The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-05-27
INCREASING CHINA TRADE.
THIS COZ NTRY LEADS ALL EUROPE.
EXCEPT GREAT BRITAIN.
Opening Of the Interior viii Make q
Stiii Larger Market for American
Cotton Goods-t;reat influence ON

WASHINGTON. May 25.-M- Hugh
O'Berne, second secretary OF the British
embassy here has made report 10 the
British foreign Office on the state OF COM
neFce between the United States and
China The report is opportune TO the re-
cent movements OF European powers par
ticuiarly Great Britain, Germany and
Russia, towards securing territory and
commercial advantages in China. Mr.
OBerne does not deal with the political
phases, which have made The Chinese
question foremost topic n Europe -
discussion. but his report tends 10 br.sg
CUT that the United States has such large
interests in China that SIZE is no less i'll
teFeSted than the European powers in the
advance movement made upon China.
The report shows that the present vol
unle OF United States trade ii China rep
resents more than one-seventh OF the en-
TIE trade OF the empire II Is fifty per
cent greater than the trade Of Germany
with China, and it IS next 10 the trade Of
Great Britain. that being the first In COM
merciai Importance. The increase in Amer
lean trade has been going on rapidly with
i'll the last few years and this increase
mas been entirely on the side OF American
goods, our exports increasing while CHI
nese imports were decreasing. BY far the
most valuable branch CT the trade is that
in cotton goods. Most of these cotton
SSN1S az Sli.pptu iEUUi new England mills
and go through the Suez canal.
There has been L remarkable increase
OF shipments from the west, by way of
san Francisco and Puget sound.
There is every reason to think that the
eHect or the opening up Of the interior
provinces 10 foreign commerce will be fol-
lowed by a greater EXPANSION OF the Chi
nsse demand Tor foreign cotton. and Ameri-
can exporters Will have very large share
OF interest,". The dense masses Of the Chi
nese population, clothed almost exclusively
IN cotton Goth. offer especially unlimited
markets FOR cotton goods"
me export of American kerosene oil TO
emma now ranks second in Importance to
that or cotton goods. Mr.. O'Berne says
that in 1895 China took $4,000 600 gallons
OF American oil as against IS 900 600 gallons
CT the Russian. Oil. The American kerosene
is shipped in almost wholly from New
York and Philadelphia via the Suez canal
while the Russian is sent largely in bulk
In tank steamers.
Mr.. . Befne also shows the increasing
value of cur trade in wheat -four. iron
and steel and railroad materials He saws
the increasing Industrial activity Of China
and the building OF railroads will secure
10 American makers large proportion of
the contracts for steel rails, locomotives
etc.
In particular DIR. O'Berne points cut the
importance Of Chinese trade upon the
development OF our Pacific coast states
He says:
1T must be noted that the Pacific states.
though at present taking little part in the
business are perhaps more nearly concern
ed IN IL ultimate development than any
other section of the country. These states
are possessed of enormous natural re-
sources, and their manufactures while
sun OF minor Importance, are computed by
Mr.. Mulhau to have quadrupled in thirty
years They will in the course Of time find
an ADVANTAGEOUS market in the far East.
ana the Chinese demand must exert a great
influence on their eventual DEVELOPMENT
The Pacific seaports have already begun
TO feel the benefits of the Chinese trade