Evening star., 1932-05-16
CALAMITY DELAYS
CHINESE PROGRAM
Floods, Warfare and Political
Problems Fail to Stop
All Plans, However.
Special Dispatch to The Star.

Special Dispatch to The Star.
SHANGHAI, May 16.-Despite many
serious Interruptions, which since Sep
tember have thwarted efforts to carry
out the five-year reconstruction plan
adopted by the central government at
Nanking last Summer, officially pub
liShed information indicates that, while
nothing like the scale of development
as originally planned has taken place,
a number of important projects have
been undertaken and some completed.
Gigantic floods during August and
September, probably the most disastrous
activity in Central China and for near
ly three months greatly delayed realiza-
ton of the governments reconstruction
program. Practically all available funds
had to be applied to relief Of some ten
million food victims, drainage OF the
cities and farmlands, rebuilding OF
homes, factories and government Of
fees, sanitation work, repair OF canal
and river dykes, and so on. Building
ceased on all but the most vital new
projects.
Battles Held Up Work.
The turmoil in Manchuria and the
threat of Japanese invasion in North
Sllllld SdQoCo uINClolOli Va 1CfSLdNo W
military operations and defense prep
arations from october onward. In De-
cember the collapse of the former
Chang Kai-shek regime, coupled with
menace of renewed civil war as well as
a possible declared war with Japan.
thoroughly undermined public conf
dence in the new government, made
financing of proposed construction work
out of the question and caused sus-
pension, until now, of vast mining, en-
cheering and industrial schemes more
ambitious than those prescribed by the
Soviet five-year plan.
In face of these obstacles, however,
certain definite achievements were put
through during october, November, De-
cember and January.
New Mint Opened.
For instance, in October: The
Shanghai Mint, designed by and built
under the supervision Of Clifford Hewitt,
an American expert, was completed and
formally opened. 1t is the largest and
probably the most modern mint in the
world, capable of turning out Sl,000,000
silver in "a hours. The Bank of China
began construction of new 100000
home in Shanghai. Conservancy work,
land, began in the Huai, Yangtze and
Grand Canal basins, while in Shanghai
the cruiser Chung Hsing, largest yet
built in Chinese shipyards, was launch
ed for the use Of the maritime customs.
In Tsinanfu work was commenced on
100000 government hospital and in
Kiangsu renewal of construction on a
90-mile strip of roadbed neared compile
ton of the Shanghai -Hangchow-N Ming
20 Railway.
In November three new commercial
and military airdromes with hangers
were completed In Kiangsu and Anhwei
Provinces, a new State chemical works
was opened in Honanfu and a 190-mile
motor highway was finished between
Nanking and Hanchow, thus linking
the national capital with the Chekiang
provincial capital for the first time in
history. A new nitrates plant began
operating in Nanking and construction
was begun on a 100000 cotton mill
at Taiyuanfu-the first factory of this
type in that province.
New Highways Opened.
In December Academia Sinica COM
pleted and opened huge new labora-
tory, reported to have cost $4,000 900, in
J..
Equipped with modern scientific ap-
paratus, 1t is said to rank as the leading
chemical and electrical experimental
station in China.
Tungchumen airdrome, largest in
China, with workshops, repair hangers
and training school, was completed and
opened at cost of $500, 900 at Marking,
the national capital, while new air
services were inaugurated between
Nanking, Sian and Sinkiang.
China Merchants Steam Navigation
Co. added two new passenger steamers
to its coastal service and 2,100 Ii Goo
niles of new highways were reported
opened to motor traffic in Human
Province, linking Changsha, the capital,
with capitals Of all bordering provinces
-Four new trunk highways leading to
important centers in the interior of
Kiangsu were opened from Shanghai.
In January a motor road linking
Nanchang, capital of Kiangsi Province,
with Canton, 1,5O0 miles to the south,
was reported as half completed. Work