-
gether with iron, and II runs from here all
the way along the coast to the mouth Of
the Yangste Kiang. It is thirty feet high
and more than one hundred miles long, and
II Is only one of the mighty creations of the
Chinese in their struggle with nature.
China Versus Holland.
We make much OF the fight Of Holland
with the waves. The fight OF the Chinese
is far more wonderful. You could drop
Holland amongst the vast regions Of the
lower Yangtse valley and you would have
to hunt to find II. This whole country is a
system OF dykes and canals. / travelled up
the Yangtse river for 1000 miles and found
enormous embankments everywhere along
It's course. l walked on the banks Of water
ways forty feet above the lands. the tops OF
such entertainments forming the roads and
paths Of the country. The great silk dis
trict about Haining is OF a similar nature.
Every farm lies below the level Of the canal
and everywhere the people are dredging out
the waterways and building up walls. The
canals are crossed by hundreds Of bridges,
some OF enormous size and Of great beauty,
and all representing a vast amount OF
money and work.
Take, for instance, this huge wall Of
Haining on which l am standing. At It's
foot are two terraces about twenty feet
wide. held back by piles filled In with
stones. Above these terraces the wall rises
straight up about fifteen feet. It is regu-
larry built, being made OF blocks Of stone
from q foot to eighteen inches thick. one
piled upon another as In building a house.
Upon the terraces. which are high out Of
the water. il a long line of great junks
filled with cargo for Haining. They have
come in when the tide was high. and by its
recession have been laid upon this great
shelf. I have rawied down upon the ter
races and I sit below the ships as l write
- a0NCSt 8ata y ~ AC0t
back from the water. and their tall masts
tower high above the top of the wall. They
are enormous vessels which cam here by
sea from other ports. Their mighty sails
are Tapping In the breeze. and the great
hsh-like eyes. each as big around as q din
neP plate. look down upon me as / work
The ships are nchored to the wall by
cables OF twisted bamboo as big around al
your arm. and beyond and back of them
can see the pagodas and other buildings Of
Haining. with the blue mountains rising be.
hind them.
To Keep OLD Neptune sack.
Stand beside me and let your eye follow
the wall. Notice how II winds along will
the sinuous curves Of a snake, the stones
as closely laid as though they were dove.
tailed. Those curves lessen the force o.
the mighty bore and aid In keeping tn
ocean out Of the land.
Notice that great fascine or fortincatioI
OF Tushes and twigs which extends far GU
from the wall In the shape Of a bow. It II
twenty feet high and sixty feet in diameteI
and il made of sticks filled In with mud
the ends Of the sticks facing outward. Tha
wall Il to protect these ships from the dali,
Inroad Of the Pacific. which might othsrwisI
dash them to pieces against the stones.
Now look down at the bay. We are ap
preaching low tide and the water is stil
flowing out. The goddess Of the TsingtanI
is supreme. The bay 10 filled with the ell
brought down by II from the mountains
II Is Shiny and muddy. a great sheet o
bright yellow ten miles In width bordereI
at each end with navy blue mountains. tn
sky IL bright blue and filled with waves 0
psecy clouds just above me. Far out be