The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-08-22
OUR TRADE WITH CHINA
ENORMOUS INCREASE IN EXPORTS
WITHIN LAST TWO DECADES.
SweIled from $3,07S,775, in 1850, to
$17,0S4,472 in 1S97-British
Trade Decreasing.
Special to the Indianapolis Journal.

WASHINGTON, Aug. 21.-The success of
the United States in the invasion of the
markets of China is illustrated by some
figures just prepared by the Treasury
Bureau of Statistics, showing that our ex-
ports to that market have OF late increased
much more rapidly than those of other
parts of the world, and that the heavy
falling off in imports of certain lines of
goods into China in the last year has not
been seriously felt by the United States
as by other nations with which we come
in competition. An examination of our ex-
ports to China during the fiscal year just
ended shows q marked increase. in large
numbers of articles. and that the reduction
in cotton goods, which has caused the slight
decrease in the total, is much. less proper
tionately than that of our Grief rivals in
supplying the cotton goods market of that
country Vile our total exports to China
during the year just ended fell off little
less than 100000 the fall in cotton goods
alone was two and one-qaarter million dol
lars, thus showing that the falling off in
this class of exports responsible for
the reduction in the grand total of our ex-
ports to that country. A further examina-
ton, however. of this reduction in cotton
goods exports to China shows that it was
incidental 10 an enormous reduction
of cotton piece goods Imperial tons
by that country, and that the United
States suffered less by that reduction pro-
portionately than did other countries with
which she is competing for that market
The recent report on the trade of China,
published by the inspector general of
Chinese customs, says OF the import trade
in cotton piece goods: The year 1897 ow-
ing to the fall in exchange and the heavy
stocks carried over from 1896, was one of
the worst on record for the piece goods
trade" That the reduction in imports in
cotton goods was partly due TO an in
crease of cotton manufactures in China as
well as heavy stocks carried over from the
preceding year, is shown by a further state
ment contained in the same report, which
says that the Importation of raw cotton in
creased more than 60 per cent. in 1897 and
that of Japanese cotton yarn more than
doubled. That the American imports of
cotton goods suffered less than those of
other countries is shown by paragraph of
the report in question, which says: The
trade in cotton piece goods shows, as was
expected, falling off from the figures of
1886; American goods, however, continue to
increase in favor, these being almost the
only exception to the general decline. The
favor which the American goods finds in
the Chinese markets is due to their cheap
ness.
Another evidence that American goods ex-
ported into China have suffered less by
the general reduction than those of our
chief rivals for that trade is shown by a
comparison of our own exports to China
during the past six months, with those of
Great Britain to China during the same
period. The June statement of Trade and
Navigation of the United Kingdom which,
covers SIX months exports by articles spe-
cities the amounts of cotton and wooden
goods and manufactures of metal exported
TO various countries. This shows that the
exports of these articles to China and Hong
fell off nearly 100000, or over II per cent,
as compared with the corresponding six
months of the preceding year. Our own
statement of exports to China and Hong
Kong includes. beside manufactures of cot
ton and metal. provisions, breadstuffs naval
stores, manufactures of tobacco and manu-
features of wood. the list containing double
the number OF articles of that named by
Great Britain in her reports, yet the net
decrease In the list of articles named in our
own reports amounted to less than $500 600
against the net decrease~of nearly 100000
In much smaller list Of~the exports of
Great Britain in the corresponding period
OF time. Our own statement of~1he COM
merce OF the year shows an. increase-in ex-
ports or Hour, bicycles. carriages and cars,
fruits and nuts. telegraph instruments tele-
phones, scientific Instruments canned beef
bacon, hams, butter, cheese, seeds tobacco
lumber and other articles TO China during
the year Just ended. as compared with the
The steady gain which the United States
is making in its effort to obtain a share of
the market which China affords is shown
by the comparison given below of our i'm
ports into China and Hong-Kong from 1880
TO 1898. with those of Great Britain during
the same. period. The table. 1t will be oh
served. shows an increase of over 800 per
cent. I'm exports from the United States in
China and Hong-kong during that period
ana decrease OF % per cent. In those from
the United Kingdom TO the same market
In the same time United StatesNfgures in
while those of the United Kingdom include
domestic merchandise only The table
shows the exports from the United States
and the United Kingdom to China and
Hong-Kong. from 1880 to 1883, as follows: