Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-07-17
TRADE WITH JAPAN AND COREA.
Russian Coal Oil Driving the American
Article Out of the Market.

The annual report Of Consul John NJ Birch,
at Nagasaki Japan. to the Secretary Of State,
contains the statement that kero oene continues
to be the principal article Of import direct
from the United States. He saws: Two dire ct
cargoes arrived from Philadelphia. and some
reshipped American kerosene reached here
from both Shanghai and Yokohama. Deiiv-
cries for the year. however. show considerable
falling of as compared witt those of 1885, This
does not mean decreased consumption but is
the result OF many places In the surrounding
country having drawn their supplies from
Kobe. where. owing to competition. prices have
ruled lower. Some 5000 cases have been
shipped to Vladwostock. the neighboring mill
Try post in Siberia, during the year and 10. 600
cases to uakodate. Samples OF Russian oil
from Batoum have reached this port. The
cases and cans are very similar to the Ameri-
can. The oil Is water-yhite and called 1870 de-
grees test 1t Is not at present AZ well received
as the American article, but its friends claim
that 1t Will eventually compete with 1t ii it can
be laid down in Japan cheaper. The advanced
cost OF oil in the United States the latter part
OF the past year Will. fear make a good open
ing for the Russian article in both China and
Japan. In my estimation. the introduction of
Russian oil In II real danger to the import trade
OF Japan with the United States"
He quotes from the Japan Maj. of Yokohama,
announcing the arrival of shipment of $780,
900 gallons of russian oil, whereat the price OF
American oil fell five cents a can. The article
continued: 1T believed here that Russian oil
will ultimately drive American oil out of
Japan. owing to its superiority and to the great
influence here Of the firm which has under
taken the business. Both English and Japan
ese papers welcome Russian oil that it may put
an end to Americas monopoly in this branch OF
trade in Japan"
This news, we are informed" saws the con-
sui, has been received III Russia with great
Joy. The oil men OF Russia hope to ultimately
drive American oil from the old world leaving
only America for the oil men of America.
TEXTILE FABRICS.
Continuing, Consul Birch remarks: "a fea-
ture Of the import trade at this port, which
does not figure in the returns, is the trade in
| certain staples for Corea. such as shirtings,
Victoria lawns. drills, DC. The large demand
Tor shirbngs i'll Corea is mostly supplied with
Manchester goods. which are simply trans
shipped here to the steamers plying between
this port and the Corean ports, or stored in
bond until sold. The demand is for ten and
eieven-pt und shirtings OF full width, thirty
eight and forty inches. This trade with Corea
Is now almost entirely in the hands OF Japanese
merchants, who. however, yet their supplies
from foreign importers. Victoria lawns III con-
siderable Quantities also pass through this port
In the same manner during the spring and
e"iiiHei- III my bLrt year y report cdilcu Az
tention at some length TO the fact that. with
the exception Of drills. the bulk Of the import
trade to Japan and Corea in textile fabrics was
not with the United States. The Corean and
Japanese trade take our drills because they are
OF superior purity and more excellent quality
than the drills OF other nations trading in these
markets, and these are the chief considerations
with this class of goods, but they do not like
our gray shirtings. lawns and muslins, although
acknowledging their excellent quality, dura-
biiity and purity. because they have not the
weight, width and finish the trade demands. a
demand which the American manufacturer
must recognize if he wishes to compete sue
cessfully in the eastern markets with the man
ufacturers Of Great Britain, Germany and
France. am sure it would be worth the while
OF the home manufacturers TO turn these re-
quirements into account"