New-York tribune., 1906-11-04
FLOODS TN CHINA.
They Haze Done Much Damage
This Year, and Mag Mean Famine.

Hsnkow China September 20
The foods thH year In China have been
severe than usual. ard nearly all Of the districts
report high water and large damage as result
There will consequently be short rice crop. and
this VIII mean moro famine the end or the year
than thers was last year. And a rice famine means
trouble of all kinds. u is a OF food more
than anything else which Is to be feared IN China
What is further adding to the difficulty is the ex-
tremey high rate Of exchange Of silver, the gold
dollar being now worth about 81 So Mexican, against
what usually the rate in former times OF 81 80
20 81 40 This means that where the Chinese ask
the higher prices for their produce in sill
than ruled two or three ago. the exporter
has 10 ask much higher price in gold from the
foreign purchaser. and export business has fallen
off. That means that the people will not have the
money with which TO purchase foreign -four and
other foodstufrs OF which they would be glad. pro-
vided they had the money with which to purchase
Foreign merchants generally ara complaining of the
dulness OF business. and state that there are no
large sales being made Of foreign goods 10 the
Chinese.
The appointment OF Tuan Fang TO be viceroy
of Nanking. which is looked upon as the second
highest post IN the country. appears to be popu-
lar one with both the Chinese and foreigners Those
who have lived in China for any length of time
know the impossbility IN such country OF intro
ducing changes too rapidly. and also tine danger
OF attempting to do SO.
Tuan Fang is partial 10 anything American
When he was acting yiceroy at Wuchans, some
play martial music When he was transferred
from Wuchang TO be Governor OF Chanssha' the
only air that the band had learned to that time
was Yankee Doodle" but tho band was taken 70
Changshs. and Ii played YANKEES Doools 'h
every occasion.
Tuan Fangs son studied in the United States,
at one time attached to the chinese Lega- s
tion at Washington, studying EngIsh al tne s satne
time under private instructors lie Is noW % nolHs Nv Is
Nanking 10 assist his father He recently wrote
a letter to of the American onnclaIs ana ohS OF
the Official what kind OF an English letter he wrote
IF had not personally kn9wR d 1 az 5 fro the
appearance. diction and style Of his letter TO 9s
highly pleased at the learning OF the son Of his
With the proposed reforms in every direction
come possibilities Of large contracts Tor purchases
Where the Chinese official and the foreign mer
chant come in for their golden opportunity. WIN
great opportunity for graft Wires are being pulled
in every yanen d ana tne GsSe, IN be- w5g 10 turn
over most Of the opportunities to those who are
HSero1e Se' be future &c COLLECTION Of these moneys
VIII lead to complications later en- but The oiGias
care nothing whatever for future computations.
The & foT gaa9 na h rs seb ERs5 cond
Iions as these Japan is not much heard of. for
the japanese are too busy borrowing for them
money to China. still. few loans are being made
by them in directions WheFe they thihA SpeciaA
The French and Germans probably making
are being made, and some of the large firms OF
hOse b Rib fTs sy. eneTs 5ee eon to
secure business en- an 9PePv vosSoy OsS ~ upe and
| KWartung made by the Hong Kong and Shanghai
! Bank, the proceeds of which were used 70 repur-
have probably made few loans the VicerOys and
Governors Of late The Rpssans are a. not b "a &a
| squandering money in the yamens SO that Germany
iH There Is much more friendly feeling and attitude
shown on the part Of the Chinese officials tnan
is America IS China's best friend. ana TINS laeS
viii probably be cultivated for some time & as z
10 have to repay to Germans or Erench the moneys
SEns Sns to IN h1o pousr snds who are standing
for the integrity Of China L Is snosnsr case not o
| powerful warriors :,
foTeign capital could be utilized IN China and could
be made, IL properly expended 70 return good h
sood 80 done fa 'tS to the couptTy But whers goes
through the hands of Chinese officials. is TO pe
feared that so little of the original loan VIII .ealy
reach the desired purpose as 20 make ~ ~ ths
/ proposed Improvement II may eventually Ia resql'
In additional taxation and burdens on Ihe pe1p1s 9
| Tie Chinese common people. while they are tohs
Iarre amount Of direct taxes being levied.
of trying TO prevent the foreigner from aes ~
Business This foreigner win not stand for the chi
nese system and where the iorelsIei Sfent Se1 This
Is one reason why the Chinese are making such eI-
forts to to gs 5ee tSe eo5r5ed BY foregnsrs
| present under the able management OF Sir Robert
trsatv between China and the United States was
signed d Ii this nas fay ea6ns Ssns wtn IL
which would make It possible for foregners 20 & en-
epen up What would probably be the greatest
source Of wealth to The country a5 to be- ea
source of income TO the officials IL they can only
keep ig s or VTopoed to date for any poss
bity Of tie foreigner dOns MINING Rqslnss sears
mining min restricted and government business and
ne Tea1e TSeI II thev can borrow enough money with
which to work these privileges for thenssIVes tSy
In the province Of Human there is large quan5
tity of mineral known as chin rang IN Cninese ] it ns 70
| burned in pits and from the product obtained BY
rssItabe fsrtiIizer used all over the country
| for putting on the fields A foreigner. Ameri-
ness ness in this material and made inquiries Of the on
ctals and the customs people as 10 @ wns.aer "a "a
selling it. The reply was in the affirmative and.
9d tie nstiVe merchants and producers and made
contracts for the purchase OF a larSe quanllly OF
chase he opened negotiations for the sale Of IT,
and found that he would have mo GGqy R waa ~
the places where it is burned to receive delivery Of
his goods ard found that he was being prevented
from getting them by an individual who claimed 70
be some kind of an official Investigation showed
that an of the green alum MANUFACTURED should be
sold so @ 70 tp SsT'a am Derds yshn 10 make purchases
had 70 go TO this company 70 obtain the goods.
the business He makes HIS own purchasing prices
and squeezes as he wishes with regard to buying
| weights. Two merchants who protested against
this form Of business were locked up IN yamen
and got q beating from the effects Of which they
died. The other dealers were warned that IL they
tried to make any trouble they would meet the
same fate. With the entire customs service in
their hands. the officials know that they can
do absolutely they please. but with the work OF
the open ports in the hands OF STRAIGHTFORWARD for
eigneTs il interfereS exceedingly with their Chinese
Jugglery.
Wherever any improvements. such water
works electric plants. are being made, the off,
cials would prefer TO borrow the money from for
eigners and make the improvements and changes