Includes: Preliminary Report on Southwest China Railway Projects. [8], 30, 3 leaves text (carbon typescript) + [35 ] leaves on which are mounted 70 silver photographs 3x4 with typed captions; 1 folding color map & 1 folding blueprint map with hand-coloring in outline. July 1918. * Preliminary Report on American-Far Eastern Shipping Development. [2], 15, [4], 104, [1], xxxiii, 2-8 pp. text (typescript) + 100 leaves on which are mounted 181 silver photographs with typed captions, most 3x4, 4 are 8x10; 12 blueprint folding maps & 1 photographic map. July 1919. Together, 2 volumes. 10½x8¼, gilt-lettered leatherette.
Informative, well-produced, detailed and quite fascinating reports prepared by Whitlam for the Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Commerce, U.S. Department of Commerce. Whitlam has signed each report one or more times. The first concentrates on the Pakhoi or Kwang-chow-wan – Yunnan-fu Railway, with an eye towards opening up commercial ventures with the United States, “The whole proposition is one that should appeal to Americans in whose veins pulses the blood of the pioneer, to him who dares to venture forth and overcome difficulties…” The second, considerably longer report, concentrates on ways to increased shipping between the U.S. and Asia, with China in the forefront, for Asia, “possessed of a huge man-power and vast potential resources, is likely to be the scene of the world’s greatest development activities during the Twentieth Century. Asia affords a market of American products. Perhaps of even greater importance it offers an outlet for American investment and development ingenuity which has matured as a result of the pioneering experience in America. Asia is in line with the original American impetus – WESTWARD.” Besides the detailed analysis of the Chinese economy and its prospects under American tutelage, the two works are noteworthy for the many photographs of the countryside, buildings, ports, docks, rivers, warehouses, hotels, boats, and much more. The maps are also of significance, showing the various trade routes. Each volume bears the ownership signature of Leslie B. Newman on the front endpaper.