Vol. VIII. No. 93. 
IMPERIAL INSTITUTE JOURNAL. 
[September, 1902.] 
249 
obtained. I have enquired, adds the Consul, of sugar-planters 
if they could afford to use bagasse for this purpose, in preference 
to utilising it for fuel, and was told that only a very small 
portion — and that the finest part of the fibre — of bagasse was 
required in the preparation. 
Demand for Lumber in China, — The United States 
Consul at Niuchwang is convinced that the future demand in 
China for Pacific Coast lumber will be both extensive and 
permanent. For more than 1,000 miles up the great valley of 
the Yangtze there is practically no timber in sight. The plains, 
hills and mountains are absolutely bare of forestry, except 
where, here and there, a few trees have been carefully preserved. 
South of the Yangtze, there is some timber to be found on the 
Min river, in the province of Fukien, but it is mostly a young 
grow'th of poor pine. North of the great river there is no 
timber until the Yalu river, which forms the boundary between 
Korea and Manchuria, is reached. In the Yangtze valley, the 
only available timber is far up the river Han, on the north side, 
and along the head waters of the streams in the province of 
Hunan, on the south. This timber is floated in great long rafts 
down the river to the market at Hankau. It is mostly a soft 
pine, of small bulk and young growth. A hard wood, very 
much resembling ash, comes from the provinces north of 
Hupeh, and is extensively used in the manufacture of guns at 
the great Hankow- arsenal. A considerable quantity of timber 
is brought into China from Korea by the Chinese junks, which 
sail along the coast and up many of the rivers. Most of it 
consists of fir and soft pine logs, flattened, squared, or round. 
It is afterwards cut up by the usual whip-saw process, in vogue 
in China. In many instances the contractor buys the logs and 
has them carried to the building he is erecting, where he cuts 
the lumber to suit his requirements. Japan also furnishes a 
large amount of timber to China, and in the market for railroad 
ties or sleepers. The Japanese ties are both hewn and sawn, 
and are mostly of hard wood resembling oak, but rather brash 
and easily broken. They appear to make a good railroad tie, 
although there is some complaint that they do not last long. It 
is thought, however, that this defect could easily be remedied 
by cutting down the trees at the time of the year when they 
contained the least sap. These ties come from Hokkaido, the 
northern island of Japan. On the island of Sakhalin, the great 
penal colony of Russia, there is another supply of large quan- 
tities of timber for the markets of China. The island has 
splendid forests of fir and pine. For furniture and interior 
finish, a hard red wood known as teak is extensively used. This 
and similar timbers is brought in large quantities to China from 
the Philippines and other southern islands. These are ex- 
ceptionally fine woods, but are becoming expensive. In China 
probably more wood is used in coffins than for any other 
purpose. The coffins are made of lumber from 4 to 10 inches 
thick. It is not a high estimate to say that from 8,000,000,000 
to 10,000,000,000 feet of lumber are annually thus utilized. The 
great majority of houses are built of mud and bricks, or mud 
and straws or millet stalks ; very little lumber is used. The 
roofs are made of either tiles or straw and mud. Next to 
coffins, the greatest use for lumber in China is for boats. While 
there are no statistics on the subject, it is safe to say that the 
number of craft runs into millions. The vast coast line, the 
enormous rivers, the wonderful canal systems of China are all 
teeming with boats of every description, propelled by steam, 
sail, towline, or oars, operated by both hand and foot. 
Enormous quantities of wooden buckets and small wooden tubs 
are used in every district in China. Oregon pine would make most 
satisfactory buckets and tubs for Chinese use. The Consul has 
been able to locate only two mills in all of China. One is near 
Fuehau, and has but asmail capacity ; the other is at Niuchwang, 
and has just been started. The latter is a small single circular 
saw mill, which cuts about 2,000 feet a day. This mill was 
imported from Michigan, and seems to meet the requirements. 
A good many small mills can be sold in China ; certainly, a 
number could be used to advantage at Tienstsin, Shanghai, 
Hankau, and other places. Cheap mills, built for cutting a few 
thousand feet of light logs a day, would be the most likely to 
meet with sale. 
