Kansu is comparatively a new province in China. At least, it can hardly be reckoned to have been completely under Chinese influence for more than 500 years and that is but little in the history of the East. Special industries in this part of the globe take ages to develop unless under outside influences, or by pressure of dire necessity. Neither of these stimuli have been vouchsafed to this city, which is rather 9 trade emporium' than an industrial centre.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.