The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-12-29
GREAT MILLS OF THR ORIENT.
wharton Barker Tells of Chinese ana
japanese Industries.

Philadelphia Times
Wharton Barker. prominent in Philsesi-
phla mercantile life, who has been itent-
fed with several movements for the de-
vel0pment OF the resources OF the interior
OF China, has Just returned from another
trap 70 the Celestial Empire ana japan
He left Shanghai on October =. on the
steamer Empress OF China, and arrived at
Vancouver after the remarkably quick
voyage Of eighteen days. lie reached tbs
city Monday night Yesterday afternoon Re
spoke OF the Industrial activity and pro-
gTess!ve spirit os the people OF Japan. ant
the perseverance, OF the Chinese
1T was a great sight" he sad. 10
witness the Immense cotton mills Of Os4k.
a city Of 40 90 inha 0itants near KOBE. the
seat OF the cotton manufacturing Industry
OF Japan. as well as the woolen NILS.
spin6ies and looms. running day and night.
to supply not only the wants OF japan. but
Their chief product at present consists %
a kind OF Gotten fabric. which Is used ~
Us in rough shirtIngs and dresses FOR NO
men. They expect not only 10 increase
their export 10 Europe. but also 10 Amerl-
ca. and the manufacturers. foreign ana do
mestic, are eiAted over the prospects %
great profits, which they fully hope 10 real
.ze within the next few years.
They also manufacture q speciality of
rugs after the order OF those manufactured
ia this city, which they originally took
for a pattern. Surgical Instruments are
being made there, al about one-tenth q
the cost OF similar instruments in Europe.
They have arrived at such a degree Of
perfection in the manufacture Of these that
il Is impossible 20 distinguish the japanese
product from the European
Il spent the greater part OF my tine IN
China. where / noticed that the psopis
seemed thoroughly Indifferent as 10 the
result Of the war. While there il much
apathy IN political matters and very little
OF what Americans can patriotism there
is a universal spirit OF industry and per-
severance exhibited which surpaSses that
Of any American. The kitchen gardening
and farming. although done with poor
tools, would put to shame that seen On
the model farms and the well-kept gar
dens Of America or even those Of BEL
GUM. In these gardens ! saw growing al
the vegetables known 10 US, and many
with which We are not familiar. Their
gardening and farming are not affected By
drouth. because OF = very thorough and
not scientific system OF irrigation. a system
that would be prohibitory with Us because
OF the expense Of LABOR which here proper
" commands adequate compensation
"As an illustration OF their low standard
OF wages, a frst-class farm laborer receives
but 81 per month, which keeps him in q
abiect filth. with this ridiculous sum he
even clothes himself Gecently. Very few
people are to DO seen in rags, and these
only among a class such as the opium
fend. who Is utterly worthless and very
much like our American drunkard.
Thu filth OF al their cities. Peking es-
pecially. outside Of the range OF foreign
influence, IS frightful 10 behold. Yet with
all this filth Il is easy TO find beautiful and
costly fabrics and surroundings such as
one would expect to see in the homes OK
the rich. One passes frequently from
street foul with refuse into a residence OF
immaculate cleanliness.
'China, as well as Japan. is awakening
10 the position her cheap labor. her pro-
ductive soil. her mineral wealth give her.
And the Chinese have also erected num-
Der of cotton mills for the purpose OF sup
plying their own people with the cotton
clothes which heretofore were brought
from America and Europe. They are con-
templating the erection OF wooden mills IN
which 10 manufacture carpets and rugs
for American and European markets.
They now know that about 50 per cent. q
the carpet woods used In those countries
are obtained from China. and they expect
soon TO ship that wool manufactured Into
carpets instead OF the raw material They
must. though. IN the beginning. have SUI
perintendents familiar with such machln-
cry as is used in America and Europe.
They win have great difficulty in finding
men whom they are willing 10 trust. as
they are Of an exceedingly suspicious
nature.
The government Of China e.. OF course,
very weak. But whether the present dy-
nasty continues or whether some Chinese
revolution succeeds In changing the per-
sonnet Of the government, or whether the
European powers agree upon the partition
OF China, iniustriaily and commercially.
China viii remain one great. compact
mass. The European and American parts
OF the world must accept the conditions
that exist and protect themselves from
Asiatic competition or sink IN time. ana
not long time az that. 70 the Asiatic lew
81. In my Judgment, the course % Amer
lea is plain We should recognize tha
quantity theory ot money. re-estahiiSh bf-
metallsm Immediately, and enact tariff
laws that will protect American labor"