10 RIVER PROBLEMS IN CHINA 



The recent floods originated principally in the Wei and 

 Hsi rivers but it is more usual for the Hun to be the cause 

 of trouble. Floods occur almost annually at Yangtsun 

 which is near the junction of the Hun Kiver with the Pei 

 Yun Ho. It is perfectly certain that an impossible state of 

 things is developing at Tientsin. The problem is just now 

 under consideration but it calls for immediate and wise 

 action. 



The Liao. 



This river which rises in the Manchurian slopes of the- 

 Mongolian plateau is also liable to violent freshets which 

 flood the lower parts and in addition has at its mouth a bar 

 which affects Newchwang. A conservancy board has been 

 formed for the lower river in 1914. 



By closing a bayou or lateral outlets an improvement 

 has been made and work is now going on. 



Procedure. 



Having thus rather briefly described some problems in 

 connection with China's rivers, it is desirable to say some- 

 thing of the procedure by which any steps for improvement 

 must be taken. Expert knowledge of general principles and 

 past practice is required, together with all available inform- 

 ation as to the conditions of the problem. Contrary to a 

 widely held belief this aspect of the matter is not so difficult. 

 The serious side of the question is the presentation of a 

 scheme which is sufficiently extensive to properly cope with 

 the problem and at the same time rests on a sound financial 

 basis. It appears to the writer that almost all China's 

 difficulties arise from lack of co-ordination. Even in her 

 present unfavourable financial position there would be no 

 serious handicap if a strong and wise government existed. 

 This is mentioned in connection wth river control because of 

 the extraordinay degree to which even one river may affect 

 many public bodies. For example, the question of Tientsin 

 affects the farmers over an area of over 100,000 square miles, 

 it affects the strategic position of the capital and the whole 

 of the present railway communications with Europe. It 

 concerns the governors of four provinces and the welfare of 

 three different government railways. It touches on the very 

 delicate question of foreign control of Chinese state posses- 

 sions and affects the shipping interests of Shanghai, Hong- 

 kong and Japan. In spite of all this interrelation it is very 

 doubtful how really sufficient money can be raised to 

 radically change the situation. 



