The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-04-29
JAPAN,~ NEW ISLAND.
Formosa Twice as Large a. Ma>>sichu-
setts-A Valuable Acquisition.

settsA Valuable Acquisition.
New York sun
AS IL seezls certain thai. however the
war in the East may terminate. the
island OF Forrnosa will pass 10 Japan, II
is worth while 10 examine the value OF
the nikado's prospective acquisition. IL
will be found that this island, when de-
rfves its name from the beauty OF tts
scenery. confers upon its occupleFs STRAIT
egetic and commercial advantages reco2-
rrized by European nayigators Tor almost
four hundred years. and that IL pos
ssesses great natural resources in the
form of mineral, agricultural and forest
products.
A glance al the map will demonstrate
thu strategetic importance OF Formosa,
lying as IL does between what the Chi
nese term the Southern sea and the East
ern sea, and being separated by strait
which in the narroweSt part is only
ninsty-one miles wide. Nanifesty, also,
IT constitutes a way station between the
Japanese and Philippine archipelasos.
The area is nearly 13.0so square miles, or
about twice that OF the state or Masssa-
chuserts. The population is estimated al
some two millions. but as yet large
part of the island. including most OF the
eastern coast, is but thinly peopied, De-
ing still tenanted by aboriginal saVages
Of the Malay type. The western coast Is
occupied by Chinese emigrants from the
Annoy district, interIningled with whom
are semi-civiliZed aborigines who nave
adopted the Chinese language, dress ana
customs. IL was more tnan two ana d
half centuries ago. at the time OF the
overthrow Of the Ming dynasty in China
by the present Manchu reignlng FAMILY,
that a number of the adherents or the
Mings came over 10 FormoSa. expelled
the Dutch and effected firm lodSment
in the island. Since 16a2, however, the
Chinese in Forrnosa have recognized the
Manchu sovereign at Pekin, and have
been included among his subjects. Dur
ing the two hundred years which nave
since elapsed they have suffered more
grievously even than any of the inhahi-
tauts of the Chinese mainland from mis-
government at the hands Of the manda-
rims deputed to rule them, with me ex-
ception of a brief period. when GOOD
roads were made throughout the Chinese
part of the island. and telegraph line
was constructed between two important
points.
The forests of Formosa are Of tropical
variety and mxuriance. No fewer than
sixty-five specimens of the different kinds
of timber indigenous in the island may be
seen in the museum at Kew. Among Inc
especially valuable trees may be men
toned several species Of palms, the aloe,
the cassia the camphor. and the tree
paper OF the Chinese. The pineapple
grows in abundance. ana European tray-
elers are struck with the beauty of the
wild flowers. particularly of the orchids.
lilies and oOnvolvuluses. Rice is grown In
such quantities that FormOSa has ac-
quired the title of the granary OF China
other articles of export are sugar, tea
indigo. jute, hemp. oil. rattans and ground
peanuts The sweet potato, taro, mlllet;
barley, wheat and maize are also Guilt
waited and II is said that in some parts or
the island coffee might be grown with adj
vantage Coal petroleum and sulphur ex-
list in quantities sufficient 70 make them
of economical Importance. The principal
coal fields hitherto worked are In the
northern part of the island; as far back
as 1877 the export of the Combustible ex-
ceeded 81 600 tons. A great extension OF
the coal mining industry viii unquestion-
ably follow the advent II the japanese.
In this enumeration of the treasures and
attractions of Formosa we should not
omit to note that its waters are well
stocked with shell fish, and that its for
e@ts abound in game. In word. with
the exception of Ceylon, there is no ISL
and in the East which is at once so beau
tifui and so fruitful as Formosa.
IL is evident that I'm this island the Jap
anese would find no mean prize or short
war. even IL II were unaccomp1nted with
a large pecuniary indemnity.