Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1858-09-17
From the United States Economist
Chinn Cotton Goods.

The opening of the China trade promises to be pro-
ductve OF great events in the next few years. mostly
market for American goods, since there is but little
doubt that the American manufacturers will speedily
suppant those of the English make and the numbers of
people to be clothed such almost to defy calcula
ton as to the extent of the market.
The area of China is l,299,O0O square miles the
population is given by Gua at 367 600 OOO but 9TH
authorities carry it to 425OOOOOO which would still
give density of settlement less than that of England
which has of 1912 square miles has popu-
lation of 190OO0O0 or less than two acres per head
while the figures for China would give ~ acres per
head In of the provinces of the Empire the pop
ulation is 700 the square me but Lancashire has a
population OF 800 to the square mile. Those provinces
of China which have been penetrated by foreigners are
represented as fertile and well adapted to the support
Of large population. The Chinese methods of cul-
tivation also such to give a large quantity of
the popular food. The taxes levied by the govern
ment are light. According to the red book of 1842
the amount l50000,000 taels, 200 million dol
lars and this derived mostly from tax rice lands of
which the quantity so taxed is 200,000000 acres or
about half to each individual This land gives
in the Southern regions two crops per annum. The
taxes average but Soc per head This lightly y-taxed
people have tor more than thousand years been with
out expensive They great and industrious
race, and have been subjected to that feudal
slavery which in the white Of Europe has tended
to absorb the wealth of the many into the hands of the
few They have pushed the to great perfection in
all branches of manufactures and from these facts the
inference that great wealth is there accumulated may be
legitimatey drawn. That people have always supplied
their wants. and have at least been ruined by what
the protectonsts call the balance of trade or foreign
competition They had large surplus of teas and silks
to SELL but beyond that they offered few facilities to for
egn trade. While the necessity lasted for paying for
those articles in specie the trade necessarily m-
ted but the English East India Company found in the
Introduction of opium from their plantations the
of correcting the balance. The growth of that trade
soon caused the silver to ooze out in to at
tract the government attention The opium war was
the result and 13 years since treaty of peace
cluded with China by the American Minister, the great
Rushing by which five ports thrown open to trade
and the highest hopes excited of large and rapid develop
ment of trade Those expectations have been realized
but to moderate extent. There has been greater
import of tea from China and increase in the exports
of cotton goods to China took place up to the breaking
out of the rebellion in 1853 Since then there has been
decline in the movement although the imports of teas
Silks and few minor articles have been sustained
The discovery Of gold in California, by attracting the
Chinese, has led to renewed export OF gold and silver
and quicksilver to that country and has also led to
greater intercourse with the Chinese of which the fruits
may be gathered since the treaty has greatly
enlarged the terms of intercourse and brought foreign
merchants into contact with the people. The great
want Of the Chinese is cotton clothing The garments
of the mostly made of cotton woven by hand
rude machinery and the production of cotton in
the country is far short of its wants. hence it affords
large market for the Bombay cotton. A population of
4OOO00OO0 souls whose clothing is mostly cotton will
use per head as much cotton cloth the inhabitants Of
the United States which is about 30 yards which re-
qures the incredible quantity of 100000 bales of cot
ton three times the United States CROP That cot
ton grown in small quantities by all the Chinese far
mers, and the cloth is homemade to great extent
The artzans and citizens purchase the homemade cloths
They have in the last 20 years had supplies of Eng
sh and American cottons of better quality and cheaper
make but the market has been restricted to the five
ports 1t is now the case that these goods will every
where compete with the bad and dear home mauufac-
lures of China. The result cannot be doubtful. Eng
land situated few years since in the same position
with regard to India. She imported cotton goods, as
we'll as cotton thence, and Nankeens from China. That
trade ceased and English goods sent to India and
greater weight of goods annually sent to India
than is cotton imported thence. The American and
English to compete with each other against the
homemade cottons Of China in all the ports, and the
field is almost limtess. China wants quicksilver and
cotton goods and will pay in tea and silks to any
tent. The difficulty which presents ITSELF however, is
the want OF cotton The United States crop the only
dependence for the people of America and Europe and
the supply is too short in average years 1t may follow
that the American goods of the kind adapted to the
China market made cheaper and better than the
kind of goods in England that the China market will
so command the crop that very little will be spared te
Europe. In other words, that the United States will
work up their own cotton for the China and South
American markets. leaving England to get her supply
where she can.
To CURE THE APPETITE FOR ToBACco-The New
York Independent gives the following the experience
of a clergyman who smoked and chewed tobacco fol
many years. and used these to break himself
the habit had deep well of very cool water, ant
whenever the evil appetite claimed indulgence resort
ed Immediately to treshdrawn water. Of this dranl
what I desired, throwing out and taking successive
), mouthuls, until the craving ceased By faithful ad
herence to this practice for month, cured ant
from that time to this have been free from any appe
tite tor tobacco nursing infant. loathe the US
of the weed in every FORM Tar more than did be
It fore contracted habits Of indulgence