Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-05-14
THE MALAY STATES
Increase in Trade and Reve-
nue. Under the British
BUILDING OF RAILWAYS
TWENTY-FIVE MILLIONS SPENT
By THE GOVERNMENT.
Advance From the Barbarism OF the
Peninsula That Prevailed
Thirty YearsrAgo.
BY WILLIAM e.. CURTIS.


special Correspondence ofa5The Evening Star and
Chicago Record Herald
PENANG, April II. 1904
South of Burma, between the Bay OF
Bengal and the Gulf of Siam, is long,
narrow strip of land known as the Malay
Peninsula 1t is composed Of the Federated
Malay States of Perak, Selangor, Negri.
Sembilan, Penang and Johore, all theoret-
ically independent, but under the protection
of Great Britain. They are governed Dy
native hereditary rulers, with Englshmen
at each of their capitals to give advice and
see that the officials behave themselves.
Although very little has been said or
written about them, the Malay states fur-
nish a striking example of the wisdom and
success of the British colonial policy of ad-
ministration, and of the value OF the Chi
nese as citizens, when, they are allowed TO
exercise their peculiar, qualities. and enjoy
the fruits of their labor. The population OF
these states by the census in 1901 is about
CTS, O0O, of whom only 2s5, coo are native
Malays, 100000 are Chinese, $4,000 natives
of India, 1900 Japanese and the remainder
Europeans and representatives OF other
races.
Trade and Revenue.
In the year 1902 the exports reached the
enormous sum of $71,000,00O, of which $62,-
OO0,OoO represented the value of tin bullion
shipped to Europe and America, every
ounce of which was produced by Chinese.
The other exports were sage, tapioca, coffee
and other semi-tropical and tropical prod
ucts, three-fourths of which were grown,
handled and shipped by Chinese.
The revenue of the confederation in 1907
was $50 500, 600, of which SIG, coo was
paid by Chinese as export taxes, and, II the
truth were known, they would probably be
credited with 95 per cent of the rest of the
revenues. which came from railway re-
ceipts, sales of concessions and public
lands, rentals, excise, customs and other
sources.
During the last year s6,367.7 21 of the rev.
enues WAS expended in the extension OF
the railway system and So, 3S7 $50 in other
public works. The government has con-
structed nearly 5000 miles of highway and
over 409 miles of railroad at cost of $25.-
coo 600, every cent of which has been paid
from the curren. revenues, for the confed-
Grafton has no debt The state of Penang
ewes S. 391 ,O0S which represents foolish
extravaganza INDUCED in before the British
Intervention. and the debt might be lawfully
repudiated but FOR the scruples of the gov
eminent, which preferred to issue bonds fol
doubtful debt rather than injure its credit
In 1899 loan Of 81 100000 was authorized
for railways and other public works, but
even with temptation always at hand, the
sued a bond. and the authorization has been
allowed to lapse. During the last five years
the freight and passenger traffic have yield
ed net revenue of $7.00AO00. which, l be-
leve. is unprecedented IA the history Of
government railwayssssThis is due not only
to the prosperity of the country under Chi
reese labor, but &c economical management
and administration underBBritish advice.
Since 1875, when the British took control,
the revenues have been Increased from less
than 100000 to $2nJ00s0O0 The foreign
trade has advanced frcmz$1 500 .000 to $117,-
100000 a year, and the development of the
material interests of Ithegcountry has gone
on with corresponding rapidity and profit.
and all has been done BY Chinese capital
and labor. W.
Advance in Thirty Years.
Thirty years ago the Malay Peninsula was
a bowling wildernesss The people were in a
state of barbarism lighting among them
selves and robbing and numbering all for
eigners who came within their reach.
Their acts of piracy on the coast and the
anarchy that prevailed In the interior were
the cause and the justification of British
Intervention. They had no roads, no schools,
no courts, no manufactures, no commerce.
They knew nothing OF the natural resources
or their own territory; they had no indus
tries except just enough farming to feed
themselves.
The Malays belong to the same race as
the Fffpinos, and exhibit the same racial
characteristics. They are fond OF music,
poetry oratory and pictures; they have
cunning. which. like the Instincts OF an
animal, is used In place OF the reasoning
powers which they lack. They Will noa do
any more manual labor than IL absolutely
They are especially fond Of military exer-
c1GeS. and their army. which consists OF