This silent film from the 1920’s was to be shown in classroom as a teaching tool. It shows various methods of transportation across the globe including modern methods as well as more primitive methods. It was edited by Don Carlos Ellis (:12). Footage opens the film of city streets with inhabitants in traditional 1920’s style attire as a trolley or streetcar / tram rides through the streets (:45). A steam locomotive pulls a train round a bend along a large hill (:52). An American style steam engine with a prominent spark catching chimney takes a pit stop at in a rural location (1:10). A close up shot of the 1920’s steam engine follows (1:20). A third train moves from Brownsville to Port Isabel, Texas (1:30), most likely on the St. Louis, Brownsville & Mexico Railway. A man is seen atop a horse riding over a wooden bridge as many still used horses as a form of locomotion (1:51). Mules ride down steep jagged and rocky terrain with packs atop their backs (2:06). A one-horse carriage is seen alongside a trolley (2:25). This is followed by a man and woman in a two wheeled cart pulled by a small donkey (2:40). Natives and burrows move down a dirt road with large packs (2:55) and some are seen carrying the packs atop their heads (3:00). Scenes from the Arctic or Alaska show a man amidst huskies as they begin to drag a dog sled forward (3:08). In the Andes, llamas are loaded up with cargo (3:20) and a heard of free llamas follows (3:45). Oxen drag forward Cambodia cabs in India (4:02). Prince’s and other elites traveled in the traditional houdah; an ornate carriage set atop the back of an elephant (4:27). In Manila, ancient and modern methods of transportation are viewed (4:37). A small horse and carriage is seen in the foreground as a trolley runs behind (4:44). The Philippine carabao is seen with it’s long horns as it slowly pulls a cart with a man sitting atop through a tunnel (5:04). Men on motorbikes bring up the cart’s rear (5:15). The carabao is seen wading in the water for a cool dip (5:24). A series of carts along a road side proves to be a sort of mobile store department (5:35) as one is pulled away covered with pots and pans (5:51). A young man in a shipping harbor lifts containers of water by a pole resting across his shoulders (6:07). Chinese natives move carts by hand (6:11). The century old sedan chair is seen carried over the shoulders of natives (6:37). A passenger aboard the covered litter is shown to be bouncing up and down as the men carrying it move it forward (6:51). In Chinese harbors, old sailboats and modern industrial ships are seen (7:00). Manila fishing boats with patched sails move through the waters in search of fish (7:23). European freighter vessels (8:46) are pictured alongside sampans (9:02) and bangka’s in the harbor of Hong Kong (9:16). The film concludes with a shot of the ancient boats with patched sails (9:26).

Filmmaker Don Carlos Ellis produced educational motion pictures for nearly 40 years. In 1917, he organized the motion picture section at the Department of Agriculture, and during World War II, he was motion picture director for the Department of Agriculture. He also contributed to the book Motion Pictures in Education.

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This film is part of the Periscope Film LLC archive, one of the largest historic military, transportation, and aviation stock footage collections in the USA. Entirely film backed, this material is available for licensing in 24p HD, 2k and 4k. For more information visit http://www.PeriscopeFilm.com