Fu-Wei (虍尾) Village of the Yun-Lin County (雲林県) used to be the agricultural heartland of Taiwan during the Japanese colonization period. The Japanese built a sugar-cane plantation, a sugar process factory and a railroad track to transport sugar canes from the plantation to factory employing the so-called double-track five-Fu-A(五分仔) train whose track width was only five-'measure', a little bit smaller than a regular train track with a seven-'measure', or seven-Fu-A (七分仔). Ka-Tong Tree (茄茼樹) was planted as part of the environmental protection plan because the tree has unusual ability to adsorb dust and smokes produced by the sugar factory. Additionally, Ka-Tong Tree (茄茼樹), provides villagers shades to protect from the hot summer sun.
Fu-Wei's old-day glory was gone with the ending of the Japanese colonization in 1945. With more than 50 years of mis-management of Kuo-Ming-Tang 国民党 which has dominated Fu-Wei's (and also Yun-Lin County (雲林県) )politics for more than 50 years, the Yun-Lin County (雲林県) has become the poorest county in Taiwan. Weeds have taken over the landscape of old sugar cane plantation and most of the old Japanese technician's residences are left deserted. The county and the village are under pressure to bring in cash at the expense of old historical treasures. The great shade-providing, environmental beneficial Ka-Tong Tree (茄茼樹), were once fallen victims; they were once pulled out from the road side by the local politicians. Local artists, teachers and university professors petitioned to save the trees and were finally successful to convince the government to stop politicians from continuing to cut-down the trees.
What a story. Photos show the Ka-Tong Tree (茄茼樹), the train that ran the five-'measure' track, the deserted sugar cane plantation and old Japanese technician's residence. Overlooking those deserted artifacts are the 7-story concrete building with which the politicians believe they will bring the cash to the poor Yun-Lin County (雲林県).
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