Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1875-09-09
The Future of China.

A RECENT numbeg of the Pacific Adrer-
tsser (Honolulu) says
1--WE were much interested recently, in
conversation with an intelligent Chinese
merchant of this city, III which the topic
was his own country, its resources and its
future. He confirmed the impression that
is gaining ground, in Europe and Ameri-
ca, that the political system which has so
long paralyzed the industrial forces and
cramped the resources Of China is des-
tined soon either to break up or to under
90 important notifications. The exclu-
siveness of the Celestial Empire, it is now
apparent, has for some time past been
yielding to that modern world which now
hedges it in on all sides, and the time is
soon at hand when its gigantic dormant
powers will be quickened into modern life
1t is well known that the difficulty of
opening China to foreign commercial in
tercourse has been solely due to the weak
jealousy of the Government and the ig-
norance and corruption Of the Govern
ment officers. The Chinese nation is real
ly among the most industrious, and most
disposed to general and active commercial
intercourse, in the world. Should the OBJ
stacles be removed we may expect to see a
revolution in the China trade.
1t is a fact not generally known that in
China coal and irOn-"in their combina-
ton the sinews of industry and the mas
ter-key of trade"-lie in abundance ready
at hand. Science and practical expert
ence are to be had from Europe and
America, while labor, of unparalleled ex-
cellence and cheapness, and simply un-
limited in quantity, is ready. And this
will prove more profitable opportunity
for the Chinese at home, instead Of spread
ing in lire arded profusion over America
and Australia. China it has been esti-
mated, includes within its limits about a
fourth OF the human race, more homo
geneous, more industrious, and perhaps
hardly less enterprising, where the op-
portunity occurs, than the inhabitants of
any of the more modern nations which
have outstripped her in the path ofwealth
and civilization.
The cOal-felds of China are not only
very extensive, but the quality Of the coal
is excellent. A few years ago an
English Admiral on his return
to England carried some speci-
mems, which were pronounced by
analysis to be fully equal, if not superior
to the best steam coal of Cardiff. This
was brought from place within forty
miles of Pekin. At the present moment
but few Of the many coal mines in China
are worked, and none on scientific princi-
pies. There are no steam engines, pumps
or tramways. Though iron mines are
numerous, and though iron has been in
use from time immemorial, its manufact
ure is carried on from the first to the last
OF its processes in the most primitive man
ner.
1t is not easy Says a recent number of
the London I'gmes) to forecast exactly the
ultimate result of introducing the vast in
dustrial force of China into the general
current of commercial enterprise and COM
petition; but if such portentous change
should in process of time be made the
value of labor throughout the world must
as necessarily fall as the value Of silver
fell with the discovery Of the mines of
Peru.