The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-06-03
MISSIONS PIERCE
INTERIOR CHINA
Far from Shanghai the Mission
aries Travel, Finding Queer
Customs and Laws.

New York, June peculiar laws
and customs relating to property hold
ings and transfers as found in far
western China, hard by the eastern bor-
der of Tibet, are brought to light in
report made to the missionary society
of the Methodist Episcopal church by
one Of it's west China missionaries.
It is in the, province of Sze-chuen
that the Methodist, Episcopal church
If distance be measured by the time
required to cover it, the mission sta
lions in this province are farther away
from Shanghai than Shanghai is from
New York. One may go up the river
from Shanghai by steamer for LOO
miles, and then for 900 miles along the
upper reaches Of the. Yang-tse the Jour
ney must be made by houseboat, which
is pulled up the rapids and thro the
coolies, who, hitched to long bamboo
rope, walk along the shore. Chung
king, one of the greatest cities Of this
PARKWAY province, is distant from New
York city almost exactly $50 degrees Of
longitude, calling to mind the old-time
contention of the schoolboy that China
is directly thru the earth, and the
down. ~ H.. --... III
Population Is Enormous.
sze-ehuen province swarms With 2
population Of three-quarters that of
the United States. Here the Methodist
Episcopal church began mission work
less than twenty-five years ago, but
schools and hospitals have been started
regular activities are carried on at
about twenty five places by mission.
aries and native helpers, and a church
membership Of about 1900 has been
gathered. s: -
Growth in property interests in the
Of the missionary society for a report
as to legal phases Of property transfers
in this part Of the Chinese, empire. Z
is found that in drawing up deed mo-
only must the property be carefully
located and the boundaries infinitely
and accurately described. but the con
tents OF the property must. also b'
enumerated. IF there are buildings
these must be carefully described, AM
cludes the. roof, the floors, The door
and windows, the chimney, otherwis
the seller is at liberty to remove them
| If there are trees, it must mention tn
fact that they are included with thei
branches, otherwise the seller Nigh
cut the trees down or chop tn
branches off. And it is even necessar
to mention the wells, otherwise tn
purchaser would not have the exclr
sive use Of them.
| Land Tax 100 Years Old.
In the country the deeds must stat
the annual land tax. This tax wa
fixed about 100 years ago for the Ian
as then held. In subsequent division
or sales Of the property, the porto
Sold may have been exempt from tax, s
that in purchasing parcels OF groun
one needs to be wary lest. he buy ais
a lions share Of the original tax bq
denis Of the whole estate. Only. tt
portion Of land must pay.
The deed must be signed by the ow:
or and his heir, even tho the latter be
miner. and under each signature mu
, be a. cross. It is no crime to forge
! ! man g name, but It is to forge ''tl
J sign Of the cross" under the nam
; The right Of redemption, exists, al
:. after the terms of the, sale have be-
f! decided the cwner must offer the Pre-
!; to those Of the family who have t
: right Of redemption; then to each
! the adjoining neighbours; then. to t.
s tenants If there be any. It is som
y times we'll to have as many as possit
: of these witness the deed. IF the
have not had the offer Of the. place tn
8 may by petition to the magistrate p1
Z vent the sale.
e In the country the deed should
IS signed and stamped by the local pet
|. official; in the city by the ward Of
Ger, the fee for this being about 81 go
when thus stamped and signed. the. de
u should be sent up to the magistrate
Ii the county, he also attaching a stamp
Q receipt for provincial taxes. The star
d price as named In the deed. When tt
IS Is paid, there is on city property
further tax. This deed thus stampt
i is the title and with possession grant
e Is perfectly secure.
ID, y; The town Of Torquay, England, h
" adopted bylaw to prohibit people frt