The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1898-09-21
Ayers
Cherry PeeloraI
is now HALF PRICE for the half-izs
botties-50 cents.
RUSSLA'S TRADE MENACE.


A probable menace to American trade
in China is the subject Of report made
TO the State Department by DR.. Edward
S. Bedloe, United States Consul at Annoy.
at is" he says, "the system by which
Russian merchants will undoubtedly
seek 20 expand their trade with the
Celestial Empire as soon as through rail-
road communication is completely estab-
ished between Russia in Europe and
China via Siberia and Manchuria. Rus
sia's success in central Asia in pushing
her products ahead OF her rivals will I'M
doubtedly be repeated IN China, with
result serious to us where our trade in
terests clash with hers in cotton goods,
kerosene and -four. The Russian system
will be applied in China to all RIVALS in
trade when the through railroad line
enables Moscow manufacturers and mer-
chants TO pour their products into the
empire OF China on terms and under con-
ditions which Russians will be in posi-
ton to fix as they please.
at is obvious that Russia's policy is
not only the acquisition OF an ice-free
seaport like Port Arthur or Talienwan.
She has for fifty years or more been
planning to capture the rich markets Of
this vast Chinese Empire, and to accom-
plish this it was necessary to run a rail-
road through siberia to convenient
seacoast port open all the year. The
concessions granted by China under the
convention Of 1895 were merely stepping
stones for the Muscoyite trader to reach
richer markets. 1t appears from the
published text of the agreement which
the Chinese Government is alleged to
have made with the Russo-Chinese Bank
that the Chinese have bound themselves
to charge one-third less import duty on
all Russian goods entering China through
Manchuria than liz paid on similar pro-
ducts from other foreign countries land
ed at Chinese port.
export duties are to be reduced one
third in favor OF Russia. All Russian
manufactured goods intended for the
Chinese markets are to be charged lower
transit dues than those shipped from
on-Russian ports. Such an arrange.
ment for the preferential treatment OF
Russia's trade would prove a serious
matter for American manufacturers and
merchants in the markets of the Far
East and would deal heavy blow at
American commerce"
DIR. Bedloe described the result in
Persia, where British trade in cottons
was annihilated by the payment to Rus
sian manufacturers OF bounty on their
goods exported to Persia, which enabled
them to drive their British rivals out of
the market.
"The Russian method" says DR.. Bed
loe in conclusion, "if enforced in China,
will surely injure our trade in oil, -four,
piece goods, and other products we send
to China when once the Russians have
completed their railway across Siberia
and are in a position to supply the
Chinese markets with pre- ducts of their
own European factories. We will, Of
course, hold portion OF the trade, ow-
ing to the superiority Of our American
kerosene, which is 80 popular that the
agents OF the Russian and Dutch oils put
up their goods in imitation OF and even
brand and label it as genuine American
kerosene. This counterfeiting, initiating
and false labelling in China is not con-
fined to INSCRIPTIONS people in the oil
business, but immense quantities OF
goods made in Germany aud also from
Belgium and scales made in Osaka,
Japan are sent to China and palmed of
as American products"