Martin DeLaney uses the term "boondoggle" to refer to the building of a 12 mile long bridge. However, this term did not come into general use until the 1930s. It first appeared in print in 1927.
(around 12min) During Gunderson's conversation with Chang, Chang is seen pouring tea from what is apparently a tetsubin, a cast iron teapot of Japanese origin. The Chinese, especially wealthy, educated Chinese such as Chang, have historically preferred porcelain (e.g. "china") teapots, and it is highly unlikely that Chang would be using a Japanese item that he would likely have considered alien, if not barbarous.