The Idaho scimitar. [volume] (Boise, Idaho) 1907-1908, 1908-01-25
THE IDAHO SCIMITAR.


Arrangements made for the construction of
railroads by foreign capital Telegraph lines were
constructed Electric roads, electric lights and ele
phones were introduced in the principal concession
towns Mining and manufacturing concessions were
granted. The effect of this the establishment
OF factories and business houses the building of rail-
roads, the multiplication of steam navigation lines
and the opening up of iron and coal mines, which
are said to be the largest known in the known world
There has been rapid development in the manu-
featuring industries of China in the past few years
There has been enlargement of factories and an
introduction of modern machinery, especially for the
manufacture of cotton goods Already cotton manu-
featuring is very important industry. All the en-
poyees of these factories Chinese men and boys
Females do not work in the factories of China at
all In this respect they differ from Japan, where
girls are employed in large numbers.
Wooden mills are springing up on all Sides and
the wool can easily be secured from Mongolia. where
there are immense focks of sheep
Some cotton is exported from our Southern States
to China; but China itself is cotton-producng
country, and with their surplus labor and millions
OF acres OF fertile alluvial lands it is certain that
they will not only produce cotton for their own USE
but for Japan and the balance of the Orient as we'll
If Japan cannot supply China with what it needs
China, if aroused to commercial activity, can supply
itself
Consular reports and the reports of others ia
lHlar with the labor conditions in China show that
the rate of wages of 1aborers range from cents 70
10 cents per day. Skilled 1aborers receive from IS
cents to % cents per day. Good mechanics receive
from 10 cents to Is cents per day in gold or 20
cents to 80 cents in silver
We cannot share with the enthusiasm of our peon1e
who are looking to great trade in the Orient. when
as necessary concomitant of that trade we must
SUR up emma to active industrial competition Thew
are as sk1ltul as the Japanese and more industrious
than any people on the face of the globe Under the
tutelage OF Americans and Europeans they learn to
manufacture anything we'll as anybody It seems
'eitdi tnat we are stirring up a great competition
with the white laboring classes of the world which
must inevitably make the outlook for the laborine
man dark and foreboding There is nothing these
Chnese want which we produce and in very few
years. with their iron, COAL minerals, WOOL cotton
and their extensive agricultural lands thew will not
only produce everything that they want for them
selves but they will flood the markets of the world
With their surplus products They have the resources
he ability and the labor and they are so trained
through centuries of privation and endurance
through centuries of struggle for bare existence
hat no labor can compete with them
The tact that the expectation of flour from the
United States to China and Japan has very largely
increased during the past several years. has misled
many OF our people, especially on the Pacific Coast
nto believing that our trade generally with the ORR
III would be OF great advantage to all sections and
specially to the Pacific Coast. This is another idle
ream The Chinese have learned that flour is very
nutritious and that takes the place of variety of
pod products, and they will raise all they want for
and too. Their country is De-
1liarly adapted to wheat-rasing, and the only rea-
On they have not raised it before is that thew did
OF know the value of If Thew not or1,, oo, - i