The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-07-16
ENGLAND ALREADY SELLING.
Several Orders for Supplies Have
Been Placed.
WHAT ABOUT CHINESE SILVER =?
Will That Country Try to Force 1t in
Payment or Scramble for
Gold?

Prospects of war between China and
Japan bode no evil consequence for San
Francisco and Pacific Coast ports. Inc
maintaining of vast naval and military
forces by the oriental powers that are on
the point of striving for supremacy in the
little kingdom of Corea would mean that
both factions must purchase munitions OF
war ana supplies.
San Francisco is willing to assume her
part of the contract and to act as supply
depot.
Despite this willingness. however, our
merchants will have 20 take into consider
alton the already well-established trade
privilege that England has gained in the
Orient. We may be willing and anxious
TO do our share OF the supplying, but can
not expect TO win any business without
struggle.
The fortunes of war are like the ill
wind that blows nobody good. The de-
pletiOn Of the treasures Of Japan and
China must be done to the benefit OF the
private accounts of Americans and Eng
lish traders.
There is no denying that the pending
difficulties betw cen the two Asiatic nations
This city will be greatly benefited, per-
haps vastly so, bGt his all depends upon
the energy with which our people strive
TO secure orders.
We will be safe at least in shipping
-four and presumably our -four market
will never be overstocked while the war
lasts.
China will not be so good customer as
Japan for US as il is reported on GOOD
a hat hpf n
almost exclusively with England and has
already placed orders with manufacturers
OF that country Tor several mllloDS OF
pounds value in army and navy rations.
1t is expected, nevertheless, that came
goods, -four. ammunition ana numerous
other essentials will be sent from this
port by the shipload, and there are
chances that many of the idle ships now
here will secure charters to load goods Tor
the seat of war.
All depends on the news that shall be
received from Shanghai and Yokohama.
If war is officially declared then there are
a number Of our merchants who will act
at once.
The silver question will play an import
ant part in the trade to be secured from
either Japan or China in the event of war.
The Chinese will not submit TO our present
estimates of the value Of silver. England
fortunately is in much the same fix as
the United States in this respect, and will,
like our country, be- confronted with
difficult problem in the matter Of pay
ments to solve.
China is the only great country in the
world whose merchants base nearly all
their transactions on the value of silver
In bulk and in an uncOined state.
The Chinese in his own cou1try knows
nothing about the depreciation Of silver,
and will solemnly declare that he does not
understand why any other country should
uDdervalue the metal.
japanese are far better versed in the
monetary conditions OF the worlds mar
ket and have laid in supplies of English
and American gold,
Japan will purchase great part of her
war supplies in America, but the little ma
ton seems to be taxing her financial
strength to the utmost by assuming con-
tracts for building new vessels and for the
purchase Of old ones.
Corea itself has never to any extent de-
pended uron China for supplies or for
coin. There is very little Chinese money
circulated in the kingdom. and there are
no Chinese ships in the Corean coastIng
trade. Fourteen sailing vessels and steam
ers. all owned and controlled by japanese,
patrol the Corean coast and handle the
trade of that section. American goods are
shipped 10 Yokohama and find their way
to COrea by these craft. Our trade with
the tiny kingdom is very small.
Russia has operated a steamer line from
Vladivostock to Chefoo for several years
pact, but no English nor American ships
have ever enjoyed any regular communi-
cation with that place.
The business of San Francisco with
China and Japan has been steadily on the
decrease for five years, and of late months
the rapid decline of the trade has been par
ticuIdrly noticeable. Tea shipments have
been diminis shed by the competition of the
Northern Pacific and Canadian Pacific
railroads. and Calforn la is gradually being
overlooked as trade center by the Orient.
The local merchant thinks ne sees in the
prospects Of a clash between China and
Japan cloud with silver lining.