Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1927-03-31
prepared by the National Geographic
Society. washington. d. CO

Society. Washington. D. CT
nv HILE the eyes of the west
ern world have been turned
Wv during recent weeks toward
Shanghai, headquarters for
white soldiers and sailors and marines
In China, the footsteps of thousands
of refugees, white and yellow, have
been directed toward that same city,
their hope of safety. Kiangsu. the
province in which Shanghai lies, Is
one of the most densely populated POI
litical units in the world. 1t is only
slightly larger than Indiana. and even
under normal conditions ten times as
many people live there as inhabit the
Hoosier state. Chinese from all parts
of the republic. speaking half dozen
different dialects, and foreigners from
all corners of the globe make up the
conglomerate mass of humanity.
Even the country districts are so
congested that the largest farms In the
province are little more than small
family truck gardens to the American
farmer They seldom cover more than
three or four acres.
Kiangsu is the pioneer province of
raiIroading In the Celestial empire.
The first road was built in 1876 from
Shanghai to Woosung. distance of
~ miles But Kiangsu owes much of
its development to its water routes be-
fore the railroad came. particularly to
the Yangtze river and the Grand canal
that flows nearly the entire length of
the province.
For hundreds OF years the canal was
filled with shipping and was the only
means of communication between the
north and the south: but today much
Of the canal Is In ruins. due largely to
the construction Of a railroad along
the route and the development OF
Kiangsu river for navigation. Hun
dreds of small canals branch off into
the back country. They are used to
irrigate farms and as highways. for
most of the roads outside the large
cities are wheelbarrow tracks.
Shanghai Is Big and Busy.
Nearly 100000 Of Kiangsu's people
live in Shanghai. Thousands of the
population are employed In the city's
thriving industries There are more
than fifty cotton mills and numerous
silk. rice and -four mills, and hundreds
Of large factories producing matches.
cigarettes, jewelry. pottery and many
other articles.
Lying in protected location IL
miles up the Whangpoo river. Shang-
hal is one OF the finest commercial
ports in China. AS one approaches
the harbor he sees nearly ten miles
Of docks stretching along the river
front. Huge ocean going vessels from
ALI parts Of the world come and go
almost In a steady stream, fast motor
boats dart here and there through the
harbor. and the shipping industry and
factories along the river front roar
with activity. One could easily imag
inc himself entering busy New Eng
land port IL 1t were not for the sing
song chatter of orientals emanating
from Chinese junks and sampans that
dot the water and cluster about the
docks.
Ills ItDttu Why Va sifS A
>'N $3.50
West is normally what many a trav-
eler finds Paris is supposed to be but
isn't-perpetually gay and carefree.
Europeans and Americans. forced by
business or government assignments
to live there on the other side Of the
world In a none too kindly climate,
seem with one accord to have deter
mined to make the experience as pleas
ant as possible. White mems working
hours might have been framed by
visionary Socialist for the year 1000.
In the piping times Of peace many Of
fees open at ten o'clock, grant rest
..fod from twelve to two. and close
at four so that the harassed merchant
and banker and clerk may hurry away
TO club or casino or tennis court, golf
links or houseboat for what Robert
Louis Stevenson called .'the real busI-
ness OF life
The Bund. the waterfront thorough
fare OF occidental Shanghai. Is nor
mally crowded with prosperous, I'M
hurried Westerners and Bubbling