The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1929-12-27

began to dream of a free British port
that would facilitate trade. In 1915
he obtained the seemingly worthless
island Of Singapore for his company
for small fee. Developments quick
ly proved him prophet, for within
two years the little trading center he
established had population of 10000
It was only in 1922 that the British
government consented to take an in
terest in the place.
In the little more than hundred
years since it was founded, the jungle
of Singapore has given place to huge
city of close to 100000 population, car
rying on trade valued at billion dol
lars annually-one of the metropolises
of the British empire. Its quays and
anchorages serve thousands of craft
of all sorts and sizes, from the pic
turesque, graceful Malay sampans and
the stodgy Chinese junks to the ia
miliar freighters of the West, and
what Kipling asserts are the "lady-
like" liners. They build up Singa-
pores shipping to the tremendous to-
tai of 100000 tons yearly.
Though Singapore is free from du-
ties and to this fact owes its very
existence, still the people who make
up the city take their toll from the
stream of world trade that flows about
them. They live, in fact, by and for,
and in an atmosphere of commerce.
Tens of thousands make their livings
by caring for shipping, conditioning
and supplying vessels, and taking part
in loading and unloading goods. The
port is primarily trans-shipping point
for both imports and exports. 1t gives
what the economists would call place
value" to hundreds of commodities
which trickle to Singapore's reser-
voirs of goods from scores of districts
in the East and are there obtainable
in the large quantities that world trade
demands. In the city's "godowns"-
as the East calls it's warehouses-are
handled a very large part Of the
worlds finest rubber before it begins
the long journey that will take most
of it eventually to American highways.
So, too, much Of the worlds tin Is
smelted in and shipped from Singa-
pore. 1t might be dubbed 'the worlds
pepper pot" for more pepper is assem-
bled there than is ever held in any
other port.
Real Cosmopolitan City.
If ever city could claim to be cos
mopolitan, Singapore can. At one of the
principal world crossroads, and with
a population 100 per cent immigrant,
it could not escape cosmopolitanism.
1t has drawn its population from prac-
tically all parts Of Asia, from Oceania,
the Malay archipelago, Africa, Europe
and America. The Chinese predomi-
nate, making up about one-half the
population. There have been many
thousands of immigrants from India.
Europeans, Americans and Australians
number less than 10000, and there are
probably as many Japanese.
The appearance of Singapore shows
its mixture of many influences. The
visitor may ride in 'rikishas or cleo
trio cars, automobiles or ancient horse
drawn carriages. In the chief bust.
ness district he sees modern streets
and buildings, and in the Asiatic quar-
tiers he encounters facilities and sights
and odors that smack Of the Orient.
Singapore's houses of worship furnish
an excellent index to it's varied life.
Without making use of reiteration
one can hardly describe the physical
aspects of Singapore island adequate.
ly. 1t is an island of red, red soil and
green, green verdure. The soil is
poor, but since Singapore is almost
at the equator and moist, vegetation
might be said to grow furiously. There
is an unending fight between it and the
coolies who strive to prevent it's vivid
green waves from engulfing the con-
spicuous red roads and cleared spaces
Sir Stamford Raffies, who planted
the seed of their great city, is rever
enced by ali thoughtful people of Sing
apore. Streets and quays and squares
and public buildings are named fol
him. A fine statue Of the founder
stands before the Victoria Memorial
hall looking off to the sea, whence
comes the endless stream of ships thai
pay tribute to the city. The statue
and the busting metropolis behind Il
recall his prophetic statement that the
place would be "a great commercial
emporium and a fulcrum whence We
may extend our influence, politically
as circumstances may hereafter re
quire."
The white mans conquest Of the
East shows that wherever the English
man settles he plants only as much
of his own law and customs as Is prac
ticable, without arousing too much ma
tive opposition.
In Singapore, for example, polygam,
among Malays and Chinese is. recog
nized and the children Of such union!
are treated as legitimate. Instead O
kissing the Bible, Malay witness ma.
kiss the Koran.
| So, here In the strait, Raff1es earl!
declared that the principles of British
law should be applied with patriarcha
mildness and indulgent consideration
for the prejudices of each tribe. AL
native institutions, such as religious
ceremonies, marriage and inheritance
were respected. when not inconsisten
with justice and humanity. In thi
policy lies the secret of British colo
niZing success.