No. 231.
Mr. Denby
to Mr. Bayard.
Pelting, August 22, 1888. (Received October 8.)
Sir: The information has reached Peking that the whole of the new embankment made at Cheng Chow, on the Yellow River, has been carried away. The cost of this work was 9,000,000 taels, and this sum has been wasted. Eight thousand lineal feet of river-wall had been completed; not an inch remains. It is reported that 1,000 laborers were drowned by the latest flood, only a few days ago.
By a late decree the Emperor degrades the director-general of the Yellow River, Li Hung Tsao, and several of his subordinates, and punishes nearly every one connected with the work. The workmen, 80,000 in number, are to be paid off and dispersed, and the work is suspended for the present.
There are no native engineers worthy of the name, and pride prevented the employment of foreign engineers. The methods used to repair the breach were piling and then raising a structure of cushions of millet stalks with mud in rice sacks. The action of the water has created a basin 60 feet deep around the breach, and it is impossible, with the means used, to close it. It is known that the water of the Yellow River is encumbered with silt, and, being unable to cut a way to the sea, the banks for hundreds of miles are in danger.
It is contended by competent foreign engineers that no merely local reparation of the banks will accomplish any good results. They claim that in existing conditions the river-bed will rise continually and the banks must be continually raised, and that breaks will occur at weak spots in spite of all local work.
They propose many schemes, such as the creation of vast lakes, as reservoirs, in which to store the surplus water, and canals to divert it. But there has never been a scientific survey made, and the Chinese Government has no plan except to repair the banks in the manner stated. It naturally fell back on the system of punishing the officials.
Honan, one of the most valuable provinces, which has always filled an important part in Chinese history, is ruined. Should relief ever come to it, it will probably be found that the sand has destroyed the soil for agricultural purposes. This has been the effect in certain overflowed districts in Shantung. The province of Anhin is nearly submerged. The cities and villages in these provinces are tenantless, and the people are drowned or scattered. Other damages are apparent. The silt-laden waters of the Yellow River, now entering the Yangtze, will, it is feared, create shoals and destroy the navigation of that great stream.
China does not want for a host of advisers. It is said that five hundred different plans have been submitted to prevent overflows. Every newspaper teems with contributions to this species of information. Every syndicate has its engineers ready with a plan of action. But from [Page 349] time immemorial China has borne this “sorrow,” and she does not seem willing to adopt radical measures of treatment.
Meantime the Yellow River must for the present keep its new course. It would seem to be the best plan to allow it unmolested to continue its present route until some radical measure of restraining it shall have been adopted.
I have the honor, etc.,