The state republican. (Jefferson City, Mo.) 1871-1896, 1894-08-30

ustu inSteHus bOatb useu on the canals
OF China are generally Of small size, from
25 to so tons burden, and fitted with sails,
which are used when the wind will serve.
When IL does not serve, the crew tow the
craft by lines fastened to the mast head,
or propel 1t with oars or poles. Despatch
boats frequently traverse considerable
distances at the rate OF five or six miles
an hour. The oarsman uses his feet 10
work a sweep, steering his boat with a
small one operated by his hands. The
junks used by officials OF high grade are
often very large and fitted with all the
appliances OF Il comfortable home.
From what has been said of the rivers,
lakes, and canals OF China, IL will be seer
that they do not offer perfect communi-
Beyond Il doubt the transportation of
passengers and merchandise was 80 years
ago attended with fewer difficulties in
China than in any other extensive region.
At their best, however, the canals Of China
afford so imperfect a means Of commune
cation and transportation that they would
not greatly forestall the usefulness of a
~ SltIIl " IHll"UNS. lnlS NlSN UNIV leluH
and disjointed empire can never realize a
perfect harmony throughout her various
and widely differing sections, until rail-
ways have been established. movement
was supported by prominent men MS early
as 1873 for their introduction but the
government objected to everything for
eign that it would keep all that were
constructed in it's own hands.
There are few common roads in China
worth mentioning In the southern
mountainous districts no vehicles drawn
by dumb animals are used. The same
may be said OF districts where canals are
common. In the provinces OF Chihli,
Shantung, ShanSi and Shensi carts are
used for the transportation of produce
and merchandise. 1t may be said of the
roads rs OF the canals they have not been
constructed upon IA comprehensive prin-
ciple and that they serve their purpose in
an Indifferent manner.
The climate In SO vast Il country as
China is OF course varied. At Pekin there
is no rain from November to April; the
summer are long and hot. At Shanghai
rains occur throughout the year; the
summer opens late and lasts longer than
in the same latitude in the United States;
the atmosphere is charged with moisture,
and the climate presents many OF the
features OF that OF Sew Orleans. At
Canton the prevailin, rains are in the
cooler months; the range of the Their
mometer is very great, and, although
about the latitude OF Havana, snow
occasionally falls. The mean tempera-
ture OF the whole coast is lower than in
corresponding Iatitudes elsewhere.
The typhoons OF the coast OF China
occur chiefly in the months OF July,
August and september. These storms
are most frequent and severe in the
ncighburhood OF Canton, and diminish in
strength towards the north. There is
great plain has undergone changes in the
Last 200 years. Many great bridges are
found there, and marks OF great erosion,
where now water is seldom seen. The
fertility OF the country has doubtless
decreased with the diminution of rain
fall and this will explain the fact, that
the population OF Pekin and the sur
rounding country appears to be much
less than formerly.
Considering the extent OF territory,
there is probably no region on earth
possessing soils OF equal fertility to those
OF China. There is no desert land, and
no district where the rainfall is not SUI
fcient for the more or less abundant
growth OF vegetation. In respect OF heat
and moisture, China is well favored for
agricultural operations. Some of the
a~lluvial districts have been in constant
cultivation for many centuries and still
produce excellent crops. The range OF
vegetable production is very great. Sugar
cane is cultivated everywhere in the
south. The centre OF its production is
K~wangtung. Rice is raised from one
extreme OF the empire to the other, but
chiefly south; the variety produced
further north is raised without irrigation.
Tobacco is also cultivated throughout the
empire and as lar north AS Mantchooria
or the southern bend OF the Amoor.
Millet is the chief crop OF the northern
part OF the great plain. Wheat, barley,
maize and sorghum are also raised. In
Shingking pulse and wheat are the lead
ing crops. In northwestern China rice,
wheat, oats, maize, sorghum and millet
are raised. In central China rice is the
leading product. In Szechuen, the
garden-spot OF China, there is a wider
and vast production. OF late years the
culture OF the poppy has been introduced
into this and southwestern pro inces and
has increased so largely that, in face OF
growing consumption, the importation
OF Indian opium is not augmenting. The
Szechuen drug sells at Shanghai at about
20 per cent. OF the value OF the Indian.
The article Of produce IN which foreign
ers are chiefly interested is tea. Green
tea is produced in the south, black in the
west and north. Kwangtung produces
both varieties. Next in importance to
foreigners is silk. The silk yielding varie-
ties OF the oak and ailantus are found in
the north, extending into southern Mant-
choorin and lower Mongolia. Cotton is
raised in the valley OF the Yantse-kiang
and throughout the country north OF that
river. Inc orange, lemon, pumeloe,
pineapple, cashew, betel, persimmon and
cocoanut are native fruits. Apples, pears,
peaches, plums and apricots are inferior
in flavor and size to those produced in
the west. Grapes are extensively culti-
waited in the north aud compare favorably
with those OF Europe or America. The
plantain fruit. is less important in China
than in South America. Ginger is extern
sively cultivatedr The tube rose, jasmine
and other fragrant flowers furnish the
scents which they use for the tea. A
tough grass is cultivated in the south and
woven into mating. The bamboo is
cultivated about villages for its shade and
beauty and is applied to such a variety OF
purposes that it may well be called the
national plant OF China. The tender
shoots are used for food; the roots as a
material for carved work; the culms as
pnIaa rnAs aticka aunaa iniafa riha nj