The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-06-27
Big Growth in Our
Oriental Trade

GP HE growth Of American commerce
with japan and especially or |
American exports to that coun-
III try is discussed at considerable |
length in a recent number OF the |
British diplomatic and consular Reports
Just received by the bureau OF staustCs
at Washington. The statement is in the |
form of a report from Mr.. ~ II. Lay, |
assistant japanese secretary to her mnJ- |
esty's legation at Toxic. The report dls-
cusscs the foreign trade of Japan duIlhS
tho year 1897, and after showing tnat
Great Brtains imports into Japan IN
crea ased in 1897 by about per cent anu
that those from Germany amounted 10
only s per cent. of the total instead oil
10 per cent. as in the previous year. says;
| "trhe United states has acquired "A very
largely increased share of both the I'M
port and export trade, the values OF her
imports and exports having risen no less
| than u and So per cent. respectively
The table showing the total imports
| into, and exports from Japan by countries
shows that the imports from the United
| States increased 1.02i,S39 pounds sterling
| against 332 ass pounds sterling incle case
| from Great Britain, 639.9lj pounds sterl-
| ing increase from British india l0l5p
| pounds sterling ircrease from Germany
| ,75l Increase from China, 22'oo M
crease from Hong Kong and decrease
| of 3Oi O5l pounds sterling in the imports
| from France. 1t will thus he seen that
| the increase in imports from the United
| States into Jaran was greater In lS9'
| than from any other country.
| o
Discussing the details of the gains
made by the United States in imports
into Japan, the report says: The IN
crease in the import OF raw cotton
TO ha nt Ia .
of SO,279 pounds sterling. From British
India comes the largest supply, namely,
| lS0Oj3. 800 pour ds: China was next with
g., iS2 $50 pounds; then the United states
with 1886 O97 pounds. French India sent
2191 200 pounds The United States shows
much the largest increase owing to the
fall in the quotations for American cot
| ton caused by the unusual largeness Of
the crop. Pig iron imported
amounted to $50 tons more than in 1896
and prices have increased to a large eN-
tent owing to heavier frcightS. In pig
iron the United States appear for the ilr't
time being credited with a value of $50
pounds sterling as against S5,Ol poun6s
lstcrling worth from Great Britain. Amer
team iron does not appear to have met
with very much favor, 'RcdCar' and other
British brands being preferred. SO far
the shipments have been experimental,
but it is understood that large quantities
will arrive monthly in future shipped
in combination with cotton Cargoes di-
rect from Pensacola. Rails have
been imported very largely, but here
Great Britains share is decreasing,
while that of other countries, excepting
France. is increasing. and as recent large
contracts have been obtained mostly hy
the United States. it is probable that 1898
will see a still less proportion of this
trade i'm the hands Of British makers L
has always been alleged that American
manufactures or the suppliers lost money
over these raIl contracts, but judging by
their persistent bidding for the business.
this would not appear to he correct.
Nails from the United States have prac-
tiCally driven out of the market those
from Germany and Belgium, but insufii-
| cheney of packing has caused much loss
on wire nails shipped overland by way
Of Pacific ports. The demand
for kerosene is still increasing, about
6 900 600 gallons more than in 1896 having
been imported. Stocks at the end of the
year were not large. About 20 per cent.
Of the oil was American. 2& per cent RIs-
| sian and per cent. Langkat.'
, %
Commenting further upon the gains
made by the United States in the sales of
: ! her products and manufactures TO Japan
p | the report saws: THE appearance of tho
5 | lllltN states as Il St'llblS tNlllDtlll'l
with Europe was mentioned i'm the last
report. In 1896 this was attributed to the
} prevailing depression in the states. but
| | the same reason will not account for tha
continued growth of this competition in
1877 and other causes must be sought.
I'm the first place it would seem that
5 the period of prosperity experienced in
= the states until about 1898 or 1894 ended
, ! with considerable ovcrproduCtiOn r
| of he I
, preston which ensucd brought about al
: Cra of economy and stimulated the de
vClOpment of lahor-saYing machinery
. and appliances of every description. anC
by their adoption the American maker
i has been able not only to meet the lowe
I prices offered to him by his own country
e men, but i'm many cases to create a de
y mand abroad by selling his surplus Il
cost price and thus freeing the home mar
ket from any excess. In the second pld1
e the development of an export trade from
S the United States has been taken up b,
? large combinations of varied interests
having as their object the collection an,
dissemination of such practical informa
:. tion respecting the worlds requirement
o as will lead to an extension of commerca
q These Institutions stard ready to furnisl
gratis all details with regard to the re
> sources and industries of the states, an,
s there can he little doubt but that thi
d broad and comprehensive policy is of in
q calculahle assistance to those COnComc
~, in American trade. Another point to h
u mentioned is the development Of direc
y steamship lines from New York, where
formerly goods We're sent to Liverpool o
~ London for traashpmcnt TO Japan,
--O--
u "WhiIe the relative growth of japan
Il imports from the United States shows
= very large increase i'm recent years, tn
q amount of exports from Great Britat
" has increased by a larger total value
t but it must be borne in mind that TN
I American invasion has only just CON
mencod, that the ground has been pre-
pared for large extensions i'm the futur,
and that unless some unforeseen change
= take place the tondcrCy will he toward
h cnCrOaChmcnt upon the trade hitherto bC
X longing to Great Britain. 4 glance a
:, the figures given below will show ho
- rapidly the import trade TO Japan of I'll
United States is growing, particularly
Is machinery, locomotives and railway ma
j. terial-articles for which the Unite
n Kingdom has hitherto held a mOnOpol!
This portion of the report cannot be close
without a reference to the quick dCliN
cries which can always be obtained frol
America. As an instance, English locC
in motive builders required two years fC
- the delivery of an extensive order, viii