The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1875-05-01
Opening China.

The existence of vast coal-felds and abundant de-
posits Of ironstone in China has long been known,
although the apathy and conservatism of the ruling
power of the country have resulted in these sources
of material wealth remaining undeveloped. 1t would
now appear, however, that the Chinese government
is at last waking up to the Importance Of utilising
the mineral treasures the sell of the country affords
in almost unlimited profusion. 1t has been deter
mined to open up coal mines and establish iron works
in the southern part of the metropolitan province Of
Chilli, and the official who administers the affairs Of
that province has commissioned Mr.. Henderson,, a
gentleman who has had thirty years residence in
China, to order the necessary plant for carrying out
the undertaking and engage skilled persons TO super
wise it. We understand that Mr.. Henderson is now
in England engaged in carrying out these instruc-
tons. At present, scientific mining is unknown in
China. and although iron has been manufactured
there for ages, the smelling and other processes en-
ployed are of the most primitive kind. The intro
duction of proved machinery and scientific methods
and experience can scarcely fail to exercise a great
influence on the future development of China, q
country teeming with an intelligent and industrious
population said to constitute one-fourth of the human
race. Indeed, it is impossible to foretell what results
may arise from the undertaking about to be entered
upon. One will be the construction of a railway,
the first in the country, which is to convey the coal
and iron from the producing district to the river
down which it will be taken to Tientsin. The imme-
date object Of the Chinese Government is, il seems,
to render the national arsenals independent of fore
ign supplies of coal and iron, which are only OBJ
tanned, at great expense. But when once mining
and manufacturing operations are commenced in the
district before referred to, they will rapidly spread to
others, and it is impossible to set limits to the de-
velopment of an industry where the conditions of
success-abundance of coal and iron in close proxi-
nifty and cheap and boundless labor-are SO favor
able. We may anticipate that the time is not far
distant when these the virgin c~oal-felds of China
will be yielding their fossil wealth in abundance; and
but one result can follow, the cheapening Of coal in
the markets of the world. The ships that now carry
that indispensable commodity from the South Wales
ports and Liverpool TO California, a distance of some
2 ,O00 miles, may then find their occupation gone,
for California will be able to draw her supplies from
a source 1000 miles nearer home. Thus the de-
velopment of national resources in China may affect
our commercial interests in one direction, but we
may hope to find in her a new and large customer
for those mechanical appliances which are required
for mining and manufacturing operations. 1t is
manifest that "Opening China as the current
phrase is, by whatever means, may result in an ex-
tension Of our trade relations and thus, looking at
the thing from a strictly commercial and perhaps
selfish point OF view, we can but rejoice at every
advance towards such a desirable eonsummation.-
British Trade Journal for March.