Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-10-19
dustry in that empire, and stated that
steps had been taken in the direction of

ed In detail the history OF the opium in
dustry in that empire, and stated that
steps had been taken in the direction Of
reducing the cultivation under the agree
ment with China. which became opera
tive January 4, 1908. The total exports
chests; in 1900 they were reduced to &c.
500: in 1910 to 81 700 chests, and similar
reduction is to take place annually until.
at the end of ten years, the exports would
Stane Ct the fixed maximum of 1900
chests q year, which would be required
for medicinal purposes.
The British government has prohibited
the use OF opium in Burma. and he be-
lieved that the law was being enforced.
During the ten years preceding It's enact
ers among persons arrested had been
20.39. 1t has since fallen to 1912, which
he considers great Improvement
The Indian government is sacrificing the
revenue of ST.. 100000 year by suppress
Ing the traffic, of which about $15, 600 0CO
came from the exports to China. but as
he said: 1--WE could not with any self
respect refuse to assist China on the
grounds Of loss of revenue to India
The report OF the Chinese commissioners
presented by Tang Rowan, stated that
The economic burden imposed upon
China by the use of opium has now be-
come almost unbearable. A conservative
estimate Of the annual production of ma
We may value at tbs. 10000. 600. To this
must be added for imported opium It's
30.Oo0O00. taking the value of the impor-
tation for 1905 this gives us a total ex-
penditure in cash on the part Of the Chi,
land now given over to the production OF
opium, were it planted with wheat OF
other more useful crops, would yield an
annual return of. let us say, at least tbs.
15O,OOO,0OO. This sum, added to the loss
of m nj
that the cultivation of opium costs the
nation Ills. 4O0,OOO.OO0 a year.
Consumers Number 25,OOO,OOO.
''To estimate the loss to the country in
the earning capacity of the victims of the
opium habit is more difficult. Our investi-
cations have convinced US that there are
twenty-five million men in China addicted
to the use of opium. This number. un-
fortunately. includes many from among
the more highly productive classes. but II
we suppose their average earning capac.
ity. were they not addicted to the habit
Of opium. to be One-fifth a tael a day
and that this is reduced one-quarter by
their use OF opium, we have here a daily
loss to the nation Of Ills. 100000, or ar
annual loss of Ills. 1862 900. If there Is
added to this the items which 1 have men.
toned above, we have a total annual
loss to China of tbs. S56. 10000. It il
needless for me to call your attention tc
how ill-prepared we are as people at the
present stage of our Industrial develop.
ment to bear such q burden as this Nc
account is here taken of the capital loss
involved"
September 20, 1906. an edict was issued
by the late Empress Dowager of China
prohibiting the cultivation and use OF
opium throughout the empire within a
period of ten years. and his excelIency
Tuan Fang, viceroy of Liang Kiang, in
an address to the commission stated that
great progress had been made in reduc-
ing the area under cultivation of the
poppy plant In the various provinces. In
at least six provinces It has been entirely
stopped, in other provinces it has been
reduced 50 per cent and everywhere the
product has been greatly diminished
From the present outlook, with the state
of public opinion throughout the empire
Mr.! Tuan expressed the hope that the
use OF the drug can be stopped entirely
before the prescribed limit of ten years
The gentry and the merchants OF the
various provinces everywhere have start
| ed societies to assist and exhort opium
smokers to get rid of the baneful habit
| laws have been passed and regulations
| have been issued which prohibit the ap.
pointment or retention in public office OF
| all persons who use the drug: it's sale has
been restricted by the most stringent reg
| ulations. and the opium dens in all OF
| the cities and towns throughout the EN-.
| pire have been closed except in the for
| eign concessions.
Hampered by Treaties.
with the complete stoppage of oul