The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-01-30
THE GERMAN HONG KONG.
THAT rs SAID TO DE WHAT GER
MANY WILL MAKE OF RIAO CHOU.

Advantages or the seaport Acquired by Ger
many from Poverty OF the
Surrounding Popuintiou-Censinnt watch
Kept Up By Farmers Against Thieves.
TACOMA. Wash. Jan. 23.-orientHl papers arc
now d~ovoting much space to descriptions Of
Shantung province. whore the Germans have
just acquired a foothold. Tho city OF Kiao
Chou and tho surrounding country controlled
by Germany have an area OF 400 square mica.
There is reason to believe, Judging from Ger
many's natural ambition and the situation and
advantages of Kiao Chou, that Germany in.
tends to build up there q great seaport, which
shall rival British Hong Kong. 1t is we'll
established that tho present activity In
the Orient is the outward sign Of
a scramble among European nations for
tho trade Of China and her 400, 600, 900 people.
Germany has not only an immense and growing
trade in the Orient, but also n steamship COM
pany tho North German Lloyd which, by cstab-
fishing in the near future q line from Asia to
the Pacific coast Of America, will DO the first
company to have steamship lines under one
management completely circling the globe. 1t
Is claimed in the Orient that what Hong Hong
has become in the south Of China. Kiao Chou
may become on the northern coast.
Der Oestasfdtische Lloyd. published Mt Shnng-
hal. prints n detailed description Of kino Chou
and the surrounding country. The city was
IOrmcrly n great traue centre, ana the hnrbOr Is
by far the most important on the Shnntung
coast. Before Corea was opened TO foreign mer-
chants Kiao Chou was the chief seaport for
goods shipped from and to wido districts OF the
great plain OF China. Nearly all the other ports
OF the district are shut off by high ranges OF
hills. rendering inland transportation very
difficult. From Kiao Chou the roads follow an
almost level course TO the north. and the in.
terror in every direction is easily reached
by cart. 1t has the ADVANTAGE OF in
land water communication. Canals, yet UNI
completed, were begun II century ago with
the intention Of making it unnecessary
for junks from the south to round the Shantung
promontorics. One canal was finished connect
ing KiaO and Lai rivers. one of which enters
the bay and tho other flows through the rich
districts beyond. Kiao Chou. with an estimated
population in its jurisdiction Of 200, o00,s still
bears traces of its former Importance. 1t is sur
rounded by a well-prcserved wall thirty feet
high, and outside the gates extensive suburbs
spread, protected by u second wall. The houses
are particularly we'll constructed. with side wall
often thirty feet high. The city possesses
monumental embellishments to an unusual de-
gree. and many inscriptions found in dwellings
testify that it was formerly the seat of learning
and the hRbitation of officials of State.
Tho city lies upon q plain eighteen miles from
the entrance of the bay. Two circumstances
| u CouuuCc " liz poTl o loos VI Ihuulu
the sitting up of the harbor and the opening Of
Chefoo. The extensive harbor is completely
sheltered and will accommodate innumerable
vessels. Had the opening of Kiao Chou pre-.
coded the opening Of Chefoo, the former would
almost to a certainty have retained its prc-emi-
hence, and the Shanghai paper mentioned be-
licves that it will regain its Importance on
account of its easy communication with inland
points. which it considers OF greater advantage
than Chefoo's open roadstead to the sea.
1t is not denied that the shadows greatly in
crease tho difficulties of approaching the former
anchorage Of Kiao Chou. The sitting is due to
the denudation of the mountains inland, and in
filling up the harbor has been assisted by the
slow upheaval taking place oil along tho coast,
until s%oa-going craft have now to discharge
twelve miles from the harbor and eighteen from
Der oestasiattsehe Lloyd says: -
connection for a network OF railroads in North
China will show themselves to be a pressing
account Of It's position Chinkiang, to the south
ward, will ere long form one. OF them; but an.
bic to good coal districts. and which at tho same
time shall permit of eastern CONGESTION with the
ditions are fulfilled by kiao Chou alone"
The Overland China Mail of Hong Kong says
that in density Of population Shantung ranks
E I Hl''D Half tho H' province, IS more or less
mountainous. out on the DroaQ plains i've from
800 to 1000 persons to the square mile, Every
village has some families OF mechanics and
artisans who own no land. Trades unions exist
bright pupil could learn In a few months all
that a master could teach him in a lifetime. i is
necessary to take a three years apprenticeship.
with little chance OF being able TO set up for HIM
sell at the end of that time. When the apnrcn.
tice is at last free, and gets at work, his master
an indefinite period. The density of population
makes it very hard TO get a living in Shantung.
There is a large class OF men who have neither
land nor occupation. These sell strength" or
port a family is no barrier TO matrlmony In
China, and certainly not In shantunE. where
dictum, There arc three unfilial courses, but
Of these not to leave .posterity is the Chief
upon it are held to have been for centuries the
In every village are women and chiISren who
Si9ssr, i; h Iii i. 5 5s%i!y wt Il i i'T he s e : 5 lar i; ys ssl|!:
work his food and ten strings Of cash each
fi mposs MIc'? for ls'f his ha1 family 10 exist on this pit,
lance. II his wife knows how to weave cotton
AND snss has nso " i SI1an It ,wd Is + a fInms nos mash ans 1 maae
one using 1t by day and the other by
has to be sold to buy food. and then the night of
despair settles down. III, you can't catch up
in one step. you can't catch up in a hundred
steps, says n native provcrb. and this Is the
They were born into the Mencian doctrine. and
they starvc In 1t. and ARE duly buried and laid
to The only rest thoy ever know, 10 be followed
BY posterity which viii repeat the same round;
The prefecture OF Tsao.chou.fu, In. the south
west corner Of ShauLung, has always been a nest
Of robbers. They cannot be exterminNtod, for
the reason that tho farmers themselves unite
highway robbery with their ordinary occupa:
tiuns. a peasant who secs IN unprotected
traveller passing on tho highway will, drop his
hoe, seize his club. and proceed TO take money
or life or both. according TO circumstance.
Memorials aftcn appear in tho Pokin Ga:ctte
complaining OF the intrsctsble disposition OF
these people and their congeners across
the Klangsu border. Tho latter part Of July
and. the month, of August are. periods
during which lawlessness is at u maximum, for
The sorghum plants. which grow to a height Of
from 10 to Is feet. practically obliterato Nil
landmarks. So far rs knowing whore one goes,
ono might ms well be plunged in n jungle. Even
natives OF the region sometimes get lost within
a few Ii of their own village OH u cloudy day.
The autumn crops OF Sh intunR consist Of mil
let. beans, Indian corn or MAKO. peanuts. melons.
squashes, sweet potatoes and other vegetables.