Openings for Machinery.— The United States Consul at 
Budapest writes that most of the machinery and manufactures 
on the market of Croatia-Slavonia (previously belonging to the 
Kingdom of Hungary) are of German make. Machinery, 
bicycles, type-writers, cash-registers, etc., are to be found, 
though in limited quantities. There is plenty of room for more, 
and there are good chances for pushing sales. There is a good 
opening for all machinery used in factories ; for agricultural 
machines and implements, bicycles, automobiles, typewriters, 
and for shoes. Direct trade is advantageous to both parties. 
Firms should send out capable agents. They should speak 
German if not also Serbo-Croatian, which is the language of 
Dalmatia, Bosnia, Herzegovina, and Servia. As to conditions 
of sale, prices should be quoted c.i.f. Fiume. Boxing or coating 
may be charged for extra, but at cost price. Machinery must 
be set up and installed, and all preliminary instructions given 
by the seller free of charge. Buyers are willing to furnish 
pulleys, belting, countershafts, etc., and all necessary help for 
fitting. A specified time for the shipment is generally set by the 
buyer. Cash terms of payment are impossible ; Croatian mer- 
chants are not used to them. Thirty days after a machine is set 
up, one-half the price will be paid, the other half by three months’ 
draft or the like. These are the only conditions that will receive 
consideration. In the case of other manufactures, similar con- 
ditions of sale are expected. The Servia Farmers’ Association 
Union, with headquarters in Zagrab, is a union formed of all 
the Servian farmers’ associations in the Austro-Hungarian 
monarchy. This association purchases agricultural implements 
for its farmer members, who re-pay on the instalment plan. A 
good advertisement in the union’s paper, the Privned nik, would 
be found profitable. Dairy machines are needed in large quan- 
tities, especially separators and churners. A German firm is 
monopolising this branch of the machinery at present. A light, 
strong and cheap plough would also sell well. Firms wishing 
to do a regular business should have a branch office in Croatia, 
with a stock of all the required implements, preferably at 
Mitrovica, the centre of the farming region of Slavonia. 
Machines must not be too complicated ; the simpler the better. 
Opening for Railway Material and Sugar Machinery.— 
The representatives of a syndicate of Dutch capitalists, Messrs, 
Von der Ben and F. W. Bolk, of Stork Freres, Hengelo, Holland, 
are reorganizing the large sugar plants in Rio and Sergipe. They 
want, among other things, electrical sugar machines of every 
kind, including cane crushers — not cutters — and dynamos and 
motors, variously described as of 220 kilowatts, 330 effective 
horse-power, 220 and 440 volts., in short, everything requisite 
for the installation of large sugar refineries. The same gentle- 
men are also interested iu sugar refining in Java, and they are 
desirous of securing the sole agency "for American rails for 
narrow gauge roads of from 75 to 100 centimetres (29-5 to 
39 -37 inches) in width, and for locomotives and other roiling 
stock to be used in the transportation of sugar over such roads. 
Houses desiring to enter into negotiations for supplying the 
machinery required should address Stork Freres, Hengelo, 
Holland . — United States Co 7 isular Report, 
CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE REPORTS. 
UNITED KINGDOM. 
Walsall. — At the meeting of the Council on July 28, in 
reply to a letter sent by the Chaniber, a communication from 
Mr. Chamberlain on "the question of the introduction of the 
decimal system to the colonies was read. The President 
(Mr. F. Rathbone) said that as the subject had not been proposed 
for discussion he could not himself undertake to bring it before 
the Conference of Colonial Premiers, though he recognised its 
importance. 
The question of the Chamber providing a scholarship at the 
Birmingham University came up for consideration. The 
President said that when Professor Ashley came over and met 
the Chamber he said he hoped Walsall would find a scholarship. 
