Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-03-11
Interest American Merchants Have in
Open Chinese Ports.
STEAMSHIP COMPANY ORGANIZED
Interests There Regarded as a Basis
for British Alliance.
NEW YORK'S DEFENSES

In view of the reported call of Ambassa.
dor Pauncefote upon President Mckinley
1t is important to know something of the
interest felt by Americans in open ports in
China. Two events have taken place with
in a month which, while they have no
acknowledged connection with each other,
yet have a common significance in rela-
ton to this country's steadily growing
trade with China and Japan. They are the
formation of an organization of American
merchants, known as the American, China
and Japan Association, and the institution
of a steamship line between the United
States, China and Japan.
The former of these events is a result of
feeling on the part of American mer-
chants who trade in China and Japan that
their rights and privileges are threat tened
in those countries by the Entertainments of
European powers (other than Englandl: the
latter is due to recognition of the fact that
Americas trade with China and Japan has
now reached such proportions that the
business of carrying it can be undertaken
by a regular steamship company with a
proft-a profit which, in the event of the
general opening up of China to trade, will
be increased to an enormous extent
On February 3, 1893, communication
was presented to the committee on foreign
commerce and the revenue laws of the
chamber of commerce calling attention to
w 1,S NOV ements OF European powers in
emma as likely to prove detrimental to the
trade privileges now enjoyed by American
citizens under their treaty rights in that
country, and urging the chamber to take
such action as would safeguard the com
merclal interests of the United States in
emma. The communication was signed nv
nearly seventy-five large business houses
having dealings with China
Value of Chinese Markets.
III was shown to the committee that the
export trade with China had increased in
value from something over S. 600 O.sj in
1898 TO nearly $lS,6U0,0O0 in 1897 and that
TINS increase was likely to continue if tho
treaty rights of Americans were not inter-
1ered with by European powers The com
nl,ttee reported TO the chamber a memorial
addressed to the President urging that
proper steps be taken for the defense Of ex-
lstlng treaty rights of American citizens in
Chlna, and for the preservation of their
commercial interests in that empire. This
memorial was adopted and sent to the
President. ~
Tie subject of permanent organization
was considered then by these merchants
scme such combination being regarded as
an essential requiem ent of the situation
&nd the result was the formation of the
american. China and Japan Association.
Everett Frazer, chairman Of the commit
ice On ORGANIZATION, IN speaking of the Or
ganlZat ion, said that it has had nothing ia
do with the proposed steamship line The
association was not fairly organized as vet,
ne said. and there was nothing decided
upon other than the general fines of lis ac-
t1vity already given.
The new steamship line which will pIay
an important part in facilitating the trade
which the association is designed 10 foster
and protect will be put in operation on the
LIST of May. Eight steamships will be en-
service
lures will be mair,tained. The vessels,
which are named Indra. Indrani Inira-
pura, lndraghiri, IndraveiH. Indraniaye and
1rdramc1a, range from 3laO tons to 6057
tons. They will sail between New York
and Singapore. Hong Kong. Shanghai Ma
easaki, Kobe and Yokohama, via Red sea
2orlS.
The first departure will he made by the
Indrapura about May l: after that, depar-.
lures Will be made regularly about the LIST
of each succeeding month. The Indrapura
is expected to arrive in New York about
the 10th of April. She is owned by T. B.
Royden of Liverpool, for whom Funch.
Edge & Co. are the American agents. 1t
Will be the first regultr line of steamships
plying between New York. China ard ia
pan; hitherto all trading carried on from
this pors with those two countries has been
Gene in vessels chartered for private ac
count as matter of speculation.
justified by Increased Trade.
w. o. Edge, in speaking of the new line,
said that it was justified by the marked
II crease of late in the volume of the Amer
lean trade with Japan and China, an in
crease which will assume enormous pro-
portions if China is opened up generally to
commerce. Japan" said Mr.. Eyde, has
for some time beea taking large, quantities
OF our exports. The rapid development OF
that country has covered her with fac
tories. roads and bridges, and for all these
she has taken materials from u.s. She
in ports from this country large quantities
o! machinery, pig iron and cotton. The
PIG iron and cotton are sometimes exported
from this port, sometimes from southern
ports. But 1t has always been the policy
Of Japan to import tar as possible raw
materials and work them into the finished
pI oduct herself. This policy will make
Japan before very long commercially indie
pei dent. and 10 ok to see. therefore, our
future, although she will be. probably.
always dependent upon us for cotton.
But with China 1t is different: there you
have 30O.O00OOO of industrious people. shut
the other, who know nothing of our in
ventions. If China is opened up to trade,
as 1t is almost certain to be before very
lcrg, there will be field for trade aid
commerce compared with which Africa will
be as nothing. The people OF China will
demand our inventions and productions,
and the day when that demand will cease,
through the natural growth of industrial
airy of us. The great commercial field of
the world is China
Defenses About Completed.
The defenses Of New York harbor upon
the OCEAN side have been completed, and
1t would be about as easy to take a boat
through the eye OF needle as through
the Narrows In time OF war. Fort Wads-
worth was the last defense to be COM
pleted Army engineefs--have announced
that 1t is ready to bel occupied. and two
recruiting stations, one in Brooklyn, the
o:her In Jersey City. have been opened for
the enlistment of mem who will make up
the two new companies, which will take
charge of the big guns. The new battery
has been turned over to the ,commandant,
and with it's completion the, improvements
Upon the Notifications at Sandy Hook
and the addition of the modern gun bat
terry at Fort Wadsworth, il would be al
r,ost impossible for the ship Of an enemy
Dor.