China Faces Government Crisis and Transport Needs

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Aug 3, 1916

China Faces Government Crisis and Transport Needs

— Dispatches from Peking on June 24 stated that the Chinese cabinet had resigned, and that President Li Yuan-hung had refused to accept the resignations, although a complete cabinet change was inevitable within a fortnight, since the whole government was being reorganized. The Chinese treasury is reported to be empty and to need an immediate loan, two propositions being before the Chinese chancellery, one from a group of American bankers, and one from Japanese. China is reported to be considering the restoration of the old canal system, of which there were at one time 60,000 miles within the empire. Centuries before the Christian era the great rivers of China were diverted from their natural courses, the waters of one turned into another's bed, and the waterways carried along in the direction of desired traffic. The ancient Grand Canal extends from Hang-chau to Tientsin, traversing the provinces of Che-kiang, Kiang-su, Shantung and Chi-li, the total length of the canal being about 850 miles. China is in desperate need of transportation, and it has been estimated by engineers that the canal system can be restored at a less cost than that which would be involved in the building of the necessary railways.