Evening star., 1924-10-26

one of the most profitable railways
of the world. A large part of it has
already been constructed, and al
though. owing to the chaotic condi-
tions in China, the work is now stop
ped, 1t will some day be completed.
and we shall then have a through
freight and passenger service from
here to Peking via Hankow and from
there by new railroads to all parts of
west China.
Eventually the whole empire will
be tributary to Canton and Hong
kong. This is especially true of the
regions south of the Yangtse, which
have population of 160.000,000. 1t
is also true as to much of the
Yangtse Valley, which has 5000, 900,
and in fact to all China The seizing
of this strategic point in the trade of
the Far East is only one Of the many
evidences of John Bulls acquisitive
genius.
THE world knows this port as
Hongkong, and you frequently
see it mentioned as the city of Hong
kong. There is no such thing. Hong
kong is the name of the island and
colony. The name or the city and
port is Victoria 1t was SO named in
honor of Queen Victoria, who granted
the charter.
Victoria is a beautiful city and a
curious one. II you will imagine a
mountain as high as the Blue Ridge of
Virginia rising up to an angle of As
degrees from a land-locked harbor.
you will have an idea of its site. The
island is only q great hill Of salt
schist and granite washed by the
sea. If giant could stand it on the
end known as the peak it might be
whirled around like top The city
lies on an indentation facing the
water. 1t rises in terraces up the
sides Of the harbor to q height of
about 100 feet as great as that Of the
Washington Monument each terrace
consisting of buildings with galleries
running along the front from story to
story. These galleries are divided
into sections, SO that the whole city
seems to be . curved wall Of white
pigeon holes mounting step by step
from the edge of the water. The
slopes above the terraces are covered
with green, and at the foot are the
warehouses and exporting establish
ments that take care Of the shipping.
Just back of these are the offices and
mercantile parts of the city, and
still farther back, climbing hill, are
the residences. The business parts of
the town would be fine anywhere, and
the residences embrace many luxuri-
Gus and even magnificent homes.
Indeed, I am surprised at the
wealth and poverty Of these ports
that form the gateway to Asia. The
rich are so rich and the poor are
so poor! Hongkong is q city of mil
lionaires, both British and Chinese,
who brush against the hundreds Of
thousands Of men, women and chill
dren who labor for to cents an
hour.
The revolutions that are going on
throughout China have driven the rich
Chinese to the open ports. that they
| may be under foreign protection.
Some Of the finest homes here arc now
owned by Mongolians. There are
many rich British, and one look At the
island makes one think it exceeding
ly prosperous. The business houses
are enormous and the roads and pub
lie improvements are excellent.
l took a motor car yesterday and
rode up and down over the hills to
Repulse Bay, on the opposite side Of
the island. This motor road reminded
me of the French Riviera. 1t goes UP
hill and down, now skirting the wa
| ter and now climbing q thousand feet
up the mountain. 1t Is bordered with
trees The island 10 naturally bare.
but trees have been planted about
half way to the peak. A great part
Of the ride II through forests.
Repulse Bay il the seaside resort OF