National Republican., 1878-10-07
MISCELLANEOUS.
American Trade with China,

The foreign imports into China during the
year lod7 amounted to more that s11O 900.
Inc following were the principal articles i'm
ported: Opium, about SI5, 1000 900; cotton
goods, over S2s,00O,0O0; wooden goods, over
SLOO,000; metals-iron, lead copper. &C.
about s6,5OO,OOO The share borne BY tho
United States in this great commerce amounted
to only $1,G00OOO, while the imports from
Great Misunderstanding British goods from
Singapore and Hong Kong, and not including
opium, which all came from India-amounted
at least to So, j,OOO,OOO-pcrhaps O,OOOOOO.
The exports from the United States to China
during the year lS24-lfty-four years AGO.
when the total export trade of the United
states, domestic and foreign, was only s74,-
OO,OOO-nmOuntcd to over 81 10000. During
the year 1850, when our total export trnde had
not attained one-fOurth Of its present volume.
our domestic exports to China amounted to
Sl,JOOOOo. These statements show conclu-
sively that We have been almost driven COM
plctcly out of the Chinese tradc.
Aprrccinting this discreditablc state OF
affairs, our Consuls in China, by instruction OF
the department of State, are reporting upon
the best means of reganing our lost ground
and enlarging our trade with that country, As
these reports are received they are given to
the press, necessarily in a condensed form, so
that our manufacturers and exporters NAV
have the earliest possible opportunity of avail
ing themselves Of tho knowledge of the wants
and pcculiaritics of the Chinese market
lhe Consul at Annoy has forwarded report
on the iron manufactures which are in great.
est demand in China, and which, by compli-
anco with Chinese requirements he thinks
could he largely supplied by the United States.
This COnsuIs report on the feasibility of SELL
ing American lard in China has already been
given to the press. The chief articles of iron,
which are of universal use throughout the
country, are pans. These pans are made per-
fectly round on the bottoms, and spreading
suddenly out toward tho rims, expose tho
largest possible surface to the fire, the dcarncss
heating.
The following are the sizes of the pans In
general use in the country, and which are also
largely exported. At present they arc oil Of
native manufacture. No. 3, diameter thrco
feet six inches; cost, 50; weight. lii pounds.
No. :. diameter one foot eight inches: cost, 30
cents. Nos 10, l2 and II, with handles, cost
respectively 10, l3, and : cents. The second
important iron manufactures in China are cast
ings for native plows
The Consul wOuld not recommend the man
ulacture of plows entire, hut thinks that mold
boards and shares can bc made better and
cheaper in the United States than In China.
Tho Consul considers these articles of so much
Importance that he is preparing to forward
samples of the same 10 the Department OF
State for the inspection of American manufac-
turcrs.
The prices Of iron at Annoy, August 10. were
as follows per recul Of 1873 pounds: Foreign
iron-Nail rod, -; bar, 81 pig, 81. Native
iron-Pig, 50; wrought, $500; steel, s5Y
$3.50.
The annual imports of iron into China
amount to about 81 ,35O, 900
IL samples of American iron were kept on
exhibition at tho various treaty ports Of
China the Consul thinks that large quantities
would be sold and good trade soon built up.
The Chinese do rot object to better and cheaper
articles than their own because of their
foreign manufacture, but they do persist in
using the modes and styles to which they are
and the nation that will accom-
mediate their tastes and that can and will COM
pete In quality and price with Chinese goods
will experience little difficulty in selling its