The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1922-03-29

els ~ " %.! Ss'Sn.l 6eCE5.Dh'e 30
Inc greatest Industrial CITY Of China
Is Chiag-teh-chen, place which per.
naps not one American In q hundred
has heard Of. But when it is added
that this out-of-the-way place, 800
miles inland and without rail connec-
ions. 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 signif.
canoe.
There are few cities in America or
Europe that are so completely given
over to a single industry as this one,
Though the methods Of production are
primitive, the city must still be classed
as an industrial center. 1t is a 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 ware made of clay
and named for the country that first
produced 1t. Whether 1t be a green
tile from a temple roof, dish, vase,
or painted ornament from a wealthy
celestlaPs home, 1t all has a traceable
connection with Ching-teh-chen. With
the Chinese, Ching-teh-chen and por-
celaln are synonymous.
In order to get a fair understanding
Of the situation, it will first be neces-
sary to let the reader know the 10
cation Of this place and something Of
the difficulties in reaching it.
After locating Shanghai on the map
Of China, one should trace his way up
the Yangtze river to Kiukiang, south
Of which lies Pc Yang lake. The quick
est and surest way of reaching Ching
teh-chen is to proceed from kiukiang
to Nanchang, the capital Of the prov
mce, by rail. This trip can be made
in a day, barring accidents, though the
distance is only 80 miles. In prospect
1t 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 1t takes to travel from San Fran
cisco to New York. One must cross
the east end Of Pc 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.
"Towm 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
n,ied 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 70 Yang
lake.
Beautiful hills completely surround
the city, those on the east rising 10
hs,pht OF about two thousand feet.
The river banks are dotted with pine
md csmphor trees, while occasional
groves Of bamboo In lighter green auu
charm and beauty difficult to de-
scribe
Cbinp-teh-chen ("Town OF Scenic
v,r+ua'0 ia one Of the four largest
towns las distinguished from cities)
of China. Technically, 1t is town,
because 1t has no wall. In reality II
10 busy industrial city Of 3Ooooo
neople. two-thirds Of whom are en-.
Gagged in the manufacture ana SAFE VI
Economically, 1t Is city
:, stir mems souls. Longfellow. IN MS
speaks Of 1t. Historical
" n dates back to the Han dynasty,
900 A D., during which period we hho
1.-Two first records Of the production VI
in China. though ear'i'ei.
800 vessels were probably produced
some centuries earlier.
Two main streets, about three miles
Long and conforming to the contour OF
,ho river. comprise the principal
-
1ne city is about mile wide Fur
oaces, warehouses. shops ana no,nes
. - crowded together in hopeless
'aur,e. Great mounds of Clipped anu
aafectIve porcelain, clay chips anu
ssassn dishes are piled high along the
- hank In fact, one first notices
lhsse pieces of porcelain in n the ue' the Us
tho stream several miles oe'ow ,, ."e
l e,ty washed down by high " wafer 1sa,
,,ts. dumps must be 80 or ~ tea'
. ," They represent the accumu'
' 'ated of,castlt,gs Of the ki'ns ror cen ,.c
y. a, s.a. There are now between A''