The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1901-03-05
CONSUNP ton OF
FLOUR IN CHINA
Its Increase One Of the Maryels in
Oriental Trade.
USED IN MANY DIFFERENT WAYS
The Chinese Arc Fond Of it for Food and
Arc Ingenious in its Preparation.
Raising Of Wheat There is
on the Increase.
USED IN MANY DIFFERENT WAYS
Especial DIspa,ca 10 The 1imcs.)

Especial dispatch TO The Iimcs.)
WASHINGTON, March 4.-One of the
nnaIvcls in Oriental trade has been re-
Gently reported by Henry b. Miller, Con
sal at ChunEking. who stated that the
imports OF flour into China during the
years 1897 and 1899 were. respectively.
$500 49, IS and s.. d54. SOL "a, which shows an
increase of si,2o6. 1915 50.
1t is a most significant and gratifying
characteristic of the trade that wherever
-four has been introduced there has been
such rapid increase in the demand and
in the consumption as to give an assur-
ance of a continued and growing market
therefor in all sections of China where
the cost of transportation does not bar
its use.
A careful observation of the Chinese
method of living, their system of prepara-
ton of food and habits of consumption
shows conclusivelv that -four Is especial
" we'll adapted thereto. and that when
ever it can he brought within their pur-
chasing power it is sure of permanent
and increasing use. Its use in SO many
different ways makes it especially. desira-
bic With the development of China will
come improved conditions of the Chinese
and Il demand for better and more diver
siiied food. Progress in China means a
wonderful increase in the consumption OF
wheat -four.
HAND 10 MODI1-
In all the Chinese cities very large
percentage of the population lives in a
sort of Iand-to-mouth fashion. buying
food from restaurants. The great neceS-
sity for cnconomy in fuel seems to be the
primary cause for this mode of living.
Restaurants are the great consumers of
foreign flour
Throughout Central and Southern China
very little baked bread is used, and the
}i,n fny- ~
yernicelii, or dumplings filled with
chopped meat, or meat and vegetables or
fruit.
Wheat is grown to some extent in
nearly every section of China 1t IS
grown more extensively throughout the
northern and western than in the central
and southern portions, and in the north
and west it is generally used Tor food.
In these sections tie grain is ground in
small stone mills operated by hand or
animal power. and in some places by
.vater-power. Throughout the north each
family owns its own mill and grinds its
own -four.
FOOD PRODUCTION.
Although in China agriculture is more
highly developed than othe- industries
its full capabilities in food production are
far from being realized. 1t is conceded
that the northern part of China produces
the best wheat. and it is claimed that 1t
is as good as the average raised in the
United States.
The vast waterways, covering such 4
large area. reaching in many sections
every forty acres of land. with the cheap
labor engaged in transportation. make
the CARRYING of grain an insignificant fac
tor in its cost at the mill and provide
every means for its cheap distribution.
The greater part of the wheat is winter
wheat planted in the fall. 1t is not sown
in large tracts. as in this country, but
planted in small lots of a fraction of an
acre. The threshing is done by fails on
the ground. The grain is gathered up,
with a large percentage of dirt. and sold
without being cleaned. The wheat is not
cleaned before it reaches the mill. and
when ground in the native mills much
of the dirt is ground into the flour, so
that it is gritty. All native mills are of
small capacity, made of stone rollers
over 4 stone base. and the product is a
coarse, dark, dirty flour.
The usual price paid for wheat deliv-
cred at the mills is $40 for 13S Is
pounds.
A large amount Of the wheat is found
like il. that eats out the inner part of the
grains and leaves the hull.
MODERN MILLS.
There have been three modern flour
mills constructed in China-one at Tien-
1sin. which was recently destroyed by the
Boxers, and two at Shanghai. One of the
Shanghai mills was furnished with En-
Glish machinery and has a capacity of
20 barrels per day, This mill is now in
operation.
The increasing production OF wheat in
China and the corresponding rise of a
new industry is undoubtedly one OF the
signs of the advance OF Western ideas
among the Chinese people IN the centre
OF The great 1icc-growins region. it is not
a little astonishing TO lind that Chinese
enterprise has seized so promptly on
wheat as an article OF food. The ideas of
the promoters of the flourishinG and
beautifully constructed. Fou FoonE flour
mill. beyond The end OF the Markham
road. is, of course, TO supply the foreign
communities of Northern China with
-four which fully equals in quality that
imported into China Tho Fou Eoons is
The first modern American flour mill in
China and has been fitted by the Edward
J.. Allis Company, of Milwaukee, under
The personal supervision of that com
pany's representative. Mr.. L. G. Morse,
of Minneapolis. It's location is on the
Charghai bank OF the Soochow Creek.
The mill has 5000 bushels capacity. and
can easily TURNOUT 1,392 sacks of flour of
80 pounds per sack per day. which is of
splendid quality.
MARKET FOR AMERICA
The consumption of flour in China then,
that it is growing so fast, indicates a
good future market for American flour
and foEring-nili machinery. as well as
employment for skilled Americans in the
construction and operation of flour mills.
The conservative character of the peo-
pic of China when it comes TO change
in methods of industry is so we'll estab-,
aished that it seems perfectly safe to pre-
cict that the demand for -four for many
years to come viii be far ahead of the
local production. The ability of the
United States to place flour cheaply in
ali tie great coast cities gives assurance
of an extensive and permanent. trade be-
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