The herald. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1905-1953, 1919-03-13

"OURISTS in China and even
old residents generally pass |
by Nan-tung Chow, a city on |
the Yangtse river which has |
not been open to foreign business as a |
treaty port, writes Frederick r. Sites
In Asia. Consequently comparatively
few people are aware that a COM
munity which may exert powerful in
! fluence on the whole Of China as
/ practical example Of modern achieve
ment is there to be found--a commu-
nifty that has taken great strides In de-
yeloping 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 in 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 and keen
interest. This QuietnesS 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
unselfish progressive leadership make
him stand out in the whole of China.
Nan-tung Chow lies upon the north
shore of the Yangtse river about 1OO
miles from Shanghai. Recently an
opportunity presented itself for max
ing a pilgrimage to this Mecca OF
Chinese progress
Evidences Of a new China were at
once visible. A carriage was brought
I'D from the steamer landing by way OF
wide, well-graded roads, lined with
young trees, and built on top of dikes
constructed as q protection against
the Yangtse river floods. Here and
elsewhere throughout this district the
banks Of the canal are protected with
neat stone "bunding' or with solio
retaining wallis. These well-built anc
well-maintained roads and canals, witt
occasional neat police stations ant
. clean settlements, unusual in China
were the first indication Of a guiding
hand and the new spirit which ha'
, been working among the people.
Chang chIen's Scheme.
Our farmer-scholar-st hos
, outlined the scheme Of Industrial de
, velopment of Nan-tung Chow, which 4
: conferred In six land development com
; panies. It IL in this Industrial pic
neering that Mr.. Chang takes keenes
: interest. The first Of the companie
n he started about 10 years ago. Capita
e was subscribed literally by his az
1 uuaintances and other investors VIII
: had implicit confidence in his integrity
:. A tract of about 10000 NOW (or 20
f. 600 acres) of wild land-salt marshe
II along the seashore-was diked to kee
t out the ocean storms, and ditched {
/, drain off the salt water. Much Of tn
o land was then brought under cultivt
e ton, and the rest used for producin
l. salt by the evaporation Of sea waite
h Our host exhibited special pride
s this enterprise, because success We
r won In the face of extreme difficultie
O Government aid could not be secure
o The project instead met obsttuctio
e It was a fight against the government
f. nevertheless Mr.. Chang carried throue
he his plans. His weapon was his pr
he and his pen was backed by right. b.
the project had also to contend WI
IN nature; for when the company vi
lie only four years old a great typhot
re played havoc with the bikes, and Il
I'd company was nearly bankrupt. Fro
n this lesson of experience. howeve
* and by dint Of perseverance. the dix
is were rebuilt according to a strong
IN plan, the losses were retrieved al
We the company was again placed on
Id basis Of success.
ed After IL years a second land co
We pany was started. During the last d
is years four additional companies OF
IS same sort have been launched. The
a six companies are now engaged In
ce claiming and cultivating total
'r- 100000 NOW (about 100000 acre
Of land. Mr.. Chang estimates ii
IN these enterprises will provide wo
RI and subsistence for 100000 Chine
'p- families, who are purchasing SIN
he farms or renting them on shares. II
nd the various companies were
nd launched until the first one had prov
IN itself successful Is evidence OF
ci- caution Of this wise developer. I
men who are now managing the MI
II recently established companies d
their training in the original one.
sWhat is your personal motto q