The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-05-27
INCREASING CHINA IRADE.
THIS COUNTRY LEADS ALI. EUROPE.
EXCEPT GREAT BRITAIN,
Opening Of the Interior VIII Make q
Stiii Larger Market for American
cotton GOods-tsreat influence ON
Development of the Pacific Coast.

WASHINGTON. May as-Mr Hugh
q Berne, second secretary CT the British
embassy here has made report 20 the
British foreign office on the state OF COM
mefce between the United States and
China The repor, is opportune 10 the re-
cent movements OF European powers par
ucalariy Great Britain. Germany and
Russia. towards securing territory and
commercial advantages IN China. M
Berne does not deal with the political
phases, which have made the Chinese
question foremost topic n European
discussion. but his report tends 10 bring
out that the United States has such large
interests in China that she is no less IN
;erested than the European powers in the
advance movement made upon China.
Inc report shows that the present vol
ume OF United States trade in China rep
resents more than one-seysnth of the en-
tire trade of the empire. II is fifty per
cent. greater than the trade OF Germany
with China, and IL is next to the trade OF
Great Britain. that being the first in COM
merciai Importance. The increase in Amer
ican trade has been going on rapidly with
IN 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 of the trade is that
IN cotton goods. Most of these cotton
goods are shipped from New England mills
and go through the Suez canal.
Ihere has been a remarkable increase
OF shipments from the west, by way Of
San Francisco and Puget sound.
There is every reason to think that the
erect OF the opening I'd of the interior
provinces TO foreign commerce will be fol-
ioNed by a greater expansion of the Chi.
nese demand for foreign cotton and Ameri-
can exporters will have a very large share
or interest The dense masses of the Chi
~ fhaa
in cotton cloth. offer especially unlimited
markets for cotton goods"
ne export of American kerosene oil TO
emma now ranks second in importance to
that OF cotton goods. Mr.. OBerne says
that In 1896 China took $1,000 001 gallons
OF American oil as against 100000 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.. O'Berne also shows the increasing
value Of our. trade in wheat -four iron
and steel and railroad materials. He says
the increasing Industrial activity Of China
ana the building of railroads will secure
10 American makers a large proportion OF
the contracts for steel rails locomotives.
etc.
In particular Mr.. O'Berne points out 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 tho
ouSilessss 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
still OF minor importance. are computed by
Mr.. MulhaI to have quadrupled in thirty
years: They will in the course Of time find
an advantageous market in the far East.
and the Chinese demand must exert n great
influence on their eventual develoDment
The Pacific seaports have already begun
to feel the benefits of the Chinese trade >,