The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-12-27


than ours, and there are five Chinese to
every American.
They are more industrious than we are
and win work from daylight until dark.
Just now their wages are about the low
est on earth, but they spend well in Pro-
portion to what they make, and as China
develops they will be among the best GUS
toners ON earth
The Chinese are now in the same posi-
ton Japan was about a generation ago,
when the foreign trade there amounted to
dollar head.
Since then the Japanese have increased
their purchases sevenfold. and the same
viii be true Of the Chinese.
The foreign commerce now amounts to
more than 10000, 900 year. and with this
growth It will then be more than $780,
100000 q year, or more than the present
. Eif E :s IF 81 Az
CANNOT AFFORD RICE
China Offers big field for American
foodstuffs.
Tho land is often looked upon as one Of
rice and rats. It being supposed that rice
II one OF the cheapest foods upon earth.
This is not 80.
There are millions in China who cannot
afford rice. The Northern Chinese 1--we
largely on millet and other grains not 20
expensive to grow.
They would eat Indian curn, and when
the Panama Canal is completed there win
probably be great neet carrying out
corn to Asia.
China has larye wheat fields. but II cam
not supply the demand for -four, and of
late 1t has begun to import from the
United States.
We are now annually exporting about
100000 pounds Of -four to China.
The flour Is packed in cloth sacks Of
/ fifty pounds each and taken across tfe
Faoifc at cost OF 81 per ton.
Flour mills Like ours have been put ND at
Shanghai and at several points alonr fhe
Yang-tse-Kiang, and they are grinding
Chinese wheat by the roller patent
| process.
The machinery Of these mills came from
milwaukee,, and Americans were sent over
to show the Chinese how to use them.
| We already send canned goods to China,
and our fruits and relishes arc making
their way among the rich The better
class Of Chinese spend much on their
stomachs. Dinners Of twenty courses are
not uncommon. and have eaten soup
at Chinese banquet which cost, I was
told. g plate.
Be ThAre are Chinese in all the larger cities
| whose living. expenses are $4,000 and up-
ward year. and there IL q demand for
| all sorts OF luxuries.
| One Of our chief exports to China is cot
ton goods.
The poorer classes dress in cottons, and
there are about s5oooo,0o people there
VINO need new cotton suit every year.
| As it Is now we have the bulk Of the
Northern trade, and especially that of
| Manchuria and Mongolia.
| Our cottons are heavier than the Eng
lish or German cottons. and they are in
demand on account Of the cold climate.
| Further south lighter goods are worn,
and there the English have the prefer
enca. There Is no reason why we should
not capture that market as well. Indeed,
II would pay the owners Of our cotton
mills to send agents to China to study
the wants of the people.
-FOUR COTTON MILLS
IN THE COUNTRY.
Within the past few years the Chinese
have been spinning and weaving all sorts
of cloth
| There are now more than four great
cotton mills In the country. which make
about 100000 pounds of cotton annually
Some Of these mills are at Shanghai.
They are equipped with machinery as
good as our own. They have foreign man
ayers, but the workmen are all natives,
who are paid but a few cents day.
There will be q big demand for railroad
materials and mining machinery in the
development Of China
That Empire has the greatest coal fields
of the globe. Shansi, State as big as
Illinois, on the edge Of Mongolia, is under
laid with coal.
1t has anthracite beds greater than those
of Pennsylvania and thousands Of square
miles of bituminous veins.
There is iron close to the coal, and a
manufacturing industry will spring up
there. This country has been ceded to
the Pekin syndicate, and 1t Is to be
| worked in connection with the English
and the Italians.
There Is coal In all the other Provinces,
and In many iron as well. There will be
| demand for coal-mining machinery, dia-
mond drills, and also for timber.
The railroad era In China is just begun,
only few hundred miles OF track having
been built.
Roads are now projected throughout the
busiest parts of the Empire. One Of the
best concessions Is owned by an Amer
lean syndicate and has been surveyed by
American engineers.
| This Is q line which viii eventually con-
meet Hankow and Canton.