New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-05-26
TRADE WITH THE ORIENT.
POOR PROSPECT FOR AMERICAN DAIRY
PRODUCTS AND FRUITS.
REPORTS FROM UNITED STATES CoNsrIs THROW
WHO WANT TO BUILD Up A BIG

WHO WANT TO BUILD Up BIG
BUSINESS IN THE FAR EAST
Washington. May 25 (specaD-In response TO
request of editors OF leading agricultural publica-
tons in the United States consular officers in orr
entail countries and Australasia were directed by the
State Department to report upon the consumption
Of dairy products and fruits in their respective
districts. the share OF the United States therein
the best means for the enlargement OF the trade.
etc The replies which have been received. ana
which will be published In the June number Of CON
sular reports 90 not encourage the hope OF any
remarkable increase or extension OF the export
trade with those countries in the products men
toned.
In China the consumption OF imported fruits and
dairy products is almost wholly confined 10 the
American and European residents. who are few In
number Consul Hunt Of Hong Kong. expresses
the opinion that "frutgrowers and others IN the
United States who are looking forward to an ex-
tensive trade in this region Will be disappointed.
He remarks however. that there are two articles
condensed milk and raisns-from the United states
which are used by Europeans and chinese ana
should command an important place in the market
Nearly all the butter consumed comes from Europe.
but the Consul says that "as for cheese. the Inted
States compares very favorably with the European
supply but it would command better place In this
market II IT were put up In smaller sizes
Consul Read. OF Tien-Tsin. ends ha brief report
with the remark: The total value OF the fruits.
dairy products. etc. which would be consumed
within the consular district OF Tien-Tsin would be
so small that any details or suggestions would be
valueless TO American exporters
The prospect OF building w great trade IN
American dairy products and fruits in India does
not seem TO be much better than in China. al
though Consul Sommer. Of Bombay remarks that
California canned fruits and preserves are consd-
cred the best in the market. and are by Tar the
cheapest" Most OF the California fruits are no"
carried bombay from New-York. instead OF Ill
rect from Pacific ports (which. Of course. Increases
the selling cost"
Consul Polk OF Calcutta. reports that There ~
but small II any. chance OF the fruit-growers or
the United States being enabled 10 gain a market
OF any value In Bengal" The Consul ADDS mat
about so 90 worth OF cheese Is imported annna"y
"practically all which comes from the United
kingdom and that some OF this. 81 course could
be supplied from the United States" but that the
demand would not. perhaps. justify the attempt
TO build up trade respectfully considering IN"
| advantage the English manufacturers nav" IN
continuous connection by steam vessels. ana the
further fact that mos, 81 the cheese is consumed
by Englishmon who want the article TO which they
have always been accustomed"
! Vicc-consul Boon. OF padang. Sumntra. reports
that all the butter, cheese and condensed milk
consumed I'm that consular district are Imported rom
! Holland and Switzerland. The condensed milk
from tho United States is better. but II costs too
much All the fruits imported from California.
| Int tho consumption is small about 900 pounds a
/ month-and the Nice-Consul does not see ANY
/ chance for Increasing the consumption 81 the eX-
penslve though much better conserved California
fruit" In competition with the native production
Of tropical fruits.
| In Japan tho market .or imported dairy prod
ucts Is very limited" according TO the report of
! Consul-General McIvor. 81 Klnagawa. lie says.
however that condensed milk Is more generally
used. and the leading American brands are very
popular but the lack OF international copyright and
patent protection has encouraged the manufacture
n, snurious condensed milk which is placed tho
| market hacked in cans and with labels that are
more or less exact copies OF ours" This has In
iured the import trade. In 1888 the total value or
| condensed milk imported into Japan amounted Ia
y02ly Of which about one-half came from the
United States There has been a great demand In
| Tan,n savs the report, "for American apples and
pears which has been supplied by the Pacific
| States and Canada. but recently the orchards In
| the northern island OF Yesso. stocked with i'm
ported trees under Government supervision. produc-
| ing excellent pears and apples have begun to bear
fruit In sufficient quantities TO go far toward sup
plylng the demand, and the quantity will Increase
! in all probability as the years pass by" The
| Consul General remarks that ''thc trade In pre-
served and prepared fruits and products has been
| largely controlled by English manufacturers for
| many years" and that There Is no reason why
| we should not at least share this market"
| Consul Smithcrs OF Osaka and Hiogo reports thai
| the imports Of condensed milk In 1893 amounted 10
eel 600 Of which than r-hfths came from
the United States: that the imports OF butter and
cheese amounted to less than $50 pounds. OF apples
10 1881 uhe cost to japanese consumers being eight
! N ten cents a pound In gold) and that during
the last year California dried prunes and apricots
have been sold by the principal erocers and arc
much in favor particularly the latter
In Persia according to the report Of Vicc-Consu
General Tyler. OF Teheran there Is little or pros
pect of establishing export trade In dairy prod
ucts and fruits from the United States and the
same remark Is true OF Syria. according TO the re-
port OF Consul Gibson Of Beyroo unless an avenue
of direct shipment can be provided. The latter re-
marks: american lumber. furniture. factory goods
patented machines and utensils musical instru
ments typewriters. etc. would find market here
and IL such articles. were shipped free OF the fire.
auent handling. and OF the ped-up charges OF re-
shipment at Liverpool. London. Marsellles Alex
andra or Port Said. they could be sold at profit
and the vessels could home laden with Syrian
wool native silks. shawls soap. lcorice root BIZ
tumen. asphalt carpets, sweets. and the famous
old wares and handiwork OF Damascus Beyroot
Haifa and Aleppo."
The Consul expresses the opinion that line OF
ships from the United States TO touch at Gibraltar
Tangier Tunis Malta, Alexandria. Port Said. Jana
Haifa. Beyroot Smyrna and possibly Constantnople
would not only lead the way in opening big trad