He fancied he still expected a reply. The Dudley Chamber had 
promised a scholarship, and Wolverhampton wanted to know 
what Walsall were going to do. Wolverhampton would 
probably give one if Walsall did. 1 1 was a matter of £2.0 a year 
for three years, and the question was whether the Chamber or 
some individual member would care to give it. In that connec- 
tion they had received a letter from the Governors of Queen 
Mary's School, informing them that as the school fees had been 
raised, the four six-guinea scholarships given by the Chamber 
did not quite cover the cost of tuition. The idea of giving a 
Birmingham scholarship would have to be considered in the light 
of the fact that they had promised scholarships to Queen Mary's 
School, and to the Science and Art Institute. For two years 
the chamber had given five scholarships to the Grammar School, 
one of eight guineas, and four of six guineas each. The letter 
from the Governors read as if they took it for granted that 
the scholarships were given in perpetuo, while as a matter 
of fact the Chamber only promised them for two years. 
He would like to hear some expressions of opinion. No remarks 
were offered, however, so the President said that as it was an 
important matter, in which they were really very much interested, 
he should propose that it be referred either to the Education 
Committee or the General Purposes Committee. Mr. T. A. 
Smith seconded, provided the General Purposes Committee was 
selected. The Education Committee would like to give both sets 
of scholarships, but it was a question of finance, and would 
have to come before the General Purposes Committee sooner or 
later. They had had large expenses lately, and he personally 
shopld not like the job of canvassing members to give more 
money. Mr. Lavender remarked that it ought to be clearly 
understood that the scholarships to Queen Mary's School were 
not given in perpetuo. The resolution was carried. 
The General Purposes Committee reported that a letter had 
been sent to the telephone company with regard to the break- 
down of their service last winter. The committee had admitted 
the difficulties to be met with under the present system of working, 
and urged that the wires should be placed underground. It 
emphasised the fact that people using the telephone certainly had 
a grievance against the company in not having had the use of 
their instruments for so long a period. No reply had been 
received to this. 
The committee’s report included three other matters — 
standardisation, halfpenny post, and imperial cable, communica- 
tion. The first two did not now need urgent attention, 
standardisation because there would be no autumnal meeting of 
the Associated Chambers, and the halfpenny post because of the 
probability of an early change in the postmaster-generalship. It 
was decided that both these should be put back for the formula- 
tion of proposals on them, in time for presentation at the March 
meeting of tire Associated Chambers in London. The President 
said that nothing had been done concerning imperial cable 
communication. The vastness of the subject had rather 
staggered the committee. 
COLONIES. 
Cape Colony (Cape Town). — At the annual meeting held 
on 7th April last, the President, Mr. J. W. J agger, in con- 
cluding his address, in moving the adoption of the report, said 
that the “only solid basis for the prosperity of any country 
is increased production ; here almost every item, except, 
perhaps, diamonds, has fallen off during the last two years, 
and gold, the backbone of the South African trade, has fallen 
to less than one-twelfth of what it was in 1898. Hence the 
expenditure of Imperial money has not only made good the 
deficiency in our production, but has stimulated an abnormal 
growth of trade. The expenditure has been fairly well spread, 
but has particularly benefited the wage-earning classes of the 
population. Cape Town has benefited more than any other 
town in South Africa. 
“ 1 need hardly point out that this expenditure cannot 
last ; the war is surely, if slowly, drawing to a close, and with 
that close, the Imperial expenses will, of course, be very 
largely cut down. A number of the regular troops will be 
withdrawn, and all the irregular corps, which are the most 
highly paid, will either go back to their own homes over the 
sea, or be disbanded. Further, the very large staff connected 
with the administration of the military affairs will also be 
reduced to a minimum. We shall then be thrown back on 
our own resources, and in this connection I may point out 
that our means of production in the shape of sheep, cattle, 
and horses have been very considerably decreased, and the 
cost of labour has been considerably increased. It will, 
therefore, take the coion_y a few years before its agricultural 
production equals that of 1898. Of course, I am well aware 
we are expecting, as soon as the war is over, a large influx of 
population and capital, and this will undoubtedly go some 
way towards mitigating the results of the stoppage of 
Imperial expenditure which I have indicated, but 1 need hardly 
point out that a large proportion of this capital and population 
is destined for the new colonies, particularly the Transvaal. 
“ I am, therefore, forced to the conviction that, with the 
conclusion of the war — though the trade of Port Elizabeth 
and East London must go ahead, seeing that a large part of 
their business is with the Transvaal and the Orange River 
Colony — the trade of Cape Town will have to face a set-back. 
