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communication with Yedo was improved, and if the various resources of the neighbourhood were drawn out as they should be, it would not be long, we venture to predict, before Niigata took a leading place among the towns of Japan.
But it is expecting too much to suppose that all this will be done. Even the scheme for constructing a harbour will, it is to be feared, not be carried out. The townspeople are naturally anxious for the execution of a plan which, if successful,—which there is every reason to suppose it would be—must be of great benefit to their town. The local officials are for reasons of their own desirous of being entrusted with the direction of the works. The plans have been drawn up, the estimates begun long ago, should be finished by this time, but here the matter will probably rest. The development of the scheme presents certainly great difficulties, though not greater ones than modern engineering can surmount. But it necessitates a considerable sum of money, and money the Japanese Government are for various reasons chary of granting. The question will probably be indefinitely shelved, and if the Government ever do take it into their consideration, it will probably be only when it is too late to do any good, and the opportunity will thus have been lost.
Sado, which lies opposite to the mainland off Niigata, may be reached in two ways—either by going direct from Niigata to Yebisu the Northern Harbour, or by proceeding from Niigata to Teradomari—a village 30 miles south of Niigata and thence to the south-east point of the island. The former is the longer route by sea—being 40 miles,—but though by taking the latter route one saves half the distance by water, yet it involves a good day’s journey overland from Niigata to Teradomari.
The former may be said to be the preferable route at ordinary times, but in the stormy season the latter is the best. The Bay of Yebisu, the northern harbour of Sado, is a fine bay, being ten miles long with an average breadth of a mile, and affords good protection to shipping, so that in bad weather ships lying off
