The Cordova daily times., 1918-06-10

Great wall to Ching-Lung- -Chian, then pass beneath it until they meet the east-bound caravans of camels, gaily caprisoned Mongol horses and the queer camel-drawn carts of Mongolia at Kalgan, which is one of the strang- est and greatest markets of the world.
 Japan has about 5000 miles of rail- road, which cost $90,OO0 a mile to build through the steep mountains of Nippon. All of it is government owned and organized on a military basis, like German roads, each em- ploye having distinct rank and being responsible to his superiors like a sol dier Many electric lines are being built in Japan. Locomotives and cleo trical equipment have been purchased from the United States, but freight and passenger cars have been bought largely in England or built at home, 1 because the roads are of three feet. six inch gauge. The Japanese gov ernment is considering widening the railroads to standard guage as mili- tary measure, at a cost equal to the original construction.
 In the Philippines, American equip- ment has been used except on the isl and of Luzon, where the railroads 
 were built by British capital. All the roads are organized on the English system. In the hill country of the islands where official society spends the hot season, American motor bus ses are used.
 Australia and New Zealand have followed their mother country in build ing railroads. A peculiar feature of the Australian roads is that in the total of 24,OO0 miles, there are three different gauges, and in only one in- stance do any two states have con- meeting lines of the same gauge. Al traveller from Brisbane to Perth must SiittSC Sol D CiSuJ tIiHtS.
 The disadvantage of different track widths in the Orient was strikinglv il- lustrated when there was talk in Japan of undertaking operations against the Germans in Russia. In discussing plans it was brought out that the rail road from Port Arthur and Dairen. which the Japanese forces probably would use to reach Chang Chun, the connecting point with the transconti- mental line, is five feet three inches wide. Trains cannot be transferred from one line to the other and in any operations there would be much loss of time in unloading and loading equipment.
 Great difficulty also was experi erced in adapting for American use locomotives manufactured in this country for shipment to the Russians in Vladivostok, but which were fHefd here when peace was concluded with Germany.
 Americas best opportunities for the sale of railroad and electrical equip- ment in the Orient were found by Mr Rhea to be in China, which has less equipment per mile of railroad than any other nation in the world. The Chinese roads earn about $15,OOO gold per mile, as much as the American roads, which they are enabled to do through greater efficiency in handling their meager amount of rolling stock. | The cycle of use of freight cars is about six days, as compared with if teen days in America. Demurrage is fixed at $10 for every twelve hours of daylight, so there is no delay in un- loading. Japan in the future prob ably will be more of a competitor than customer of the United States, | owing to the tremendous industrial expansion in progress there. Much of their raw material still will be pur-I chased from the United States, but an even greater amount will be ob- tained in China, Korea and Manchu- ria, where Japanese capital is devel-I oping rich coal and iron deposits Abundant and cheap coolie labor is available. Extension of railroads in the Philippines will be limited by theI small size of the islands, compared with other countries. England prob ably will continue to supply her east ern colonies with the bulk of their