I do not see how it is possible, thrown back, as I have said, 
on our own local resources and the resources of the country 
within 400 miles of Cape Town — for our transit trade is not 
worth reckoning — to sustain a local import trade of over 
A9. 000, 000, when the same trade iu the last normal year 
(1898) was only about .£5,000,000, and that, at the time, was 
a record, and the colony was fairly prosperous. Of course, I 
have no doubt but that in a few years our trade will recover 
itself, and even go to higher figures, but that can only take 
lace with the increased development of the resources of 
outh Africa, and, fortunately for us, Cape Town always 
benefits in some degree from the prosperity of an)' part of the 
sub-continent. The only thing that, in my opinion, could 
seriously interfere with its position in that respect would be the 
construction of a line from the West Coast across to the Trans- 
vaal. With the conclusion of the war, it behoves us to bend 
our whole attention and energies to developing the resources 
of our colony, if we are going to keep it in its old position of 
the premier colony of South Africa. 
“ There will, I believe, be no lack of energy and capital to 
develop the Transvaal and the Orange River Colony. It is 
anticipated that, within five years from now, there will be 
17,000 stamps running on the Rand, turning out gold to the 
value of 50 to 60 millions per year, and with that will doubt- 
less go the development of the coal industry, and, possibly, 
iron and copper. It is also the intention of the Imperial 
Government to spend a large sum of money in the construc- 
tion of railways in those territories. Hence, in the Cape 
Colony, which, so far, does not appear rich in minerals, other 
than diamonds, copper, and coal, it should, I think, be our 
policy to vigorously and systematically develop our agricultural 
resources, in order to take full advantage of the splendid 
markets which the North will offer. We have recently had 
an irrigation survey of the colony by a most competent 
irrigation engineer, and opportunities for development in that 
direction, on a much larger scale than ever thought of before 
in South Africa, have been pointed out. The policy of con- 
structing light railways, recently sanctioned by Parliament, 
should be continued, and still further extended. The general 
and technical education of our people, which latter has hitherto 
only been done in a spasmodic sort of way, and on a small 
scale, should be systematically taken in hand, and immigration, 
for the purpose of getting new blood on the land, encouraged 
in every possible manner. Only by a policy such as this, 
vigorously pursued, can we hope to escape the fate of having 
to take the second, or even the third place, amongst the colonies 
of South Africa.” 

GENERAL INTELLIGENCE OF THE PAST 
MONTH. 
August, 1902. 
UNITED KINGDOM. 
Aug. 1st : The King continued to make satisfactory pro- 
gress, and went for a short cruise in the Royal Yacht. " The 
Prince of Wales returned to London. Mr. Chamberlain and 
Lord Kitchener were presented with the freedom of the Grocers’ 
Company. Mr. Shackleton (Labour) was returned unopposed 
as M.P. for Clitheroe. Death of Lieut. -Gen. Sir E. Newdigate- 
Newdegate. 
2nd : The King held an Investiture on board the Royal 
Yacht. Ex-president Steyn, with his wife and family, arrived at 
Southampton, en route to Holland. Mr. Rudyard Kipling 
opened a rifle-range at Lower Sydenham. 
4th : August Bank Holiday was observed. Yeomanry from 
South Africa landed at Southampton. Death of Sir Edward 
Hertslet, late Librarian at the Foreign Office. The Ancient 
Order of Foresters opened their High Court at Barrow. Death 
of Judge French. 
5th : The Colonial Conference held its eighth meeting. 
The Earl of March was appointed Lord Lieutenant of Elgin in 
the room of the Duke of Fife, resigned. Lord Kitchener visited 
the Welbeck tenants’ agricultural show. Death of Miss R. 
Davenport-Hill. 
6th : The King left Cowes for London. Lords Roberts and 
Kitchener were presented with addresses and plate by the City 
of London Corporation, The Rt. Rev. Dr. Maguire was ap- 
pointed by the Pope Roman Catholic Archbishop of Glasgow. 
The Sanitary Inspectors' Association opened their annual meet- 
ing at Middlesbrough. The Piouse of Commons passed the 
second reading of the Appropriation Bill. 
7th : Lord James of Hereford, acting upon medical advice, 
resigned the Chancellorship of the Duchy of Lancaster. 
