The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-03-13
KILLS RUNNING IN SIAM
Prosperity in Every Industry Ex-
cept Shipbuilding.
'rhe Machine shops and Foundries
Busy-BnnGkOk's Electric Lighting
Plant and Car Service-TweIve
Printing Embellishments in Opera
ton - Three Newspapers Issued.


try OF Siam. There are twenty-six steam
rice mills in Bangkok. and although the
first one in the country was started by an
American. none are owned by Americans
today. Four are Eu -Opean. and the rest
are owned or managed by Chinese. Some
of these Chinese firms have a very large
capital. Seven Of the mills have their
own electric light plants. one OF which
was furnished by an American house. All
the other supplies end the rice milling
machinery used here have come from Eng
land and Scotland
"A few years ago the paddy. OF rice husk.
which Is used for fuel was so cheap that
much waste was permitted in its con-
sumption. Now, however, the rapidly in
creasing price OF fuel has created good
market for this husk, and efforts are be-
ing made 60 economic by introducing
more improved methods Of combustion.
Teak wood is the next most important
industry OF the country. and there are ten
large steam sawmills and many smaller
hal'mills in the city for the manufacture
Of teak lumber. Three Of the mills have
their own electric light plants and all Of
thoI. get their machinery and supplies
from Great Britain.
Twenty years ago shipbuild,ng was ear
Tied on quite extensively. At present how
ever. there are only four small docks and
shipyards, and only small boats are con-
structed. There have been built on an
5eTaSe Tor several years past about TWEEN
{, five steam launches Of frous seventeen
10 thirty tons burden; thirty cargo bats
teratt about nifty feet IN length by thir-
teen feet BEAM. ard eight lurCnas. OF
Chinese sailing craft. Ito feet IN length
by twenty-five feet beam. while hun
dreds OF the smaller boats OF all descr.p-
uons that swarm the --vers aud canals are
turned out every season. All SUuplies
and machinery for this industry come from
Europe.
There are four large machine shops aud
icundries In Bangkok. also the shop OF
The railroad systems. supplies for Viii h
likewise come from Europ4 The large
elecuic-lghtiug plant for tie city aad tae
two power houses for the electric tram
can system obtained their equipment in
Europ an the United States
There are In the city twelve printing
Establishments IN which English type is
used and twenty-four in which Siamese
printing is done. These include in their
outrut three daily papers. periodicals. and
books Of all descriptions besides many
lesser publications and much job work.
The printing supplies for the city. Tor tho
most part come from Europe tn, United
states Is DOW furnishing a portion how
ever. and American paper has within The
last year made decided hit. and Is lust
now Increasing Ia favor.
"Lubricatirg oils for all thee n.auufsc-
tories are supplied by the Vacuum on
Company and the Charles Price OH Com
pauy, both Of London. The native castor
oil OF this section is a vigorous competitor
selling anywhere from 1853 10 1854 in
United States currency per 132 pounds
During The last six months the importa-
ton ~ crude petroleum 10 bulk from Rus
sia and Borne has been going on. and of-
forJs are Low being made 20 Introduce
10 as a fuel IN the factories and on the
steam craft IN the inland waters The cf-
fort thus far IS meeting with very cues
uOnahle success. ana seems o. promise liz
re IN the way % trade
rs result ~ the gradual improvement
cl me streets o. the city during the last
. Ten years, very many vehicles OF an de-
-crlpIons are used The extent 81 The
city makes travel by carriage almost a
necessity, hence. Bangkok Is probably a
long way ahead OF any other city In The
Far East IN the use OF wheeled vehicles
Z The demand was al first supplied urirci-
pdlly from outside sources. bur of lqre a
, local industry mas been springing up and
p
now manufactured iu Bangkok Without
exception, however. they strike the Ameri-
can AZ unnecessarily heavy and clumsy.
The streets OF the city are perfe.tIv
! level no point for miles around being
more than three feet above nigh water
mark. and, being built Of brick or macad-
an. are most adaptable 70 the use of light
running vehicles of ali kinds. Moreover
The native ponies. which have proved
hes cd
climate. are very small weighing only
from 800 TO 700 pounds and hardly suita-
bic for the heavy vehicles. Blu, these lit
tie animals are used - exclusively mar
there are not more than thirty fuII-sizea
horses in the city. In view OF these con-
ditions. II would seem that the Gifferen,
STYLES OF liEht-running American vehicles
would prove very desirable if once intro
duced. The workmanship and material
must BE- first class 10 meet the climate.
which changes very quickly from extreme
~ wet TO hot and dry; but If well made
there is no doubt that our vehicles would
wear quite as well as the cumbersome
ones now in use while their greater light
ness and beauty would win for them n
place in this market.
American paints g s, and varnisbes are
still unknown here. but in view Of the
amount OF building n6w in progress in the
city. including he construction OF docks
and shipyards. az well as the rapidly grow
ing carriage iudus.ry. there is no doubt
that there is an opening here for American
trade in this line OF goods
The greatest obstacle Is the cost OF
! freight. due TO the repeated trans-shfp-
mcnts en- route. A through line OF steam
crs from New York to Manila. with regu
lar sailings would be a great assistance
neeessitating but one trans-shipment al
Singapore, and placing American goods OF.
al equal footing for the most part with
goods from Europe. There is but one line
OF steamers from this port direct TO Eu
rope-the East Asiatic Line from Copenha-
gen 10 Bangkok. The service consists Of
one steamer each way every three months
The Germans are coming 10 the froat
very rapidly in Siam. Prince Henry OF
Prussia is here and the last TWO weeks
have been spent in a constant ovation 10
him The Emperor Of Germany from time
to time by personal letters and by presents
20 the King of Siam has helped the Ger
man interests here very materially. Ing
lang and France seem to be losing
ground"
Burned ia Death.
CHARLEsTOwN, W. Va. March
l3.-Information has reached here Of
the burning to deatE OF Grace Nell
son. the hve-year-old daughter OF