The times., 1899-02-13
AMERICAN TRADE
LEADS AT CHEFOO
The Increase in Sales on a
Sound Basis.
Competition With Russia in the
Kerosene Market.
4 Word of Warming to Careless Ship
pcrs, Whose Negligence May
Produce Disastrous Results.

Consul John Fowler, at Chefoo. trans
mits to the State Department Il report
showing the gratifying increase in United
States trade at that point. He submits
in tabulated form statistics for the quarter
ended September so, 1895 prepared from
quarterly returns of the customs.
Compared with the same period of 1895,
there has been an enormous increase in
the Importation of American merchandise
and corresponding decrease in the sales
of other countries to merchants at Chefoo.
/ The following figures are taken from the
statement: Importation OF Engli.a and
Dutch drills decreased 1S,I22 in number,
while those from America increased A.
1886; the decrease in English jeans was
,, 1913, and the increase from America H.,
$50; in sheetiDgs, English impOrtations de-
creased by 12,55O, Indian by 1850, and
American increased by 80. .460; Russian I'M
pOrtations of kerosene oil decreased by
1l0,060 and American imports in this COM
modify increased by 1859, 320 gallons. A
steady decline of all English cottons and
the same steady increase in American
goods are noticeable.
The figures for American oil and sheet
ings are particularly encouraging. The
table in the report above referred to shows
the increase of our imports over 1894 This
ldDle SHOWS IOdI the increases are not HD-
normal, but as stated in former reports,
are on a sound basis.
Another table shows the following in
crease of American sales of 1898 over 1894
during the September quarters: Drills,
1881 pieces; jeans, $50 pieces; sheetings,
13S,OlO pieces; kerosene, 1.902. .92O.
Consul Fowler's report continues:
We have no record now OF all that which comes
in overland, via Kyao-chau CCcrnan). Wei
hal Eci figl1l nf tba frY,t. ~, p,r
thur (Russian). The latter port | have been
told, imported in the last ten months American
machinery, nails, lumber, and locomotives to the
value OF Sl.5i5,000 gold. have repeatedly d-
lated upon the importance OF American interests
in North China, the region covered by the
rival claims of the European powers; and, al
though those powers claim that they are ac-
tusted by trade interests, the bona fidc sales OF
machinery, cottOns, -four. lumber, oil, household
stores etc, by the United States in this region
greater in value than those OF continental
Europe, including Of course Germany and Rus
sia, both European and Asiatic tthis have sub
stantstcd in late reports). We must not lose
sight of this point, nor of the fact that
trade is constantly incrcasing-not slowly. but
in an almost phenomenal manner. The figures
given herein not taken to support any pre-
conceived ideas OF minc, but TO show the facts
As usual, nave only quoted those classes that
state the country OF origin; nothing is taken for
granted. British merchants tell that all the
shirtings sold here are American.
Several other important tables showing
the growth OF American trade are given in
the report.
The three ports NiuchwanG. Ticntsin, and
Chefoo in the centre OF the political activity in
the East, worth more to a market than
all the other twenty.seven. do not include
kerosene in this comparison because a great
deal OF it is imported direct not going to
Shanghai like the cOttons. and | wish to be per-
fectly fair to the southern ports.
al.s baf.n Liza.
northern ports. takes the most OF the American
kerosene oil; that those ports took fourth OF
the American and onc-seventh OF the Russian and
Sumatran; and that nearly all Of the Russian
oil sold in the north was taken by Tientsin. In
fact Tientsiu took more Russian than American
oil in 1897, exceeding the importation for 1896 by
over = 900. 600 gallons.
We thus see that our best market. not only for
OIL but for all our products. in is imminent dan
ger; for no one believes that the Russians will
not control the markets Tor the sale OF their
products-oil cotton, etc-in all the territory
north of this: and what effect the occupation of
Kyao-chau and commercial control ot this district
by Germany Will have upon our interests IS a
matter OF grave concern to US.
Some seven or eight years ago, at the time o
the Inauguration Of the Sumatran oil trade IN
China | wrote a full report upon the situation,
and my representations are, am sorry to see,
being fulfilled We have lost ground in South
China Shall We be also driven out OF North
China?
Much Of the decrease is due 10 the methods by
which our trade in China is placed IN the hands
Of aliens So far as / know, the entire Ameri
can oil business in China is represented by non
Americans Ny personal observations in this
mort convince me that we arc losing ground
that account.
Consul Fowler then takes up the ques-
tion of the gross carelessness OF some
American exporters. to which he attributes
considerable of the injury that is being
done TO American trade. large Importer
showed him a consignment of wOrmeaten
cheeses from San Francisco and an order
of spoiled anchovies, that could not be used
because of its condition. At another house
he was shown tabloids that had melted
in transit because OF careless and cheap
packing. and bicycle and some watches
that had been damaged while en- route.
Commenting on these evidences of care
lessness on the part of shippers, Consul
Fowler says:
1t is such cases that hurt orr trade. never
hear of such complaints about English goods. In
the United States the remedy is to return the
purchase but la China that is ont OF the qucs-
tion, on account OF distance and freight.
understand that German merchants have
method OF settling such cases by arbitration at
their consulates. \ merchant in China receiving
a consignment from Germany not up 10 the mark
Laws the matter before the German Consul who,
after an examination into the case, gives his Dc
Ci-ion which is sent tue shipper i'll Germany
and hy hin, honored. | believe that this would be
| a good plan for American merchants to adopt.
1 recently order Tor JDO whcclharrowS,
! 800 shovels, and 900 picks: and am inclined
to think that u market be made here for
far greater number. WheeblrrowS used here
heavy, clumsy affairs, all wood They cannot be
oiled and the noise caused by the turning OF the
wheel in the hub is unpleasant; besides, wood
turning on wood does not make an easy wheel.