26 SMITHSONIAN MISCELLANEOUS COLLECTIONS VOL. I42 



In West China there were two post offices in 1901, many more 

 being estabhshed in subsequent years. S. C. Yang, who helped es- 

 tablish many post offices in West China, arrived in Chengtu late in 

 1901 and reported that he found there no traces of modern technology 

 or modern conveniences. There were only three government schools 

 in the city, and a few mission schools. There were no telephones, 

 electric lights, newspapers, motor roads, or modern factories (Yang, 

 S. C, 1932, pp. 7-11). Apparently there were no jinrickshas. 



Between 1900 and 1948 there were many important changes in 

 China that affected the economic life of the people. Most of the 

 changes began in the treaty ports and spread westward, slowly at 

 first, but with increasing rapidity. All the main railroads were built 

 after 1900. Chambers of Commerce were established and improved 

 in quality. Modern banks were opened, becoming important factors 

 in the Chinese economy. Steamships traveled up the Yangtse River. 

 City streets were widened and paved, motor roads built, and jin- 

 rickshas, carts, automobiles, trucks, and busses appeared. In time 

 airports were built, and airplanes used. The telegraph, the telephone, 

 and the electric light gradually came into common use. As early as 

 192 1 modern factories in China included arsenals, canneries, brew- 

 eries, dockyards, shipbuilding plants, flour mills, and factories for 

 the manufacture of cement, confectionaries, chemicals, furniture, 

 glass, iron and steel, lace and hairnets, leather, matches, nails and 

 needles, ropes, silk, soap and candles, sugar, tea, tobacco, and tools 

 (Stauffer, 1922, p. 25 ; Smith, 1916, pp. i-io ; Tchou, 1923, pp. 15-20). 



As regards West China, as late as 1921 there were no railroads in 

 Kokonor, Kansu, Shensi, Sikang, Szcchwan, or Kweichow. Through- 

 out West China the city streets were very narrow and there were no 

 motor roads, although a survey was being made for one from 

 Chungking to Chengtu. The largest roads were about 5 feet wide. 

 There were no automobiles or airplanes, and few cities had jinrick- 

 shas or electric lights. There were very few modern factories. Then 

 came motor roads, widened and paved city streets, automobiles, trucks 

 and interurban busses, electric lights, telephones, radios, factories of 

 all kinds, modern clothing and utensils, modern stores, and many 

 modern inventions that greatly affected the economic and social life 

 of the people. 



It should be emphasized that practically every phase of the economic 

 life of the people of West China has been intimately related with 

 religion. Charms, religious ceremonies, priests and shamans, and the 

 gods were relied on to give success in the task of solving the economic 

 problems of individuals, families, and communities. 



