The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-08-12
EASTERN ASIA AND AMERICAN COMMERCE.

In the editorial columns OF this days HERALD
there are two articles suggestive to my mind OF q
subject which, although OF great Importance to
American interests, has not yet received sufficient
attention. allude to the extension of our COM
merce with Eastern Asia and the Pacific. In the
Indian Archipelago, Australia, the Pacific islands
and Asia from Manila to the head of the Persian
Gulf, is o vast field for the development OF COM
merce, ana where the American flag is now COM
paratively unknown. But with the growing i'm
pOrtance Of our Western seaboard, to say nothing
OF the extension OF that seabOard at, probably, no
distant day, to the limits, at least Of Southern cali
fOrna, 1t is OF the utmost interest to look forward
in time to securing trade which will add largely
to the wealth OF our people. And now is the time TO
see to this, when new awakening Is taking place
In Europe in the same direction and when we can
enter upon the race upon something like fair
terms.
But allow me to enumerate few facts. The
population OF the nations on the coast,
FROM COCHIN ChINA, TO THE RIVER TIGRIs,
amounts, according to most recent returns to
235, 76y,972 This includes Persia, BelOOChistan,
British India, Ceyion, Burmah, Siam, Anam, Cochin
in the Is ands OF the Archipelago there is an addi-
tiOna population OF 2309l 900; and leave out OF
consideration Australia and the Pacific Islands. 1t
is impossible to procure the latest statistics OF
trade among this enormous population-but a lew
figures will be an indication OF the rest. The ex-
ports OF India alone In 1869 were valued at
$26s, 534 150 and the imports at 1854 1885. Cey-
lon exported in the same year to the value of
EXPORTS Of Persia n are p about ssSoSooS ana the
imports probably Jour times that amount. But
to show what room Tor development there Is in
the Eastern seas, the trade OF Sarawak IN
Borneo is now worth about $500o,oOo,
and live years ago it was little more than hall that.
In Australia where there Is territory OF 100000
square miles and white population OF about two
millions only Il am not including New Zealand and
hs and an St tne to to
1851, 1885. The wool exported from Queensland,
New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia ana
and the entries and clearances of shipping at the
same colonies Tor 1871 amounted TO a tonnage of
little more than 100000 Then in the islands
Of the Pacific the field should be ali our
own. There is large population there, an ex-
has been yet made 70 develop trade; and yet at
one port, that of Samoa, in the NavigatOrs, where
ten years ago not more than two or three ships
called IN year, the trade had opened out III 1869
to tonnage OF 1912.
much to Impede
THE DEVELOPMENT OF EASTERN ASIA
For instance, when Malacca was Dutch settle
ment agriculture was forbidden, the object being
to make It dependent upon Java. But since the
country fell into the hands OF the English, the
growth OF grain has been encouraged, and the ter
rtOry Is now highly productive. Commerce, too,
was checked, and 1t Is as recently as 1871, that by
treaty with the government OF the Netherlands
England relinqushed certain reservations to the
extension of butch rule in Sumatra for rights OF
commerce and navigation equivalent to those OF
the Dutch; and as consequence great stimulus
Let me now mention some of the chief articles
OF export III the countries least known.
The Malayan peninsula exports canes, bamboo
rattans, sage, areca, Catechu dragons blood india
rubber, nutmegs, cinnamon, Cloves tobacco, sugar,
tea, indigo, pepper, rice, IVORY gold, ebony betel
nut, sapan and eagle woods, opium, salt, dammer,
spices. tin, hogs, cocoanuts, PambOge, Cloves gum
lac, &C, and imports chiefly earthenware, man.
keens, piece goods woolens and cottons, paper SALT
nqueurs and provisions. Lava exports arrack cOch-
meal caOutchOuc rosin. hides, indigo, cinnamon,
conee, oi pepper, rattans, rice, cloves, nutmegs,
sugar totacco tin BIRDS nests, Salts &c Borneo
exports gold, diamonds antimony, camphor bees
wax deers horns, dammer ebony, wood Oil, rat
tans pepper iron &C., and IN all the islands OF the
Archipelago, as well as OF the Pacific there would
be large market for our cotton goods, hardware,
"iankee notions" and even for shipping OF small
tonnage, say scnoOners OF from loo to $50 tons.
Now, practically large part of this great re-
glOn Is commercially unOccupied. Nowhere Is 1t
so occupied that our flag would not find ample
room. American merchants should direct their
attention to 1t. 1t would vastly enrich our West
ern ports, and provide, by means Of the Pacific
Railroads, a near market for our Eastern manulac-
lures There is visible limit to the extension Of
commerce which
AMERICAN ENTERPRISE
could here accomplish, and no nation has better
right to mOnOpOize 1t. 1t would be well if the
Centennial Commissioners would take the matter
up in such way as to secure in 1876 full display
OF the wealth which this Pacific and Eastern Asiatic
region possesses They would, | am convinced, be
conierrlng vast benefit upon the present and fu-
ture interests OF the United States In that part or
the world; but meanwhile know no better means
to anticipate that benent than by the potential in
nuence OF the HERALD COMMERCE..