Marietta daily leader. (Marietta, Ohio) 1895-1906, 1899-12-30
China's Great Possibilities.

A summarized glance at China's pos
sibilities will show at once the good
reason for all the newspaper reports
and government bulletins about our
Chinese policy. China has an area of
over 1000, 900 square miles, or greater
than all the United States, a popula-
tion commonly estimated at 0,O00, 900
or seven times that of the United
States, and only $50 miles of railroad,
ornot one five-hundredth of the mile
age in the United States. Imagine
what will come when China is grid
ironed with trunk and cross lines.
China has now an annual foreign
trade of only $3.50, 100000, or not 81 per
head If we apply the six dollar rate
per head of Japan, or the ten dollar
rate of Java, We have, in using $780,,
100000 as the most conservative estl-
mate of China's population, the reas-
enable figures-when China shall be
thoroughly opened and her govern
ment reformed and strengthed like
those of Japan and Java-respectlyely
Of $500, 100000 and of $4,000, 900 900;
for all experts agree that under like
conditions the buying and selling ca
pacity of the average Chinaman would
equal that of the Japanese or Javanese.
AT the present moment Americas ex-
ports to China do not exceed through
all channels, including Hong Kong
$50, 900 900, while the official figures are
still lower. 1t we look over the list
of China's imports we will find that
over half of them could be supplied by
the United States in successful compe-
tition with other lands, which fact ap-
piled to present imports of s175,0O0,-
900 should make our share over $l15,-
10000, or if applied future imports
$3.50, 100000 (the half of the first con-
servative estimate OF total trade) the
splendid sum of s500O00,O 900,
If l were asked how long must we
wait for such vast trade, would point
to the fact that Japan developed her
foreign trade from $3O,OOO,OOO in 1879
to $240, 100000 in 1897, or in less than
twenty years; or from less than 81 to
Sc per individual, as the population is
now 40,000000, against 33,000,000 TWEEN
ey years ago. If it were contended that
China cannot repeat or equal such a
record or is too poor in money re-
sources, the history of the Yang-tSe
Valley trade could be cited as an illus
tration of possibilities. When the
Yang-tse-one of the greatest inland
navigable waterways-was first opened
to trade with the outer world, a few
small steamers and $5O0,OOO represent
ed the foreign portion. 4,ow one can
go from Shanghai to Hankow, 600
miles into the heart of China, on finer
and larger craft than those which run
from New York to Albany, and the an
nual foreign trade exceeds $50, 1000, 900,
with only few of the cities open as
treaty ports and much Of the valley
made inaccessible by local barriers of
officialdom and taxes. If 10000 miles
of main and branch railroad lines are
built south of the Yang-tse in the
great reach Of country between it and
the Sekiang River system and an equal
amount to The north across and be-
yond the Yellow River TO Pekin, so
that interior resources can be develop
ed, products brought to markets, and
more imports brought in turn and con
veyen inland, there will inevitably
follow development in these sections
that should surpass the record of the
Yang-tse ports.-From "our Interests
in China" Review of Reviews for jan
uary.
It's the little colds that grow into
big colds; the big colds that end in
consumption and death. Watch the