Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1898-11-04

| ly for the next decade. Inc Japahese'
however, are we'll aware Of the COM
mercial opportunities Of China and the
advantages which will result to the ma
ton first occupying the ground. AS
they are the shrewdest people OF the
eastern world the readiest to adapt
themselves to European customs, the
| most skillful workmen and the best
traders, they have amply earned the
title of the Yankees of the Orient.
| Russia will not enter into competi-
ton in manufactures for many years
to come, but in other lines her compe-
tition is to be dreaded by Americans.
possibly more than all the other ma
tions combined. Russia has vast wheat
fields, the products of which she VIII
be enabled by the new Trans-Siberiani
railroad, with its connections, to lay
down at the doors OF the Chinese as
far south as Pekin, and, by means OF
the new American railroad, so far as
Canton. BY the same means she Will
be enabled to transport the products
of her iron mines and coal mines ana
her oil wells, and, by exerting he'
power, force the Chinese to admit them
at the lowest rate of import duty. AL,
ready Russian petroleum has begun te
undersell American oil, and between
the Russian and Samaritan oils Amer
can oil is apt to be forced out OF the
market entirely Although 1897 was
bad year for import and export trade
of China, the importation OF oil in
creased 100000 gallons. In 1894 the
importation of American oil amounted
to 51,000,000 gallons, of Russian oil to-
100000, and of Samaritan oil only
100000 gallons. In 1897 the importa-
ton of American oil had fallen off to
100000 while that of Russian oil
had increased to 100000 gallons
and that of Samaritan oil to 14,00O,OOO.
When one stops to think OF the i'm
mensity of the Chinese market which
still is yet untouched by European
commerce, one is lost in wonderment.
The most conservative estimate OF the
population of China is 400,000,000 souls.
China proper is about 1,475 miles In
length and 1856 miles in breadth, and
contains an area Of 1,34S,S70 miles,
covering a territory in which the tea
plant and the cocoon are produced at
one extreme and fur-bearing animals
at the other At present its agricul-
tural resources have been only slight
ly developed, so far as commercial pur-
poses are concerned, although, owing
to the density of the population, it has
been necessary that every available
foot of territory should be highly cul-
tivated. The mineral wealth OF China,
which is vast, has practically never
been touched. Although, owing to the
great population and the cheapness OF
living, manufacturing in China could
be carried on at less expense than any
where else on the globe, and the raw
materials, such as cotton, silk and
iron, are right at hand, manufacturing
as we know it has never been under
taken in China, and the day must
come when the primitive handloom
must give way to the machinery driven
by steam and electricity.
The density OF the population and
the possibility Of the agricultural and
mining resources of interior China not
only guarantee that railroads will be
extremely profitable, but offer the
greatest field in the world for electric
railroads, which could run from town
to town and village to village, form
ing a system which could be spread all
over China like network. The build
ing of such roads would keep armies
of Cinnamon employed for years and
would furnish work for millions OF
American mechanics. Thousands OF
steam engines, freight cars and loco
motives, millions Of tons Of rails, hun
dreds and thousands Of miles Of wire,
thousands of electric motors, million
street cars and other accessories would
be needed for this purpose alone. The
opening up of China would soon be fol-
lowed by the adoption by the Chinese
of American customs, as has been the
case in Japan. This alone means mil
lions and millions Of dollars worth Of
trade to America.