Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1899-04-17
.CHINA'S RESOURCES.
Under Other Rule 1t Would Be a
Great Mining Country.
Not Only the Baser Metals, But Gold.
silver, Copper and Diamonds
Are Found in the Shan
tun9 Region.

Hitherto the development of China s
mineral resources has been studiously
discouraged and opposed by the au-
thorities. The first thing required is
permission 10 the people to avail them
selves freely of their untouched wealth
underground. The absurdity of the
present situation in this regard is fairly
illustrated by the fact that steamboats,
at Ichang, 1000 miles inland on the
Yangtse river, are compelled to burn
costly imported japanese coal. al
though Ichang is situated on the Dor
ders OF one of the richest coal fields in
the world. The coal deposits of that
region are so remarkable as to arrest
The attention of casual travellers, but
the government will not allow them to
be worked. If these mines, with the in
cidentaI iron ores and petroleum
springs, were permitted to be exploited.
there would be such a trade that the
available streamers and junks would
hardly be able to carry it all. A gold
mining company was organized in 1896
III this province (Szechuan) by China
man named Tong. who studied mining
i'm the United States. He got the sane
ton of the viceroy to buy machinery,
but the people petitioned the latter Off
cial to stop the work. Samples of gold
from the mines had been shown to the
cicerov. and the petition was not grant
ed. Szechuan has a population nearly
equal to that of France, and an area
about as great.
Shantung is described as one vast
mineral field. Gold, silver, copper, iron,
lead, coal and even diamonds are found,
The gold mines have been worked by
California miners, but they had to aban-
don the task. owing to the obstructive
ness of the native officials ten years ago.
1t is expected that. with the advent of
the locomotive in the near future, great
activity will be shown in exploiting
gold. coal and other minerals. Were
this province under any other rule. 1t
would be one of the greatest mining
sections in the world. 1t has popula-
ton of 10000, OC0-about the same as
that of Spain. This is one of the north
eastern provinces of China proper and
through itsruns the famous Hoang Ho,
or Yellow river, known as China Scr
row. by reason of the destruction Of
millions of people by its frequent over
flows. In this province China 50 two
great sages. Confucius and Menicus.
were born.
Optschang, capital of Hoppe, the
"Chicapo of China" will soon be con-
nected with Peking by rail, the road be
ing now under construction by Bel
gian syndicate. This city has 100000
inhabitants. and is the central market
for about 70,COO,OO0 people-a popula-
ton equal TO that of the entire United
States point like this merely illus
trates the vastness of the possibilities
of China as a purchaser of American
goods. The very magnitude of the pop
ulation CT the oriental empire well-nigh
exceeds the scope OF the human mind to
realize At least five times that of this
country-there has never beena census
of the Central Flowery land'-the
wants of its individual compOuents will
grow rapidly with the development of
the civilization which is to be forced
upon these people, who have stood still
for so centuries. How strange it seems,
by the way, that so much of the knowl-
edge from which modern civilization
springs has beer derived from the
Chinese.
During the last few years, however,
China has undergone wonderful
changes. On every side in that country
one sees evfdences of new born activity
and enterprise. The old-fashioned. con-
servative Chinaman. with his cry of
foreign devil" is being crowded to the
rear. One hears much talk of railways,
Of mills OF various kinds, and of enter
prises OF all sorts. The natives have
suddenly become progressive; they
want to learn about modern inventions
and scientific discoveries. At Wei
hsien a Chinaman is engaged in making
bicycles. This genius is able to turn
out a fair wheel, but cannot master the
pneumatic tires. He solves the problem
by covering rope with hides, coloring
the leather 10 the proper hue, and fas-
tening it to the rims of the wheels. The
missionary. always the pioneer of com
merce and the merchants most useful
agent, can now travel up and
down the country on his wheel, and the
sight is so common that it attracts no
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