The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-10-19
WASHINGTON
CORRESPONDENCE.

Special Dispatch TO the Post-lnlellSenoe'-
Asm norts iote c6 16s continue y to in
crease while those of other coun-
tries decrease This Is shown by the state
ment OF the Chinese trade reports for 1884,
lust received by the treasury bureau or sta
tistics. The document in question is
large volume of nearly loo pages. ana
contains reports from the customs oIhclais
of all the ports CT China, and also gem
eral statement from the statistical secre-
tary\of the Chinese customs service Mr.. f.
T. Tayior. who calls attention 10 the gem
eral falling off in import,tions OF cotton
goods by reason OF the erection of local
cotton mills but says: American goods.
however continue TO increase III FAVOR
drills showing an improvement or over
800 eco pieces, jeans OF over loWo pieces
and sheetings of nearly 1'o.uo pieces, out
these are almost the only exceptions 10 the
general decline. Drills, except American
show heavy decrease. while jeans I'M
proved. OF sheetings, except American,
less were imported by over half a million
pieces"
Mr. Tayiors statement, however, con.
tains warning to American exporters OF
kerosene oil that their trade in CHINA is
tran oils saving: American oil is lind
ing vigorous rivals in Russian. and espe.
cially Sumatran oil. In 1891 the tgures OF
Importation were: American, .5.o>9S gal
Ions: Russian. il. 500 2s3 gallons: Samaritan.
IA 80 gallons; while In 1891 they were:
American, IS 2l2, 500 gallons: Russian, 3d.
924 l25 gallons, and Samaritan, 12.2l2,2is gal
Ions"
The reports of the commissioners Of Gus
toms at the various ports also contain
many statements Of interest TO American
manufacturers. ~- Commissioner Lay. OF
Newchwang, says on the question or the
growth of American trade in cotton
cloths: THE rapidity with which English
drills have been disappearing may be seen
by noting that the importation only four
years ago amounted 10 &, 900 pieces. while
during the period under review uS9O only
1900 pieces arrived. The predominant posi-
ton secured by American drills and sheet
ings referred to in past reports is now ons
of sheer supremacy. The most striking fea-
ture in the category OF sundries is the
overwhelming Importation of kerosene oil.
in which trade the supremacy OF the Amer
lean brands is exceedingly pronounced. for
the large importation or $4,000 gallons in
1896 has been eclpsed by the 20f,oU gal
Ions TO the credit of the period under re-
view
Commissioner Hippisley. Of Tientsin. in
his report SAYS: THE notable increases in
importation are 60.fao pieces In jeans and
drills, 10. eco pieces in American drills and
l15 900 pieces in American sheetings. Amer
lean kerosene has risen from 2,1lS2to gal
Ions TO { $50 500 gallons. Russian, from
3 oi6 600 gallons to ), 2N $50 gallons. and
Langkat. from 25.po0 gallons TO 10000 gall
Ions" Discussing the railway develop
ments of that section OF China, he says:
1T is astonishing how speedily Chinese. de-
spite reputed conservatism, adapt them
selves 20 a new environment, and make the
most Of increased transport facilities Of
farad them. Already Peking fruit is sent
direct 10 Tangku for shipment south, and
Picking is similarly supplied with southern
fruit; and traffic generally developed so
rapidly that it soon became necessary to
double the line"
Commissioner Won Mollendorf Of Ming
po says: kerosene oil advanced 4S1 555
gallons. chiefly in American produce -
Commenting or the cotton trade. ne says:
The native cottoD mill established At this
the mill IS run day and night without in
terruptionS