The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-04-13
Germans Have Almost m Monopoly
Now and by ExtOrtIonate Prices
Make Enormous Profits.
4 NEED OF AMERICAN AGENTS
CERTAIN CLASSES OF OUR GOODS Al
READY IN DEMAND THERE.
Large Contracts in Prospect in Va
rious Lines of Developments
Some Tempting Chances.

Correspondence Of the Indianapolis Journal.
BANGKOK, March Islam shares with
other countries in the East high admira-
ton for things American. American back
ing OF English demands contributed as
much as any other cause possibly TO bring
into disrepute the close corporation methods
under which all contracts for construction
and supplies for the royal railways went
for years 20 Germany. The Siamese notion
OF propitiating foreigners by letting them
manage the public departments resulted in
the case OF the railways, turned over to the
Germans. in a staff establishment out of all
proportion 10 the work TO be done, and in
orders from Germany for every kind Of
equipment German manufacturers, safe
from competition. asked their own prices
and the state paid the bills. There had been
expended to the end OF the fiscal year in
l.0l about G1.60OOOO on 16O miles Of road.
on which the state received back net earn
ingsc Of less than l per cent. This showing
having been made after everything had
gone In the German way, and after a de-
mand had been pressed for open tenders on
supplies and construction material the
financial adviser (English) denounced the
system as extravagant. wasteful unbusi-
ness-like and inconsiderate OF government
interests and proposed that instead Of
/, using the e3OO.oOO appropriated for railway
extension in the present year, the depart
ment be abolished. unless extensions might
proceed with decent regard for public as
we'll as private benefit.
1t may be rash TO assert that this recon-
mendation. in connection with the double
barreled consular demands, has yet fully
accomplished the purpose desired; but il
brought the department 10 terms to the ex-
tent that in January official announcement
was made that specifications had been sub
mitted TO foreign consuls thus giving them
opportunity 10 invite bids from manufac-
tUrers i'm their countries and nominaIIy
breaking the German monopoly. The de-
pertinent allowed only three months in
which to transmit specifications and get
bids back, and II is not incOnceivable that
specifications were i'm the hands Of manu-
lecturers in Germany before foreign con-
suls saw them here. Time for opening bids
has nearly expired without an intimation
from any foreign consul that bids OF i'm
portance have been entrusted to him. But
the principle OF open tender having at last
been granted, through American and Eng
lish pressure. IL may be safely assumed
that the consuls will look out for its fair
q
prosperous country. 1t has no debt carries
Understanding cash deposits in Europe.
fits revenue is sufficient to meet all its un-
dertakings. it pays cash for everything done
for IL. and il has set out upon a railway
scheme which will involve a much larger
expenditure than has yet been made.
OTHER PUBLIC CONTRACTS
Irrigation is one of the projects that has
commended itself to the King. At a mod
crate calculation there are 10000 acres OF
good rice land which go 10 waste because
they suffer from too much water part of
the year and not enough in the remaining
part. The country swings regularly from
flood to famine. Land already irrigated has
induced settlement and cultivation The
King thinks that his people will be glad
10 take up all the land if they can see profit
In so doing Native skill is not equal to the
construction OF storage reservoirs. nor can
IL provide otherwise the engineering neces-
sary for the accomplishment of this work
1t must be undertaken by foreigners In
the arrangement of contracts terms NAV
provide generous allowances for climatic
risks as well as for expert employment at
long distance from home. Labor opposes
no vexing problem. for it may be had in
abundance from China should the native
article prove deficient as is likely 10 occur
Bangkok needs sanitation. 1t has no suit
able drinking water and no decent system
OF dispOsing OF it's refuse and the streets
and houses. except in the official district
could hardly be worse than a present. The
Inhabitants drink from the Menam river
which is also the common drain When the
swift current caused by the rainy season
slackens and permits the sea tide 10 back
up TO the city and TO shut off the natural
outlet for refuse cholera comes In other
years II apparently mattered little how
many thousands died every season from
that scourge, now prevalent. but the mod
ernizing process to which Siam is com
mitted is taking account Of these things
The city might be made safely habitable
by means successfully adopted in Bombay
and other cities originally as bad. and
propositions 10 that end will receive n re-
spectful hearing.
OF these three large public improvements
the railways have so far advanced IS tn
render certain yearly OUTLAWS for construc-
ton. material and supplies running into
hundreds Of thousands Of dollars Ameri-
can prices. already competing in Europe.
suggest possible deliveries of American
manufactures overlaid with Euronean
pfOulS Nnlcn Americans might approximate
with little effort. The electrical outfit here
comprising street and house lights. L 900
so far In use, and "A railway thirteen miles
long. came from the United States 10 the
profit OF European contractors, and il is
now managed in other than American in
terests the stock paying a dividend OF 50
per cent A few native high officials and
one American in the government service
have some investment in IL, but the bulk
of the stock is held by European residents.
Irrigation. paving. sewage and water works
projects await someone 10 push them. Con-
tracts may not be had as readily as for
railway equipment. but when obtained they
will be good for almost any profit that
. reputable and responsible contractors may
ish TO make. Progress Of the country and
be salvation OF the city depends upon these
improvements. now recognized as urgent.
HOW PRESENT PROFITS RUN.
Machinery and machine fittings are al
says in demand at the rice mills. Elec-
ricaI energy has singular fascination for