The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-02-10
AT The CAPITAL.
Prof. Eairchild, of Manhattan,
Writes From Ceyl0n.
He Is in Search of New Fruits
For United States.
CONDITIONS CHANGED.
Spanish-Americ War ReV0lu-
tionized Prices of Labor.
Items From Washington of In
terest TO Kansans.
CONDITIONS CHANGED.


Wilson of the department of agriculture
has received a report from David G.
Fairchild, Manhattan, the expert OF the
department of agriculture, who, with
Mr.. Lathrop, wealthy New Yorker, IS
exploring the world for new plants for
introduction into this country. The re-
port is dated at Colombo. Ceylon, ana
discusses general conditions In emma
He says the missionaries. frightened out
by the recent troubles. are returning
to their posts, and that foreign mer-
chants claim the outlook for trade i'm
provement is very favorable in the
region of Shanghai. American trade, he
says, is more than holding its own,
against that of other countries, but
adds: "Japan's trade has greatly in.
creased in China of late, and she IS not
only active but may become dan
gerOus competitor.
Mr. Fairchild went to Canton in
search of the south Chinese peaches
and pluIns, scions and trees of which,
he announces, he has shipped here, to-
gether with some promising leitchees'
bambooS, and persimmonS for California
and Florida
The American occupation of Manila
has led to a remarkable increase in
prices of labor, hotel accommodations
and food products in China Coohe
wages have greatly increased IN hong
Kong since the Spanish-Anerlcan war,
and important new enterprises complain
of a scarcity of labor.
Hotel prices are so per cent higher
that the general cost of living has dou-
bled in the last five years Inc Chlhese
government, to pay its war indemnity,
has levied a tax of five American Genus
a year on each rafter of every house IN
the country. Foreigners already pay
about per cent ad valorem on prac-
tically everything imported. The vice
ROW in Canton is already having
great difficulty in collecting the taxes
and white people living there say this
tax on the natives is arousing a great
deal of luminosity toward the foreign
ssThe growth of our agricultural as
well as other exports to emma, MI
Fairchild predicts, will be a phenonr
email one and includes many classes or
canned and dried goods from our or
chards, and preserved meats and dairy
products from our farms and ranches-
Mr. F'airchild says a British army
officer assures him that the Chinese
arsenal at Tien Tsin is manufacturing
cannon and small arms which fan very
little short of being as good as those
of European manufacture, and TINS
without even the supervision of the Eu-
ropeans and that the awakening OF
China. is going with a rapld1ty that
will soon astonish those westernerS who
refuse to recognize the course Things are
taking.
Washington Times: mo employe IN
the congressional library comes in con-
| in the discharge of duty as does MISS
Eta J. Griffin, who has charge of the
reading room for the blind She meets
all classes and conditions of the blind,
as they come to avail themselves of the
treasures of the library. Some of them
never knew the light of day, and TO
them light is only a meaningless word
l Others have lost their sight and are SEN
1 sibIe of that loss. They are usually a
sad-hearted class, for they can never
look again on the beauties of nature.
| And then come the partially bllnd-they
] who are losing by degrees the greatest
! boon of all the senses. They, too, are
| objects of pity. They are unable to APP
J preciate the beauties of the library It
| self as we see them Yet, through it all
they seem as happy as the average
! mortal. When the unfortunates go into
1 the reading room they find large
| sympathetic heart there to aid them IN
| their search for knowledge, for Miss
| Griffin is careful to add what bright
| ness she can to the lives of those for
| whom nature is wrapped in darkness
! Miss Griffin got her growth, as she
1 expresses it. in Ottawa, Kas., but re-
| ceived her appointment from Califor-
| MIA, after a residence there of a rev
| years. She is niece of Jack Harris. OF
| ottawa. who is we'll known throughout
| Kansas.
| Referring to Congressman Scots
| speech on the oleo bill on the 5th, the
! Washington Post SAYS it was "a ca
| pable effort against the bill. He has a
good voice and demonstrated ability III
| discussing questions before the house
| He argued against the injustice of tax
| ing one industry for the benefit of an
| OTTER and was given close attention
! The Post, however, recorded Mr.. Scott
| as Democrat.
The secretary of war announces that
he has determined upon Gen. ]. Frank
| lin Bell. now making very excellent
| record in the Philippines, to be com
| Tnandant of the general service ano
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