The Caldwell watchman. (Columbia, La.) 1885-1946, 1916-12-15
HlNA OF today. torn by poilu-
Cal dissension from within and
without, is not the China of
yesterday. II is no Ionpar q

=
yesterday. 1t is no longer
country Of small shops, rickshaws, ar
coolies. Canton Is going in for mo,
ern department stores and skyscraJ
ers; automobiles are displacing vince
barrow carts and other clumsy vehicle
IN Shanghai and elsewhere; the cour
try is building railroads, and fewer OF
ders are going abroad for locomotives
cars and coaches, which means tina
China is learning to build these things
says Monroe Woolley writing in Grit
Inc dragon, long slumberiug, is nov
thoroughly awakened. Sun Vat Ser
and Yuan Shi Kai, although enemies
politically, set IN alarm clock that has
jumped China ont of lazy bed at q
single bound.
Industry is the leading progressive
Influence Of the age. 1t is the factor
Which more than all else is to lead the
ohlnese to better things just as the
Japanese were led from the era of
paganism to full-fledged civilization in
few decades. China will change to
the new order Of things almost over.
night. She will cast off the cloak of
medievalisn and grab a garment of
western cut much quicker and much
more effectually than did her neigh.
Dor beyond the strait.
In Hankow, China already has a
promising industrial capital. Hankow
might properly be termed the New
12:k and Brooklyn of the empire be-
cause two large cities are divided by
the Yanstse kiang. But the Chinese
insist that Hankow is designed to be
their Pittsburgh, and the nature of the
clty's business makes comparison to
our own steel center more fitting,
Hankow is humming hive of indus
try, and the Chinese declare it will
Keep humming as long as China lasts.
That may be long, long time, for the
ancient empire can prove an antiquity
Of 5000 years.
Hankow's Fortunate Fire.
AS IN the case of Chicago, fateful
IRE has been the making of Hankow.
it was burned during the rebellion of
'9l1-l912. Following the fire the gov
eminent borrowed 100000 pounds
sterling of British capitalists to rebuild
md improve the city. An appropria-
ion OF nearly $5O,0OO,0O0 should effect |
wonderful change in China's indus |
rial center, which is already China's
most interesting city. especially from |
n economic standpoint.
Hankow may be said to be three
ltes in one. Hankow and Hanyang,
etween which is the colossal steel
'orks, are located on one side of the
yer while Wuchang lies opposite. One
the projects planned with the Dor
owed money is Il huge bridge to span
lie Han river, or a tunnel to run be-
cath it-probably both. The Han
l'ideS Hanyang and Hankow and
npties into the Yangtse Kiang oppo-
tie Wuchang.
Part of the funds will be used to con-
ruct commercial canal back of Han
'W proper, with the necessary
'1dges. An elaborate system of ,
harves is now under way, and nego. i
atoms are advancing to purchase the ,
TVS electric light and water works, I
'ned privately. Trolley systems are 5
keWlse to be built. Considerable ,
oney will be put in reclamation pro- =:
cts In and about the triumvirate Of +,
les to be known as Greater Hankow t
he Hankow Improvement bureau will
dominated by the British, and the
gineer appointed to reconstruct Chi.
g Pittsburgh will quite probably
me from Europe. p
1t Is the central government Of China a
lch Is overseeing the rebuilding of Il
sy Hankow. This is fitting since The O
y was destroyed by the rebels, The o.
'o'utloa started in Wuchany, where "