The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1934-12-07

anu OO per CSul VI SClOOlS
are situated in monasteries or are mod
ern outgrowths of the old temple
schools. In Bangkok, too, is a we'll
functioning university and medical
school
In the east of Siam, bordering on
French IndO-China, is a wide noun
tain-encircled plateau, 800 feet to 500
feet above sea level and tilted slightly
to the east, so that it drains into the
mighty Mekong.
During the six-mOnths' dry season
this territory is very arid, and during
the rains it is often heavily flooded;
consequently it is the poorest section
in Siam, and the people often have diff
ficulty in securing a comfortable live
IihOod.
Until recently, when the railway was
extended beyond Mayor Rajasima
(KOrat) to UbOl Rajadhani, the people
were severely handicapped in getting
their produce out to market centers.
Considerable wealth, however, lies in
the redwood and other forests located
in the mountains. These and other re-
sources will be developed because rail-
roads and highways are being extended
into the region.
Chandaburi province, bordering the
Gulf Of Siam. finds prosperity in its
forested hills, in pepper, coffee, and In
ruby, sapphire, and zircon mines.
Minerals and Rice.
South Siam embodies about one-half
Of the elongated Malay peninsula, with
its population gradually shading into
almost pure Malay. Like lower Malaga,
it is rich in minerals, especially tin,
and also produces considerable Quanti-
ties of rubber. In normal times an av-
erage of nine million dollars worth of
tin annually goes into foreign marts
from these mines.
Eastward, westward, and northward
from Bangkok stretches the vast al
luvial plain of central Siam, level as
table top-the rice granary of the coun-
try. 1t is the heart of the kingdom and
the source of nine-tenths of its wealth.
An area of roughly $4,000 square miles
is enclosed between the high mountain
backbone that extends along the Burma
border and the battlements that face
the Korat plateau.
What the Nile is to Egypt the Me
Nam ChaO Bhraya Is to this fertile
valley. Every year during the summer
rainy season the river overf1ows its
hanlYo nnd cTr
network Of canals and distrtbutaries,
depositing rich silt and providing the
required water for the rice lands.
Nearly two-thirds of all Slams ex-
port trade consists Of rice Most Of
the people devote their lives to its cul-
tivation, and 1t forms the chief food
for both people and domestic animals
Chiengmai, second city Of Siam, was
founded in the Eleventh century, and
subsequently gained ascendancy 6
neighboring principalities. Because Of
its Importance, it long sat on the fence
between Burma and Siam and was
pulled first one way and then the other,
according to which rival sought by
force Of arms to claim it's allegiance.
Chiengmai is attractively located on
the Me Ping, one Of the chief tributa-
ries Of the Me Nam Chao Bhraya. Be
yond it stretches a rice plain backed
by the imposing 5,5O0-foot mountain Of
Dol Sutep.
Chiengmai's unsophistication Is her
chief charm. There are no hotels; only
a railway resthouse. Visitors usually
stay with friends. One associates
Chingmai with Lao saleswomen. They
come and sit on your veranda for
hours, displaying beautiful handwork
specimens of antique and modern Sill
yer, bronze, silk and lacquer ware
which few can see and resist.
The stats of several teak companies
and of the missionary schools and hos
pitfalls comprise the principal foreign
population in Chiengmai. One of the
outstanding missionary enterprises in
the city is the asylum for lepers. Many
Of these unfortunates are made COM
Portable in the excellent cottages pro-
vided for them. They are treated with
AAC CSlCAo VI duu III
many cases the disease is arrested, II
not completely cured. So effective has
been this work that the government
now grants an annual subsidy toward
its upkeep.
In the Businesses of the northern
forests axes ring, trees crash, logs
thunder down mountain sideways, ma
bouts shout, and elephants trumpet
the voices Of a teaking camp.
Teak trees Of required girth are first
girdled and then allowed TO stand for
two years TO season before they are
relled. because heavy timber viii float
only when Il is dry. The logs are later
skidded or hauled to the nearest
stream, where the next high water win
set them drifting down TO the mills.
From stump to mill requires from two
to seven years.
Each year approximately 100000
teak logs go down the river to Bang
kok. 23,000 are routed by the Salween
river TO Burma. and another 5000 ride
the turbulent waters OF the Mekong to
Indo-China.