The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1857-05-05

tanned indemnity for the opum destroyed anc the
expenses Of the war amounting IN the aggregate 70
$4,000 600 or $40 600 900. They also caused four
other orts besides Canton 10 be opened To foreign
trade and acquired the occupauon OF nong hopg
they also mace treaty with the chinese, py
which an Ambassador or Minister was TO be re-
ceiyed and consular agents permitted TO reside in
the ports opened TO trades and in all matters OF dis
pute tue right Of direct appeal was to be had to the
Emperor.
grsncer sea- than ever 1t increased until the ex
port from India 10 China reached, within the last
wear two, the value OF about s25 900 600
per annum. o Dum, in fact, formed the basis II
exchange between China and the rest of the world.
The opium sold was paid for in silver or Chinese
teas, or other products or manufactures. The
Americans, with other nations trading with
China. when settling balances would pay the differ
epce by giving bills on Lond IN purchased from EGG
lish merchants these the Chinaman would again
pass to the English for opium Were the % mil
lions worth OF opium 70 be Cut or or suddenly o cease
scarcely silver enough found in the world to sustain
the present trade with China; is, there is con-
tinual and heavy drain of specie gong on from all
parts Of the world for the East Indies, and which
promises to ultimately render silver very scarce and
very high in value. To replace tue disappearance
OF her silver ency France has been compelled TO
purchase gold largely in other countries and patti
cuisily in England, to keep up her circulating me-
dium so that opium. though pernicious drug and
a wicked and illegal traffic. and alike destructive
10 the life and beath Of the Gilman yet the con-
Ernifance OF the Quccuou III WuiCu Tue
est of the civilized world possesses deep interest
The trade Of China was greatly augmented by the
discovery Of gold in Saifornia and Australia,
which will be shown by the statistical tables in
another part Of this article, In reference to the in
crease of trade between the United States and
China since the year ls49.
The discovery of gold in California caused a
great increase in American tonnage; . large mum;
Der OF clipper ships built. OF the first class and
with view to the fastest sailing qualities The
plan was to load these clippers for California at
high rates Of freiyhts, and on dischargng cargoes
in San Francisco. to proceed to one If the five Chi
pese ports and take in another cargo for the United
Sta'es or England-n for the fol mer, then load
again for home port. This circultous trade at first
proved enor mously proftable during q single trip
around the globe these ships often cleared nearly
the whole cost of the vessel Some OF these clip
pers-costing as high as $780, 900 500 900 were
sometimes paid for in couple OF these voyages
round the world This led to their rapid
multiplication, each new vessel being built with the
view Of beating her predecessor. With the great de-
cline in California freghts, the direct trade with
China increased, and the indirect diminished. YES
sells on reaching San Francisco, instead of proceed
ing to China, fell back upon the Chincha Islands,
and returned to the Atlantic with guano. 1t was
found that the increase of tonnage had outstrpped
our trade and oil that prevented collapse was the
advent of the Russian war when England and France
took large number of vessels into their service as
transports; some of which have never returned.
Since the return Of peace and the falling of in
the export demand for breadstufs and provisions,
the shipping is still found to be in excess of the
business Offering and freights rule very low, while
the direct trade with China is likely to be interrupt
ed by the present war.
The prominent features OF trade in all countries,
when not arbitrarily interfered with. based upon
the imports az respects foreign nstons, while their
internal traffic is regulated by domestic production
and consumption.
INTlENAL PRODUCTION AND CONSUMPTION OF CHINA.
Before speaking of the imports ana exports of
China, We may be permitted to give some notice of
abe latter portion of the subject
All writer's concur in representing the internal
trade of the empire So immense; bat in the absence
OF official statistics we can only speak of their pro-
duction and consumption by analogy. OF their pro
auctions, tea unquestionsbly forms the largest
amount and next to tea their silks Rice colt IN
sugar and tobacco come next, which make up their
chief staples.
China both produces and consumes large amount
of cotton.
The frst cultivation of cotton in China for manu-.
featuring purposes was IN the thtteenth century.
though II was previously cultivated In gardens for
ornament The crop increased largely until l7s5
or 11a0, and the "nankeen' cotton cloth made
rom il became known over the civilized world.
Subsequently,, its production was materially dimin-
shed, and for one year was almost given up,
O raise grain in ordor TO relieve the country from
q famine. Ii is believed that its culture has not in
creased materially for the last fifty years, this in
cresse Of consumption being supplied by imports
from British India. In 1884 about 80 100000 lbs
Of cotton were sent from India to China, 100000
bs of which went from Bombay. The Hon. Levi
Woodbury., Secretary Of the Treasury. estimated in
his able report regarding the growth Of cotton, pub
ished In 1889 the growth OF cotton in India at
ls5 900 900 lbs and In the rest OF Asia al llOOOOOOO
lbs. The United States supplied the sane year
400 900 900 lbs. He also est mated the growth OF
the world. in 1884, at gO0.OOO,OOD lbs. He, With
other writers, estimates the eonsum pton OF the
Turks at lbs per head per annun In Southern In
ds TIE consumption was estimated at u los per head
Estimating the population OF the world atsOo,DOOO0o
and taking half Of II as consumers OF cotton,
wouli give at lbs. per head 100000 900 lbs If
we estimate the consumption OF cotton IN China at
lbs. per head, duoble that consumed by the Turks
although. in the north Of China woollen aud furs
are used to some extent ard assume the present DO
pulatiun Of the empire TO be, as estimated by X
Montgomery Martin, 400 600 900, the consumption
vii amount TO 00,oO0O00 lbs, which, divided by
4O0 bs 10 the bale gives 200 900 bales, about the
crop Of the United States. But II we suppose (which,
owing 10 the poverty Of the mass OF the people, can
not likely be the case) they consume about as much
a. ENGLAND, France or the United States. being
average Of 10 lbs. per head, their consump tion
would then amount 10 900 900 bales. China does
not produce sufficient cotton TO meet her consu mp
ton and besides importing large amounts OF cotton
CLOTHS aud yarns from England, and cotton print
goods ron the United States she imported, a. far
back 1854, 10000 900 lbs. OF raw cotton from Br
tsh India. This taken from her actual consumption
would show the probable amount OF her production.
no doubt exists that China possesses a soil aud
climate which u capable, with their cheap labor, OF
producing cotton 10 vast extent, and which by the
Introduction Of improved modes OF culture aud the
use Of cotton gins might be enabled 10 produce
II 10 an enormous amount. But China Possesses the
tea markets OF the world, do those for cotton
over all tie civilized world, and neither country
viii be disposed voluntarily to abandon their van
tage ground.
Although the production of sugar in China Is enor
nous. vet abe 20 some extent imports considerable
quantities and exports freely again. chiefly in the
form Of candies and swcetmcau.
The consumption of sugar in the United States
Averages about thirty pounds per head per annum,
and n we suppose the Chinese 10 consume only one
Fourth Of the quantity, or ~ pounds per head, viii
give total for the foar hundred million a inhsbi
snts Of about six billion pounds, while the total pro
1uction Of the world in 1856 was estimaed exclusive
a. China, nj one million three hundred and ifty-
seven thousand tons, or about 5000 100000 lbs.
To fix the amount Of the Chinese actual production
ve should balance the imports and exports and set