The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1901-02-03

China. There Is a BARRIERS union, which
covers the whole Empire, and there are
thousands Of men who do nothing but make
razors by hand Many Of the razors are
pounded out Of old horseshoes. the horse
shoes being brought by the shipload from
Europe for this purpose. The razors are
small, and they could be made by n l.
chinery at a low price. Germany is al
ready manufacturing them. and Is quietly
introducing them into different parts OF the
country.
The Germans have built up a big BUSH
ness In analine dyes. They have the mo-
nopoiy Of such sales all over China Ffv
great factories in Germany are kept busy
supplying the trade according to the orders
sent in from here by the Germans. They
have studied the colors which are most
used in each locality. and they give the
people just what they want.
Money In Drugs.
There is a big opening here for American
patent medicines. The Chinese have a great
respect for foreign medical skill. They are
lovers of drugs. and our medicines. prop
erly advertised, would have a large sale.
In chatting with one Of the doctors who Is
now connected with the university at Pekin,
he told me he thought he could make q
fortune IL he cared to go about the coun-
try selling drugs, especially II he had q lot
Of pictures. labeled Before and After
Taking" adapted to the Chinese.
Wheeibarr0ws and Bicycles.
/ nm surprised that some American has
not thought of making wheelbarrows for
the Chinese trade. The wheelbarrow Is the
farm wagon. the freight wagon and the
passenger train for the greater part Of
China. It Is used by the hundreds of thou
sands in every Chinese state. You find 1t
near the Chinese wall. and you have to step
aside for 1t In the crowded streets OF Can
49, w. 49, l4-- lfnna NJ Uhno1ha nuu
pushed by men, carrying freight from town
to town. Wheelbarrows are the drays Of
every Chinese city. The streets are too mar
row for carts, and the same Is true of most
of the roads throughout the country. There
are 5000 licensed wheelbarrows In ShanS-
hal. and almost every town has Its wheel
barrow union. These barrows are all made
by hand. They are heavy and clumsy. They
cannot be oiled, and they screech as they
move. A far better wheelbarrow could be
made by machinery. ard IL sent in pieces.
knocked down, the freight would be COM
paratively low.
1 am told a big demand might be created
for cheap bicycles. There are American
bicycles used in nearly all the ports. but
they are very high-priced. You find Chi
nese now and then riding them. They use
ladies' bicycles, because they are better
adapted to their stin petticoats and full
pantaloons. What should be sent here IL a
W0eel LHaI COuiO DO sOto 49, ~ ~
be strong. but need not have all the modern
improvements. such as pneumatic tires or
an easy saddle
Chinese Trade with the Philippines.
I know several Americans who expect to
work the Chinese markets from the Philip
pine Islands. They are going to buy up
some Of the hardwood forests and supply
lumber for the Chinese railroads. and es-
pecially for Chinese undertakera One Of
the big markets for lumber In China Is the
coffin market. There is nothing for which
the people pay so much as for collins.
They often buy them long before death.
and keep them in their houses as parlor
The collins are made very
thick. and those manufactured from hard
wood bring the highest prices. To-day a
great part of the coffin wood comes from
Fu-Chau, between here and Shanghai
Large trees are needed and lumber Of this
inc Is scarce.
The new railroads will create a great de-
mand for ties and b~ridee-building materials.
II the mines are to be developed, they will
have to be timbered. and 1t win take for
ssts to supply the WOO needed
Anerfcan COttons.
Our cotton trade = steadily t-nceoosaue.