The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-07-23
Iron MAKING WITH CHEAP LABOR
Factories I'm Asia to Be Benefited b,
the American Tariff Bill.

Factories In Asia to Be Beren ted oy
the American Tariff Bill
Under date Of March 10, 1894. the United
States consul az Hankow, China writes TO
the state department:
"One OF the marvels of this marvellous
country is the vast rolling mills and
arsenais now approaching completion IN
Hanyan. q city opposite Han1ow, on the
Han side, erected under the auspices OF
Chang Taz-Tnng. viceroy Of Hupeh and
Human The plant covers about seventy
acres, with q railroad one and one-half
miles in length from the Yangtze river 10
the works, and thence TO the Han river
with an incline from the top OF the
Yangtze bank TO the water. where
powerful machinery is located TO
draw the cars up q steep incline OF
about 800 feet to the level. The works
were designed by an English engineer on
q most gigantic scale, and in their hitting
up nothing but the most modern and inn
proved machinery has been imported,
mainly from England The buildings are.
unfortunately, located in valley liable To
overflow, and their foundations have been
raised fifteen feet, consisting OF bed OF
concrete, made of brick, stone and Port
land cement, covered with layer OF
earth, the whole of which was carried In
baskets by eoolies-the labor of thousands
OF men. The work was commenced In
1891. and is yet far from completion, IS
much of the machinery is still ii boxes.
"The buildings are of brick. with stone
foundations. Handsomely designed and
most elaborately and solidly constructed.
The brick used in the construction of the
works is made on the ground by ma
chinery. the clay being moistened
and ground, then passed through
a press. forming a continuous slab,
which is automatically cut in pieces
-
forced against frame interlaced with
wires that sewers ii into ten perfect. hard
pressed bricks, which are then conveyed
by hand TO the furnaces and burned. All
the brick for lining the furnaces, casing,
ETC.. were also made in these yards.
There are four immense hot-air blast
furnaces. two large steam hammers and
innumerable rollers, with all of their APP
pendages, for manufacturing railroad iron,
which is the main object OF the erection OF
the plant. Large quantities of Chinese
iron are now in the yard, with some Eng
lish iron fos blending purposes, and coke
is being imported from Wales TO be used
temporarily in the construction OF rails,
as soon as the machinery can be put in
operation, as test of what the foundry
can do. The sheds. covered with CORFU
gated roofing, cover an area Of twenty
acres. The smelters are Of the most i'm
proved patterns. and a large furnace Is
nearly completed for the manufacture of
Bessemer steel. The molding and pattern
shops are as complete as they can be, and
large elevators are placed In various build
ings for hosting material. In fact, If ever
finished. il will be one of the most COM
plete rolling mills in the world, as expense
seems to have been secondary considera-
ton in the erection of this immense estab-
lishment. Itls estimated by experts in
such matters to have cost so far not less
than S. 500, 000 and 1t will cost at least
81, 900 900 moro TO complete 1t.
"Once in operation II is the intention OF
the vIceroy to manufacture everything in
the iron line--ordn ancs, rails, machinery.
small arms, etc. The arsenals are about
complete, and machinery will soon be set
up for the manufacture of arms and NUM-
tons. number of skilled workmen are
now en- route here for the purpose of in
structing the native artisans and OF ar
ranging everything IN working order.
THE two buildings, covering an area of
about four acres. are substantially con-
structed and display great skill on the
part OF the architect and builder. They
are fitted up with large engines and the
most improved machinery, and every
thing that ingenuity OF the machinist can
conceive TO be necessary in such an estab-
lishment has been purchased in order to
make il a success. The average Chinaman
looks on these modern wonders with sto,id
countenanee, and turns away with the
idea that the vieeroy must be hypnotized
by the foreigner TO put so much cash into
an undertaking from which he can see no
outcome, and this view Is taken by some
of the foreigners that have visited the
works. So far, nothing bat the hes. ma
terial has been used; nothing of shoddy
character has been allowed in its construc-
ton. The railroad is laid with heavy
steel rails. The two traction locomotives
are of the latest designs. and the iron cars
are similar TO those used in England for
the transportation of coal and iron, aud
will be used for carrying coal iron and
other material from the river TO the works.
"Ihe mines, from which the metal for
the manufacture OF rails is 10 be obtained,
are near Wang-Shih- King, about seventy,
six miles beiow Hankow, sixteen miles
inland at Tayeh, connecting with the
river by well-constructed railroad and
dock Al a landing three miles below Wang
Shrinking The ore is reported to be of
good quality and inexhaastible. Coal,
both hard and SOFT, is mined in
this ne.ghborhood IN the crudest man
ncr, no effort being made 10 drain
the mines of water. and, once flooded
they are abandoned and new ones opened.
THIS coal has been pronounced by experts
as not suitable for smelling, containing
too much sulphur, bat IL Is thought that
good quality can be obtained hereahouts
from mines now undeyeloped. Mines of
iron and coal are numerous IN this section
anu can be made 20 furnish all the mate
rial Deeded. If mined systematically, aud,
owing 10 the cheap labor obtainable. they
can be worked economically.
should the means Of the vioeroy hold
cut and the plant he successfully operated.
. viii prove revelation 20 the natives of
this portion OF China, and 90 much To
dlsabGse their minds Of their own infalli-
billty. and convince them OF the benefits
10 be derived from the genius aud skill of
the foreigner. Ii sill stamp Chang Taz-
Iung As public heuefacior aGd one OF the
most progressive mandarias of the Impe-
rial empire.
The rails 90 be manufactured here will
be used - construct a road to start some
distance above Hankow. so as to get be-
yond the marshy ground OF the lake eoun-
Try aad the annual overflow, 10 connect
with roads projected fer the interior. Ii
Is asserted that work viii commence on
the contemplated road a. soon as IL is
definitely settled that the HanyAn mills
can supply the rails
Taken 81 in all, II is the most pro-
cTesssye movement 80 far made in China
for the parpose of manufacturing arms
steel rails and machinery. as the plant is a
perfect 0Ge aud "a 4 magnitude sufficient
- require several hours 10 inspect II even
hastily"
Tue consul At Bombay. India, reports:
Daring the East twenty years the num-
Der Of iron foundrics and machine shops
has greatly increased, and the country IS
less dependent on EaroDe for general iron
WORK lmp0rtstlons OF wrought iron and
steel in bars and plates are yearly lncreaS-
lag. The following is a list of such struc-
fures OF iron aud slice. a. are bufIt in