Evening star., 1914-08-23
By MABEL T. BOARDMAN
Chairman of of American Red

long before the building of the Grand Canal although
the ancient part of that remarkable engineering
work is said, the authority of ConuciuS to have
been constructed in the fifth century B. c. But the
ditch running between dikes raised high above the
plain, greatly aggravated the situation, acting
barrier to natural drainage mpounding the waters of
the Huai in the already described, and giving
rise to endless mischief.
The first thing be done to find means where
by the great lakes of mpounded water be drained
These are, principally, three in number,-the Huntze,
the Pao Yng and the Kao Yu proposed to dispose
of the two last by carrying their water into the Yangtze
River As for the Hunze which is by far the largest,
waterway constructed across the Grand Canal will
drain it into the old and empty bed of the Hoangho
Yellow River For five centuries this mighty stream
ran in that bed but during flood sixty years ago it
turned into another channel far to the north.
The Yellow River has shown chronic dissemination
to stay in one place. and not without good it
known by of its frequent disastrous foods as
@Chinas Sorrow The natives, finding profitable en-
poyment in building dkes for restraining flood waters
are fond of saying 4f the tiger does escape how
shall be paid for catching hm? But, part of the
plan in contemplation by the American engineers
an effort will be made to devise whereby in
future the tiger may be prevented from getting loose
The enterprise is expected to mark turning point in
the development of Chinese agriculture 1t will rad
cay alter the future prospects of of the most highly
productive regions in the world According to present
estimates 100000 of fertile land will be directly
reclaimed,-an area that may be counted on to yield
two annual crops worth from $50 600 900 $50 O0O
co., In addition 5000 900 acres will derive great i'm
provement and increase in value for agricultural pur
poses.
THE estimated cost of the entire work is $40 100000
1t is wholly American enterprise, the government
of China being satisfied to place it in the hands of this
country which it recognizes peaceful power, indis
posed conquest and with selfish grind. 1t is
that the money will be loaned by American bankers
but the latter acting in the matter at the earnest
request of the Red Cross They will be amply secured
by first lien all money accrung from the lease and
sale of the redeemed lands the taxes the 100000
of improved territory, and the tolls of the Grand
Canal passing through the region.
Much relief will be given through the employment of
the great numbers of Cinnamon who required to
build the contemplated dikes and for other purposes
Labor is cheap in that country ten cents day being
considered fair wage and half of the proposed loan
(S10,OOOOOO), if expended for the hire of unsked
work people, ought go far would $5O0OO0OO in
the United States. The $577 900 contributed through
the Red Cross during the last few years for the
of flood and famine sufferers in China largely spent
for labor paid for in food If it had been paid for in
money, the price of food would have gone up.
The region here described south of the province of
Shantung and the present bed of the Yellow River and
extending east and west from the ocean to the Ke
River section of country that has known little rest
from floods and subsequent amnes for the last twenty
FIVE hundred years.
Recently the floods nave increased IN frequency
and the famines in severity, until the farmers in
that region do not average than two crops in five
years; whereas under normal conditions they would
garner two large crops annually. Season after season
they plant, and the fruits of their industry lost
Then year when they have seed to put into
the ground, animals with which to plow, plows
or other farm implements. All have been sold, and the
house furniture goes the way to procure food or
fuel. Two families into hut, and the extra
hut furnishes fuel with which to boil weeds the bark
of Driven to desperation by the last extreme Of
want the people steal beg, murder. Often they resort