Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-05-17
almost intelerable climate. it has more tt
brag about than any other place know.
Acquisition of Hongkong.

Englishmen have evidently forgotten, or
would like to forget how they got this ideal
piece of property. They first landed here
in 1916, when it was treeless, rugged. bar
rem pile, an island twelve miles long made
of mountains, with a deep harbor surround
ed and sheltered by a wall Of granite from
1,5OO to $500 feet high. The name means
good harbor'' and fragrant streams
and, unlike most towns, it Is an accurate
and truthful description. The anchorage Is
twelve miles long and four miles wide,
making an area of more than fifty square
miles, capable of sheltering half the ships
In the world and so deep that those Of
deepest draught and largest size can come
close to the shore. In 1899 having been
driven from Canton, the English took refuge
here and have been here ever since, making
1t the pivot Of the ocean traffic of the far
east, the most important commercial out
post on the Asiatic coast of the Pacific, a
fortress even more fmpregnable than Glib
raltar, and naval station at which the
strongest fleet in the world Is gathered. In
the procession of her glory and her pride,
1t is scarcely polite to mention that the is
land was obtained in a shameful way be-
ing exacted from the Chinese government
as indemnity for a cargo of India opium
which the Chinese officials would not allow
English spectators to land
Usually matters go On quietly at Hong
kong and with the greatest decorum, but
or late there have been some differences of
opinion as to the success of the administra.
ton OF Sir Henry Blake, who came here
where he held similar office, and. owing
to scandals, has recently been relieved and
transferred to the executive office at Ceylon.
Wealthy Without Industries.
Hongkong is often used as an object les
son to illustrate the advantages of free
trade, and although 1t is a very busy and
prosperous community, 1t Is scarcely fair
example, because it has no industries to
protect, it's area is very limited and its
people are so wealthy that they can af-
ford to pay all the taxes that are neces-
sary to support the government without
charging duties upon imported goods. The
revenues are about four million and a half
dollars a year, chiefly from taxes upon
incomes, real estate and from the sale of
stamps and licenses. There is public
debt of 81, 100000 incurred TO- pay for a
water supply and other public works. The
value of the trade Of Hongkpng can only
be estimated, because no faeords are kept
of the outgoing and incomi1g merchandise
China, and the secretary Of the chamber of
commerce estimates the exports and Inn
ports at about $3.50, 200. coo annually. While
the people have large incomes and live IN
and produce even less. The exports are
gathered here from all parts of southern
China, from the towns fh@the interior as
well as upon the coast, most Of them being
brought down the rivers On Junks and IN
sampans in small Quantities and collected
here for shipment by commission men: The
Imports credited to Hongkpng are distrib-
uted in similar way. ii hs
Inroads Of the Germans.
The Chinese do the bigges&spart OF the To-
cal trade and the wealthiest men In Hong
kong belong to that race, although the for
eign trade Is chiefly handled by English and
Germans. Great Britain monopolized the
commerce for fifty years. not only here, but
throughout all China, but the Germans are
pushing In to British colonies with great
energy as they are eyervwhere else. They