8th : The King received Ras Makonnen and the Prime 
Minister of Uganda at Buckingham Palace. The Queen pre- 
sided at the Annual Meeting of the Soldiers’ and Sailors’ 
Families Association. Lord Dudley was appointed Lord Lieu- 
tenant of Ireland ; Lord Londonderry, President of the Board 
of Education; Mr, C, T. Ritchie, M.P., Chancellor of the 
Exchequer; Mr. Akers Douglas, M.P. , Home Secretary ; and 
Mr. J. .Austen Chamberlain, Postmaster-General, Death of the 
Hon. Arthur Webster. 
9th : The Coronation of the King and Queen took place 
in Westminster Abbey : Illuminations and great rejoicings in all 
parts of the Empire. The King offered to present Osborne 
House to the nation. A meeting of the Irish Parliamentary 
party was held in Dublin. The resignation of Dean Bradley 
was announced. Death of Major-Gen. K. G. Henderson. 
nth : The King received in audience the Lord Mayor, 
Lord Duncanuon, and Sir S. Crossley, M.P., who presented the 
Coronation Gift of ^115,000. The Colonial Conference held its 
tenth and concluding meeting, Mr. Chamberlain presiding. 
12th : The King reviewed the Colonial troops at Bucking- 
ham Palace. Lord Salisbury left London for Homburg. The 
Indian troops visited Westminster Abbey. Sir G. G. Stokes 
was elected Master ot Pembroke College, Cambridge, Lord 
Cadogan took his official departure from Ireland. 
13th : The King reviewed the Indian contingents at Buck- 
ingham Palace. Westminster Abbey was opened to the public. 
Mr. C. Wason, M.P. for Orkney and Shetland, applied for the 
Chiltern Hundreds. 
14th Lord Raglan was appointed Governor of the Isle of 
Man. The King and Queen left London for Cowes. Sir E 
Barton and Mr. Seddon were entertained at a banquet at Tun- 
bridge Wells. Death of Captain J. G. Malcolmson, v.c, M.V.O. 
15th : The King placed a brass cross on the deck of the 
yacht Alberta as a memorial of Queen Victoria. The Indian 
troops left Hampton Court for Southampton, en route for India. 
Mr. Austen Chamberlain was re-elected unopposed. Death of 
Viscount Gort. 
16th : The Coronation Naval Review was held at Spithead. 
The Shah of Persia arrived at Dover, and was received by 
Prince Arthur of Connaught. The Boer Generals, Botha, 
De Wet, and Delarey, arrived at Southampton, and were met 
by Mr. Fischer. 
17th : The King received the Boer Generals on board the 
Royal Yacht. The Colonial troops attended a special service in 
Westminster Abbey. 
1 8th : The King inspected the Fleet, The Shah arrived in 
London, and was welcomed by the Prince of Wales. The Boer 
Generals left London for Holland. Mr. T. Sloan (Independent 
Protestant) was returned as M.P. for South Belfast. 
19th : The Shah was presented with an address by the 
Indo-European Telegraph Company. The Shah held a recep- 
tion of the Diplomatic Corps in London. The Report of the 
Joint Select Committee on the Housing of the Working Classes 
was issued. 
20th : The Shah visited the King on board the Royal 
Yacht. The King granted a Charter for the incorporation of 
the British Academy. The Labour .Association opened its 
annual exhibition at the Crystal Palace. Sir E. Barton and 
Sir John Forrest left Liverpool for New York. 
21st : The King and Queen visited Osborne, and afterwards 
set out for a cruise round Great Britain. The Shah received a 
deputation of Parsees at Marlborough House, and visited Sir 
II. Maxim's Works at Westminster. The Labour -Association 
held its annual meeting at the Crystal Palace. The Institute 
of Public Health opened its annual conference at Exeter. 
22nd ; The King arrived at Milford Haven. The Shah was 
present at a review at Woolwich. The Maharajah of Jaipur 
left Dover for India. Mr. H. W. Forster (C.) was elected M.P. for 
Sevenoaks. Death of Sir Thomas Boyd. The Hugh Miller 
Centenary was celebrated at Cromarty. 
