Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1918-09-20

u
old residents generally pass
by Nan-tung Chow, q city on
Ihe Yangtse river which has
not been Opec to foreign business as q
treaty port, writes Frederick r. Sites
In Asia. Consequently comparatively
Few people are aware that a COM
munity which may exert powerful in
fiuence on the whole of China as a
practical example of modern achieve
ment is there to be found-a commu-
nifty that has taken great strides in de
veloping education, social institutions,
| public works, manufacturing enter
pises and agriculture, ranging from
the kindergarten to college and from
good roads to land reclamation.
Features commonplace enough In
occidental life appear as marvels when
found III this purely oriental setting.
All the changes have been wrought so
| quietly and entirely under Chinese
| leadership that even one of the most
alert American educators In China
| heard of them with surprise end keen
| Interest. This GuietnesS of action is
| typical of the modesty of the man of
classic letters, his excellency, Chang
| Chen, whose enterprise and wise lead
ership have been the handspring of
this new life. The positiveness of his
integrity, benevolent public spirit and
unsclfish progressive Leadership make
him stand out in the whole Of China.
Nan-tung CHOW lies upon the north
shore of the Yangtse river shout 100
miles from Shanghai. Recently an
| opportunity presented itself for max
Ing a pilgrimage to this Mecca of
Chinese progress.
Evidences of new Chira were at
once visible. A carriage ives brought
up from the steamer landing by way Of
wide, well-graded roads, tined with
young trees, and built on top of dikes
constructed as a protection against
;he Yangtse river floods Here and
elsewhere throughout this district the
banks of the canal are protecled WI n
neat stone "bunding" or with solid
retaining walls These well-built and
| well-maintained roads and canals, with
occasional neat police stations and
| clean settlements, unusual in China,
we're the first indication of a guiding
hand and the new spirit which has
been working among the people.
Chang chien's Scheme.
Our farmer-scholar-s host
outlined the scheme of industrial de-
yelopment of Nan-tung Chow, which is
conferred in six land development COM
panies. 1t is in this industrial piO-
neering that Mr.. Chang takes keenest
| interest. The first of the companies
he started about 10 years ago. Capital
| was subscribed literally by his ac-
quaintances and other investors who
had implicit confidence in his integrity.
A tract of about 10000 NOW Cor 20
| 600 acres) of wild land-salt marshes
along the seashore-was diked to keep
out the ocean storms, and ditched to
| drain off the salt water. Much of the
land was then brought under cultiva-
ton, and the rest used for producing
| salt by the evaporation of sea water.
Our host exhibited special pride In
| this enterprise, because success was
won in the face of extreme difficulties.
Government aid could not be secured.
The project instead met obstruction.
Tt was q fight against the government !;
nevertheless Mr.. Chang carried through
his plans. His weapon was his pen
and his pen was backed by right. Hut
the project had also 10 contend Win
| noture. for when the company was
only four years old great typhoon
nlayed havoc with the dikes, and the
company was nearly bankrupt. From
this lesson Of experience, however,
and by dint IF perseverance. the dikes
were rebuilt according to a stronger
plan. the losses We're retrieved aid
the ccl1pany was again placed on a
basis Jf success.
After II years a second land COM
nan~ was started. During the last nVe
vears four additional companies OF the
same sort have beea launched. Ihese
six companies are now engaged IN re
Gaining and cusuvating total OF
3 600 600 NOV (abcut 100000 acres)
of land. Mr.. chang estimates that
those enterprises will provide WORK
and Subsistence for 100000 Chinese
families. who are purchasing small
| farms or renting them on shares mat
the various companies were NOT
launched until the first one had proven
ifsaIf successful is evidence OF the
cantion Of this wise developer inc
men who are now managing the more
Recently established companies haa
their training in the original one .