Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1922-03-30

(PreDared by the National Geographic So
ciety. Washington. d. C.)
The greatest industrial city of China
Is Ching-teh-chen, a place which per-
shaps not one American In a hundred
has heard of. But when 1t is added
that this out-of-the-way place, 800
miles inland and without rail connec-
lions, is the original home of the porce-
lain industry of the world and still the
great Chinese center of the industry,
the town takes on a certain signifi-
canoe.
There are few cities in America or
Europe that are so completely given
over to single industry as this one.
Though the methods of production are
primitive, the city must still be classed
as an Industrial center. 1t Is rare
privilege to visit this conservative but
interesting old place and see with ones
own eyes the fascinating process of
pottery making from beginning to end.
Chinaware! What does the word
connote? Simply a ware made of clay
and named for the country that first
produced ii. Whether it be a green
tile from a temple roof, dish, vase,
or n painted ornament from wealthy
celestiafs home, 1t all has a traceable
connection with Ching-teh-chen. With
the Chinese, Ching-teh-chen and pOr-
ceIain are synonymous.
In order to get fair understanding
of the situation, 1t will first be neces-
sary to let the reader know the To-
cation of this place and something Of
the difficulties in reaching it.
After locating Shanghai on the map
OF China, one should trace bis way up
the Yangtze river to KiulSiang, south
of which lies Po Yang lake. The quick
est and surest way of reaching Ching
teh-chen is to proceed from Kiukiang
10 Nanchang, the capital Of the prov
hce, by rail- This trip can be made
in day, barring accidents, though the
distance is only 80 miles, In prospect
il does not seem a difficult task to
cover the distance between Nanchang
and Ching-teh-chen, 120 miles, but in
reality the trip requires more time
than it takes to travel from San Fran
cisco TO New York. One must cross
the east end Of Po Yang lake and then
push his way up the North river into
the heart of the mountains, to a point
not far from the Anhwei border.
"Town Of Scenic Virtue"
The first view of Ching-teh-chen
from an approaching boat, with the
smoke issuing from the chimneys of
scores Of kilns, is an amazing one.
The city Is located between the mouths
of two rivers which flow into the North
river, one from the east and one from
the west. The town is naturally sup
piled with an abundance of fresh wa
ter, the clearnesS of which stands out
in vivid contrast to the muddy yellow
ness of the Yangtze and, Of Pc Yang
lake.
Beautiful hills completely surround
the city, those on the east rising to q
height of about two thousand feet.
The river banks are dotted with pine
and camphor trees, while Occasional
groves of bamboo in lighter green add
charm and beauty difficult to de-
scribe.
Ching-teh-chen ("Town of Scenic
Virtue') is one of the four largest
towns Gas distinguished from cities)
of China. Technically, it is a town
because it has no wall. In reality il
is busy Industrial city of 100000
people, two-thirds Of whom are en-
gagged in the manufacture and sale Of
porcelain. Romantically. it is a city
TO stir mems souls. LOngfellow, in his
"Keramos, speaks of it. Historical
lv. it dates back to the Han dynasty
220 A. D.. during which period we fine
tle first records of the production Of
porcelain in China, though earthen
ware vessels were probably produced
some centuries earlier.
Two main streets, about three miles
long and conforming to the contour Ol
the river, comprise the principal
thOroughfares.
The city Is about a mile wide. Fur
nnces, warehouses. shops, and homes
are crowded together in a hopeless
tangle. Great mounds of Clipped anC
defective porcelain, clay chips and
broken dishes are piled high along thu
river bank. In factA one first notices
these pieces of porcelain in. the bed o
the stream several miles below thu
city. washed down by high water
These dumps must be 80 or 40 fee
thick. They represent the accumu
lated offcastlngs of the kilns for cen
turies. There are now between 15(
ODInIM oE TUE CAIIITE