The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1884-10-10
Changes Going On In China.

The Chlnaman is clannish and con-
servative. But he is remarkably ffee
from prejudice, religious or patriotic, es-
pecially in matters of tangible interest.
He has natural objection to alter his
clothes, unlike the Japanese. for they
suit him better than any other. But
he has no objection to purchasing the
article which he judges to be the cheap
est and best, wherever it may come
from. He is very sensible in his econo-
my, and if he prefers the homemade
article, it is because he finds it cheaper
and more enduring. Native patterns of
cloth, both woollen and cotton, if
scrupulously initiated, will find buyers
if laid down cheaper than the native
article. Though the Chinese are con-
sentative, foreign articles are creeping
into use. Clocks, watches, matches,
lamps, red blankets, are now seen not
only everywhere in the seaport towns
and near the coast, but far inland.
The Chinese. contrary to general
opinion, have been found to appreciate
in wonderful degree the value of the
rapid transmission by wire. The tel
egraph is being carried from north to
south, and from east to west, along the
Yangtze and Canton Rivers. A line is
worS ing in Formosa. Begun with such
vigor, there is reason to believe that the
network will rapidly spread over the
land. The telephone and cleo ric light
have made their way into China. Al
though the first railway constructed in
China, from Shanghai to WoOsung,
opened and closed in 1876, was not ap-
proved by the Government-the line
being bought and removed to the shores
of Formosa, where it now lies-the
steam engine is at work. This is on q
line to the Kaiping coal mines, dis
lance of SIX miles and half, construct
ed bv Li-Hung Chang. Machinery has
been introduced not only at the Kali
ping mines. but elsewhere. The super
slit ons regarding shafts dug through
the earth, the dragons veins" are
giving way. Mines are being promoted
by the Chinese in various parts, but
with great rashness, the fact that mines
are utterly useless W thout communities
ton not having been grasped. Gas has
| long been in use at Shanghai. The
fiotilla of thirty steamers, with tom
mage of some $4,000 tons, started by the
China Merchants Company, has not
been pecuniary success as yet, mainly
owing, however, to maladministraion
during the late speculative crisis. In
surance companies are at work at Hong
Kong and Shanghai, doing an import
ant and increasing business. In mill
tary matters, while the late Franco
Chinese difficulty has clearly shown the
imperfect condition of the Chinese
forces, important changes have been
effected The most important have
been the arming bodies OF men with the
breech loader. the drilling of Lis force,
the establishment of dOck-yards. the
introduction of torpedos, krupp guns.
transports, and gun-boats on the
European models. The fact that the
military organization is still wretched
and the administration corrupt does
not vitiate the fact OF progress having
been made. The native press has
made considerable strides. Com
menced in 1868 with the Shun-Pao,
there are some half-dozen papers in
China. Their influence is considerable
and is extending rapidly. AS proof
of their enterprise it may be mentioned
that the Sh,tn-Pd0 sent Especial cor
respondent" to Ton9uin to follow the
operations, though he very wisely
thought discretion the better part OF
valor and declined to land on his ar
rival at Haiphong. = Cor. London
| Times