The Florida star., 1902-11-28
AWAKENING OF CHINA.
Rapid Development of the Ma
tion's Latent Powers.
ODD PLAN TO PAY WAR INDEMNITY
Chinese Government Has Levied q
Tax OF Five Cents q Year on Each
Rafter of All Houses Largest
DocLy ard In the World to BE Built
af HnnKLanK.

Rafter of All Houses Largest
Dockyard In the World to BE Built
at Hongkons.
The rapidity with which the Chinese
are awakening from the sOmnOlence of
kcenturies and developing their extraOr-
dinary latent powers is a source of
amazement' to those who have watched
China closely, says a Washington dis
patch to the New York Tribune. The
empire was brought face to face with
its deficiencies In the conflict with
Japan and compelled to realize the su-
periority OF American and European
civilization during the invasion which
followed the Boxer insurrectiOn, and
IL is today being forced to subordinate
its natural oriental inertia TO the grim
necessity of raising an indemnity fund
of such magnitude Us would bankrupt
most civilized nations.
While testimony To this effect comes
from many sources, seldom has ii been
so well brought out as in recent let
ter addressed 10 the secretary of agri-
culture by David q. Fairchild, the
United States official agricultural ex-
plorer, a man of wide experience.
Writing from Taku, he says:
The accounts of the Chinaman's
wonderful ability TO initiate haSe not
been exaggerated. but his reputod want
of inventive ability does not stand the
test. These conceptions arc falsely
cOlOred, either by the blind prejudice
of the transient visitor to China or the
disappointment OF the old white resi-
dent, who forgets how moderately the
average workman OF any old civiliZa-
ton Is equipped With inventive powers.
"One among many examples OF their
ingenuity Will. serve to illustrate how
false this idea IL. In Taku, during the
construction recently of some very
large iron flatboats or lighters, with
which to unload or coal the incoming
steamers. the problem OF lowering
these heavy vessels, which had been
constructed OH Il high framework. be-
came puZZling one. Large derrickS
and expensive steam cranes We're dis
cussed. Finally one OF the Chinese
master workmen suggested placing un-
der the lighters large number OF col
umns-clOse woven wicker baskets
packed with sand. He explained that
would be left resting on the baskets
and by the successive puncturing OF
the baskets. allowing the sand TO run
out gradually. the heavy boat could be
Amade to settle TO the desired level.
This inexpensive suggestion of the Chi
3ese workman was followed by the
European constructors. proved COM
ete success and saved both time and
Tonev
M hirchild cites several instances
We Of the same point. Refer
.. pre. he Chinaman's ability to save
& adU he notes the recent death or
~VLmparatively humble Chinaman
' ~ " estate was valued ut S0,UOO,OOO.
>ni.sas sfative of the development of the
sknese shipping trade he states that
. 1898 scarcely single steam launch
was owned in Canton, while today
there are between 800 and 400 mostly
owned and in large part built by Chi
nese," over eighty having been turned
out in a single Chinese shipyard last
: year. "The IIOngkong and Wampoo
epiS, company" he continues. pays
ycsrl that its stock is quoted at 500,
u I of the laborers are Chinese.
5tti q managers and craftsmen
lN europeans Plans are now in
/ NSs.ss 10 build in IIungkong the lar
ysiT dockyard in the world. one slip of
Sbo<h is to be 800 feet long, or 100 feet
fevtr than the largest slip in the new
nnpp yard at Kicl." Aprop"s of Chi
ynese manufacture of arms and ammu-
)nitiOn he says:
An officer in the British army as
sureS me that the Chinese arsenal at
TientSin is manufacturing cannon and
small arms which fall very little short
OF being as good rs those of European
manufacture, and this without even the
supervision OF Europeans.
The effect of the Boxer troubles will
be farrcaching. for the Chinese govern
ment, in order to pay the war indem-
nifty, has levied tax of the cquiVa-
lent of American cents 4 year on each
rafter on every house i'll the country.
Already the viceroy in Canton is hav-
ling great difficulty in collecting taxes.
land, while people living there say that
this tax is arouSing great deal of ami
imositY< ward foreigners, one OF the
esuE& Rise war will be TO change the
deas S3S upper class Chinaman re-
sarC sSEStern methods and make