The morning call., 1894-08-07
THE STAR CARGO.
Shipments of Flour and
Canned Goods.
TO FEED CHINA AND JAPAN.
Big Order Placed With a Local
Packing-House.
TO FEED CHINA AND JAPAN.
GOODS TO 90 BY THE GAELIC.
Working Night and Day to Fill "a
Large Order Given by the
Chinese.

Despite the fact that very few of our
local merchants will admit that the war
in China will affect the local market in the
least, shipments of canned goods and -four
to China and Japan have vastly in
creased-in the case of the -four about
100 per cent, and in the case of the canned
goods about 500 per cent-in less than one
year.
Yet the local merchant is not convinced
that there is a chance for him to make a
little money in the Orient, for only yes
terday one business man replied when
questioned on the subject:
1.-THE war will not amount to much.
There is too much competition to contend
with for San Francisco to try to get a
foothold in Asia"
The Occidental and Oriental steam ship
Gaelic, which sails to-day for Hong-Kong
and Yokohama, will carry 10000 barrels of
flour, mostly for China; 1896 cases of as
sorted canned meats and 1000 barrels of
beef and pork. This is the star cargo of
the year.
Part of the canned-goods shipment
which is larger by several hundred cases
than any other similar consignment for
twelve months, is canned meat prepared
by the a local company, local house
which had the enterprise to try to
secure business just as soon as there were
rumors OF war. The canning department
of this concern is working night and DAY
to fill an order for $1,000 cans of meat
placed with 1t by agents of the Chinese.
When the Rio Jan GIRO left, the 26th of
last month, she carried 1859 barrels of
flour for China and 1872 barrels for Japan,
also 116 cases Of canned meats for China
and 419 for Japan. The Peru, which
sailed on July Z. took 1859 barrels Of
flour for China, also 30 cases of canned
meats for that country and 1885 cases for
Japan.
1t will be readily observed that japan
has been our best customer for canned
goods. while China has Deen buying our
flour in bulk.
On the 18th of May only 1866 barrels of
-four went to China by the Peru and 500 to
Japan. In all, only forty-fVe eases of
canned goods were shipped by the vessel
for both countries.
Last years shipments of flour were COM
paratively light and canned stuff was sell
dom sent away with any regularity.
1t was learned last evening that for
shipment bv future steamers. to leave
from San Francisco, about twenty car
loads of Eastern canned gonds are about
TO be started from Kansas City and Chi
cago. Il is said that these orders should
have come to this city, but the Japanese
Government not seeing any agents or ad-
vertisements Of local packers overlooked
US.
1--WE are prepared to handle a big
amount of freight and would not be Grip
pied by big shipments to China and ia an
from this port" said Pacific Mail official
yesterday
'As you know, we have several steamers
laid up from lack of business, and the
company would be only too glad Of an OPP
portunity to put them in commission
again.
1T is not likely that there will be any
great rush of freight to the Orient, how
ever, unless San Francisco hustles around
and tries to secure orders"
Several business men said that the war
could not possibly do this port any good.
The Chinese and Japanese have rice and
that is about all they require for food, is the
argument of these gentlemen.
Arms cannot be shipped unless blockade
runners are fitted out, and it is not prob
able that any one or any firm would care
to take the risk of shipping goods by that
means.
what have we to sell to China?" asked
one gentleman. "Wny should we waste
energy trying to work up a trade which
we cannot possibly secure?
England, France and Germany can
undersell US 20 per cent. We cannot pos
sibly compete with these countries"
But England and Germany and France
cannot undersell us if we offer our canned
goods liz competition, as local and Eastern
firms are demonstrating.
There are plenty of other things they
cannot sell cheaper than can the United
States. but the dealers Will have to find out
what those things are.