The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-11-02

can be built. 1t is doubtful, therefore,
whether Colombia will improve her materi-
al conditions for many years to come.
x
Germany leads the world in the produc-
ton of hops, but America is a close sec
ond. England coming next and Austria
next. The production of all other countries
is nconsiderable as compared with those
mentioned. The total production of the
world this year is estimated to be 176, 900, 600
pounds. The total estimated consumption
of hops by brewers throughout the world
is held to be exactly this amount, so that
the surplus from last years crop will rep
resent the surplus this year, amounting to
a total of about 100000 pounds. Prices
will be high this year throughout the world.
H.. b. Miller, consul general at Nieu
Chwang, China, believes he has discovered
an opening for a very large trade i'm Amer
lean rope. He thinks that the superior
quality and longer life of the American
article will appeal to the Chinese and he
asks the American manufacturers to send
him samples and prices. He says If this is
done he will call the attention of Chinese
shippers to the desirability of buying the
American article.
Mr.. Miller says 5000 Chinese junks were
registered at Nieu Chwang last year. This
IL Jill d very SLld1 percentage VI TIC
number in China. In this section all of
these junks use sails made of American
cotton goods. An effort is being made to
furnish the rope for them from the United
States. The rope used thus far was made
here from hemp raised In Manchuria. 1t is
badly made, is quite inferior and does not
wear well-usually one season.
The sea-going junks use great quantities
OF rope, especially of large sizes, instead OF
anchor chains. This is made from some
of the palms raised In southern China and
the mannfaQtrrinU Of tho rome iC 6nna also
in the south by the men who navigate the
boats. Inquiries there as to the cost of it
will show the possibilities of competition
for that trade. The fact that considera-
bic quantities of American rope are being
ordered for Manchuria-sorle for Chinese
junks-.indicates the possibilities of a trade
In this line. If sales can be established
throughout north China they may grow to
wonderful proportions. for the amounts
used and the number of boats are surpris-
ingly large.
If. in addition. 1t would be possible to get
a part of the rope trade of southern and
central China, the volume would be suf-
Ncient to keep several large plants In
operation. The simple fact that the COM
petition is against Chinese production need
not necessarily signify that the business
is impossible, for the strongest competitor
of American cloth for the sails of these
same boats is cotton cloth made from
cotton produced in China.
The great bulk of transportation in China
is by water. and no country in the world
is using so many saflboats as In China;
and all of these use considerable rope. This
trade would not use the high-class and
| high-priced articles. Our cheapest and
| poorest are so much better than those in
general use that they may possibly sup
plant them. The enormous quantity used
and the possibilities of a great trade if
the market can be secured at all Is suf-
ficient inducement for a thorough investi-
cation. In China rope is made from grass,
hemp, jute, palm and bamboo.
Manila ropes have been tried in this CHI
mate but the extreme dryness of the air
during the fall, winter and spring, cover
ing so long a period, shrinks and breaks
the fiber and makes II worthless. Gun
boats going into winter quarters here have
found all their ropes worthless In the
seagoing junks use the large rope made of
a species of palm, and the junkmen take
these ropes and work them over every two
years.
The river junks here use hemp ropes vary
ing I'm size from one-fourth of an inch to
one inch in diameter. Price is % cents
They also use a jute rope, mostly Ia inches
in diameter. for their anchor rope; this
sells for II cents Mexican 5.D per catty.
XXX
With the finest country roads In the
; world. England and France are facing a
| serious problem in the effect of motor car
traffic upon the ordinary broken flint and
gravel highways. 1t has been found that
the large rubber tires of cars moving at
a high rate OF speed ulSlodge the fine
| covering on the surface of the road, leav-
ing only the larger and sharper pieces of
rock. and in fact thus rapidly destroying
the highway. Efforts are now being made
to discover some method whereby a smooth
and hard surface can be secured for coun-
try roads which will stand the wear and
tear of the heavy motor traffic common to
those countries.
1t was thought that every problem Incl
dent to the use of automobiles had been
I. considered, but this is a new feature which
is causing the local authorities about Lon
don and Paris considerable anxiety. While
the motor traffic is not so heavy in the
! United States as 1t is In western Europe,