The International Development of ChinaSun, Yat-sen
History
The International Development of China
Sun, Yat-sen
China -- Economic conditions -- 1912-1949; Railroads -- China
In modern civilization, the material essentials of life are five,
namely: food, clothing, shelter, means of locomotion, and the printed
page. Accordingly I will formulate this program as follows:
I. The Food Industry.
II. The Clothing Industry.
III. The Housing Industry.
IV. The Motoring Industry.
V. The Printing Industry.
PART I
The Food Industry
The food industry should be treated under the following headings:
a. The Production of Food.
b. The Storage and Transportation of Food.
c. The Preparation and Preservation of Food.
d. The Distribution and Exportation of Food.
a. The Production of Food
Human foods are derived from three sources: the land, the sea and the
air. By far the most important and greatest in quantity consumed is
aerial food of which oxygen is the most vital element. But this aerial
food is abundantly provided by nature, and no human labor is needed for
its production except that which is occasionally needed for the airman
and the submariner. So this food is free to all. It is not necessary
for us to discuss it here. The production of food from the sea which I
have already touched upon when I dealt with the construction of fishing
harbors and the building of fishing crafts, will also be left out here.
It is the specific industries in the production of food from land,
which need foreign help that are to be discussed here.
China is an agricultural country. About four-fifths of its population
is occupied in the work of producing food. The Chinese farmer is very
skillful in intensive cultivation. He can make the land yield to its
utmost capacity. But vast tracts of arable lands are lying waste in
thickly populated districts for one cause or other. Some are due to
lack of water, some to too much of it and some to the "dog in the
manger" system,--the holding up of arable land by speculators and land
sharks for higher rents and prices.
The land of the eighteen provinces alone is at present supporting
a population of four hundred millions. Yet there is still room for
development which can make this same area of land yield more food if
the waste land be brought under cultivation, and the already cultivated
land be improved by modern machinery and scientific methods. The
farmers must be protected and encouraged by liberal land laws by which
they can duly reap the fruits of their own labor.
In regard to the production of food in our international development
scheme, two necessary undertakings should be carried out which will be
profitable at the same time.
(1) A scientific survey of the land.
(2) The establishment of factories for manufacturing
agricultural machinery and implements.
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