El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1910-02-26

to make new docks and to Improve this
as a naval base
Singapore is one Of the most important
of the commercial p It's of the far east.
1t is the gangliOnfc nerve center, or
rather shipping center, for the archi-
pelagO of the Dutch East Indies, for Siam
and as far as the eastern trade is con-
cerned, for Asia and Europe. 1t is one
OF the best places for the pushing Of
American trade, and we are fortunate
Just now in having an experienced, ac
tive and uptodate consul general 1 refer
to James T. Du Bots, who did such ex-
celent service as consul 10 Leipzig and
other parts of Germany and who saved
the government millions of dollars by
exposing the corrupt lace undervalu-
atoms while he was consul general to
Switzerland.
Mr.. Du Bots believes that our trade in
this part of the world can be largely in
creased and he suggests that if an
American bazaar were esta blished here
by some of our big exporting houses,
with branches scattered throughout the
peninsula, would be OF great value. He
tells me that the balance of trade is now
much against us We buy about 10000
600 worth of tin, hides gambler and 9TH
er things of the Straits Settlements. and
sell something like S2.OoO.0OO worth of
flour, oils machinery. Drugs and tobacco
inreturn. This region is steadily grow
ing in trade and Importance, and the
English and Germans are nursing their
commerce and pushing their goods in
all possible ways. There is no doubt but
that we should use Singapore as a CEN
ter from, which to work not only the
surrounding islands and the mainland,
but India and the far east as well. This
is especially so since Singapore lies
right on the main road to the Philip
pines and vessels from the eastern
United States could call here on their
way.
John Bulls Rich Colony.
Indeed, it might pay our officials to
study this colony with view to the
development of our Asiadie island pos
sessions. The English seem able to tote
the white mans burden better than any
other Caucasians. They took hold of
this island over 80 years ago. when
it was a jungle, and they have now made
one part of it the most important COM
mercial center of the far east. They
have cut down much of the tropical
vegetation and have reduced it to profit
able farms. They have built up on the
shores of the island one of the finest
cities of Asia Singapore has 100000 or
100000 people. 1t has big business blocks
Of several stories. with high ceilings,
double walls and wide galleries, on &C
nous hotels, which are lighted by cleo
trieity and cooled by electric fans. 1t
has numerous banks with millions of
capital, and also churches libraries,
museums and schools
The white population. all told, num-
bers only about 5000, the remainder be
ing Asiaties of various kinds. But these
5000 are the lords of creation and many
of them live in magnificent villas sur
rounded by botanical gardens tof the
trees and plants of the tropics.
How 1t Is Governed.
The administration Of the colony is in
the hands of a governor. aided by an
executive council. and there is little
legislature which makes the laws There
are Chinese in both council and legisla-
ture and altogether the government is
something of a democracy Singapore
has its own municipal body. some of
whose members are elected by the tax
payers and some appointed by the gov
ernor.
The present governor, Of the island is
Sir John Anderson. WHIP is also high
commissioner for the federated Malay
states and for the British colonies in
Borneo. He is a Scotchman who was a
member OF the Boring sea arbitration
staff in London, years ago, and who has |
held various other important offices.
The governor of Singapore receives a |
His palace here is finer than the white |
house and he maintains a court some |
what similar to that of the viceroy of |
India. He gives great bali upon the |
kings birthday. and 10 this everybody !
who is anybody gets an invitation In !
deed, it is said that every one who is |
not in jail at the time is invited.
These whites OF Singapore are fond of !:
society. They remind me of an old col |
lege friend who attended every funeral |
within 10 miles of his home. When ask
ed why. he said: Il always like to go |
to gatherings" That is the way with /
these Singapore people. They like gath
erings. and they have clubs of all kinds |
to bring themselves into company. Some
are for sporting, rowing. cricket and |
lawn tennis. and others are devoted tt |
art, reading and education. There is 4 .
magnificent clubhouse at the end of a !
wide stretch of lawn just next the her- !
Dor and a country club three miles in |
land at which dances and theatricals are |
frequently given. There aremany pie |
mics and outings Of various kinds
The city is seTni-intellectual / mean
as far as the whites are concerned. The i
Raffles Public library contains $4,000 |
volumes, and has also a museum relat-
ing TO the Straits Settlements The civ
has four English newspapers. two Chi |
nese dailies, a Malay weekly and fwo
other journals published in East Indian
dialects. Altogether the town is wide
awake, and, regret 10 say. in many |!
respects wide open. Of the latter fea- |
ture. however, you must come here vour-
self to learn.
The Missionary and the Tiger.
And speaking Of the wide openness
Of Singapore, such conditions are to |
be found without much searching in
every center OF the far east. Thera -
more truth than poetry in the SUCCESS
ton contained in this verse OF KipIing:
Take me somewhere east of Suez
Where the best is like the worst
Where there amt no ten command
ments,
And you've not TO raise thirst
At the same time there are churches
and chapels everywhere and as many
good people as bad We have an Amar,
Ican Methodist Episcopal mission bera