Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1924-07-02

Bits OF these cities seem veritable
parts of Paris set down barely outside
the jungle. Well-shaded and per-
fectly maintained boulevards cross
both cities, and lining them or set in
nearby parks are monumental public
buildings in the best French archi-
lecture.
Industries Are Flourishng.
The major parts of both Saigon and
Hanoi are given over to native quar-
ters, but those portions of the cities
are apart from the beautiful and Eu-
ropeanized sections. AS in Chinese
cities, the native stores are confined
to special quarters. There is thus a
section in which dwell copper and
brass smiths, another for potters, an
other for cabinetmakers, etc.
Railroads serve both Saigon and
Hanoi; and monumental union sta
tions," putting locomotives, and the
familiar long spans of steel, vaulting
broad rivers, take ones thoughts again
back to the West.
Because Western civilization Is
based on industrialism even when it Is
transplanted to the ends Of the earth,
it was inevitable that Hanoi should
supersede Saigon in Importance. In
the region tributary to Hanoi are
those two great essentials to modern
development: coal and iron. This Is
the only French overseas possession,
incidentally, that Is rich in these
minerals. Available, too, are tin, zinc
and tungsten. Silk worms flourish in
Tongking, furnishing still other ma
terial for industry, and mills have
been set up to utilize Cambodian and
Chinese cotton.
On the agricultural side, in addition
to its huge rice crop and its sugar,
Indo- China furnishes large amounts Of
tea, cocoa and coffee. From its warmer
regions, too, come considerable guam
titles Of spices. Cabinet woods are
foated down the streams from the
interior forests.
Four-ifths of the inhabitants Of
French doChina are Annamese, a
people in characteristics midway be-
tween the Chinese and the Hindus
They have borrowed in culture and
religion from both the latter peoples
In the rough, inaccessible parts Of the
country are the Laos, a people not
far above savagery.
Mekong a Great River.
The great river Of French Indo-China
is the Mekong which rises in central
Tibet and flows south, finally running
through the center Of the French pen
insula. In the rainy season this stream
carries a tremendous volume Of water,
overlooking its banks and turning
large areas of forest into marshes
The river is connected with a large
lake, Tonic Sap, in central Cambodia,
which is fed by an arm of the Mekong
part of the year and in turn feeds
that river the remainder of the year.
The jungles and forests of French
Indo- China, like those of Siam, har~
Dor wild elephants, tigers, wild boars,
and rhinoceroses. Crocodiles frequent
the Mekong, and numerous snakes are
found in the forests.
Frances influence in Indo-China
grew from missionary activity in the
Seventeenth century. In 1774 the king
of AMMAN took refuge with the French
bishop in Saigon. In 1902 French
military aid was given to this fugitive
monarch and he regained his throne.
Privileges were extended to the
French, but later monarchs began to
prosecute them. Because of this the
French began military operations In
Cochin-China in the sixties Of the
Nineteenth century, at the same time
that their armies were seeking on the
other side of the world to make Maxi
milan emperor of Mexico.
By 1867 they had conquered Cochin
China and had established a protecro-
rate over adjoining Cambodia. Other
protectorates have been set up in the
peninsula IN the succeeding years, the
last over Laos In 1893. The COVER
nor generalship of the Indo-C Chinese