The Savannah morning news., 1900-11-18
CONFUCIAN COTTON GROWERS.
REV. W. " KING DISCUSSES THE
COTTON INDUSTRY N CHINA.

The Chinese Have been Growing
cotton for Centuries and Had COT
tom Gins before Columbus Dis
,oxrred Ameriea-Is Not Equal 90
the American Cotton, However
and VIII Never Compete with IT,
cbtna's soil - Exhausted, says W.T.
king. and Even the Atmosphere
se.m. worn Out-Fruits Have No
rtaxor and the Products of the
soil Not ~ Nutritious as Those OF
other Countries.
There IS nothing new under the SUI"
TIE Chinese seem TO have learned pretty
rgch an that che Western nations are
ron, acoutrine. many centuries ago only
they failed to make the prnciieal use
,he.r knowledge which has ehafacteil@eu
me remarkable civilization OF the west
II 81 now asserted that the Chinese dis
ssvereS America over 1900 years ago anH
TIA, they made excursions along the coast
from California down through Mexico.
Tho higher civilization OF the Aztees anu
others OF the original races OF trop'eaI
America Is believed By some TO be que 10
kose early Chinese explorers
whether the Chinese discovered Amer
Sea or not they antedated her In many
taine. Few people are aware that the
Chinese have been growing cotton Tor
probably 1000 years. u not longer anu
mat they have all this time been using
cotton gins OF similar idea to that made
Use q by Ell whitney IN his invention OF
bis cotton gin az Savannah in 1872. only
.ls years ago. A century IS long time
IN the history OF America. but a very
sriet period in the history OF China AMI
tie Chinese had been wearing COTTON
clothing for centuries before Columbus
sailed on his voyage OF discovery around
ue globe
Rev W p King. the Savannah mis-
Gor8ry. who labored in Shan Tung prov
Hce JOB Middle China for several years
Pcv.ous 10 the recent outbreak
o. Che Boxers. Is familiar 20 some
extent with tho cotton industry OF china,
Aaith Pie SAWS is conducted on a much
Arser scale than the people OF this coun-
'ry have any idea Of. Mr. King was in
te western part OF Shan Tung. in the
H9lttaiuous region. about sixty mics
nom che great yellow river. along both
t1es ~ which lie the cotton fields Of the
lh.hfse The yellow river tnavcrses on
Hufal region. 10 the west Of the river
lg great aliuvial plain. stretching
eastward TO Manchuria. II Is in this al
Ntla country. chiefly IN the provinces
shan Tuug and Honan. that China 3
0r crop "a chiefly grown.
tcvcr Travelled the country west Of
Yellow river 10 any great extent"
H Mr King when seen by Morning
reporter. hut ! penetrated IL suf-
'.Nily 20 see thar cotton growing was
oi the chief industries OF that country
chinese traders whom met inform
ne that the industry was carried on
extensively through a large area Of
tory. J should not be surprised n cot
trYwing and manufacturing support Cd
larger population IN China than o. does
'uf southern states. Shan Tung prov
aion2 having population OF about
He alluvial plain in which the cotton
crown IS cut up into Thousands OF small
"H patches We would call them a
man who cultivates ten acres has a
farm. There arc a few large plant
bh che Industry d chiefly conduct
ihe small planters The soil s. APP
''hty very rich. being an impalpable
o"A auAi' without the slightest trace Of