The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-08-28
Foo-Chow and Its Arsenal.


New York Herald
Foo Chow, sir, is the Boston Of China, and
one of the finest cities in the world, saidDr.
YontozeH Hing, a el,-known Chinese physician
Of this city, to Herald reporter yesterday. Il
have lived there for many years and am conse-
quently much interested as to how it will with
stand the French bombardment. The popula-
ton of the city itself is at least 100000 and that
Of the suburbs about 100000. AS seat of learn
ing it is pre-eminently distinguished No fewer
than 1900 literary graduates term that
closely corresponds to that of senior wranger
at the University of Cambridge in England
or more than quarter of all the scholars in that
part of the empire, reside in Foo-Chow.
II is also the home of 1000 literary students,
needy but clever young fellows, who are sup
ported somewhat in the same manner as the
poor scholars of Ireland-that is, by teaching
and similar scholastic pursuits Foo-Chow has
a considerable inland trade and has greatly en-
larged her commerce, especially since the exter
patton of pirates. As well as can remember
the imports of opium last year exceeded So, 800,
600; of food-stuffs, $4,000,000, and of foreign
goods, $55, 600. Special attention is paid to the
tea trade, as the Bohea leaf hourishes IN the
neighborhood of Foo-Chow. Perhaps the most
important industry is navigation. The Min
river, which is navigable for 23Q miles. to city
called Shau mai where canal connects it with
tributary of the Yang g-tse- -Kiang, is the home
of over so, 600 boatmen. Thousands of fishermen
also make good living by selling sharkes fms
birds nest soup, devilfsh, dragonish, gourami,
seaworm greenhsh, and many other species OF
fish
Foo Chow is finely paved with granite blocks,
and most of its streets are as clean as Broadway,
while mono of them are as filthy as Mott and
Pell streets. in this city. The drainage is also
admirable considering that the city is built on
spacious, level plain and is even today liable to
be inundated by the spring torrents. For this
reason the city walls are built of extraordinary
strength and the gates in them are few and
small When heavy floods comes the gates
can be blocked up with banks of earth in o few
minutes and the city made water proof There
is never much danger of famine, as the food
supply is largely furnished by boats. The city
could certainly hold out for many months.
gineers that it would be well to erect
levees but we did not act on it, as
experience has taught us that the effect
of levees is gradually to raise the river bed,
and thus to increase the evil which they are
intended to cure. The municipal government of
Foo Chow is excellent, and the people are very
orderly and broad minded. Will you laugh
when tell you that the British consul lives in
splendid Buddhist temple for which he pays
the priests $50 a yearl A Taonist church IS
similarly occupied by an American merchant
An assistant priest is the head gardener Of the
| British consul, while another acts as cook for
| the American merchant. The people OF FOO
Chow are inveterate opium, smokers ana ana
! hundred opium joints and five hundred gambling
cens III the city Ofcoursc they are illegal but
| are supported chiefly By officials, in the same
manner as your policemen support the saloons
| and drink in them on Sundays. Crimes against
| property and individuals is very rare.
'''The arsenal destroyed by the French was
| about three miles down the river It was very
similar to Woolwich in England II was started
in 1851, butwas Of slight account until 1860
when the government chan peed its policy and be.
gan to employ FOREIGN talent IN its military and