The evening times., 1899-07-05
CUR TRADE With CHINA
Excellent Showing for the Calendar
Year 1898.
State Department Receives n Long
Report From Consul Fowler.
of Foreign Rivals-Unfair Methods
Used i'm Making Statistical Tables.

The State Departments latest publica-
ton is an interesting and important bulle-
tin on the trade of the United States in
China. II is transmitted by Consul John
Fowler, who is stationed at Chefoo. Con-
sui Fowler in his report quotes extensively
from the annual review of trade by Mr..
Taylor, the statistical secretary of Gus
toms. He submits report of trade con-
ditions during the calendar year 1898, and
says il is done with the object of empha-
sizing the importance of American in
terests in that vast empire.
In Mr.. Taylor's review he says:
Were any proof needed of the vitality
Of China's foreign trade, the figures for
1885 would supply it. Various parts of
the country were disturbed by sporadic
rebeIlions of sufficient gravity to check
business; the yellow River once more
burst its banks and flooded enormous
tracts; an ominous war cloud during the
greater part of the year made importers
cautious; the political situation was full
OF menace; and in September, the Jews
from Pekin completely disorganized the
trade of the northern ports. In spite of
these adverse circumstances, the value of
records. while the value of the export
trade exceeded that of every past year with
the exception of 1897. The total volume of
the trade was valued at 36S, ,6l6. 4S3 haik-
wan taels (S255, ,Sl9, S39), which is the high
est on record. 1t is gratifying to know
that on the whole the trade yielded salts
factory results to those interested.
so much foreign capital has been lately
invested in China that the condit on of the
external trade of the country, as an in
deX TO the national resources, is watched
with a certain anxiety. In every year
from 1886 to 1898, the value of the imports
has exceeded that of the exports. For
the whole period, the imports have
amounted TO 1921 769 $50 haikwan taels,
the exports to ]. .4S4, ,74l, ,501 haikwan taeIs,
OF an excess of imports over exports OF
49,. .027 ,G79 haikwan taels, making an an
nual average of "a coo, 000 haikwan taels.
The development of Industrial enterprises,
the extension OF railways, and the exploit
tation of the mineral resources of tae
country are likely 10 have important ef
fects upon trade in the near future. As
regards the first, in spite of some dissp-
poinrments, which admit of explanation
and are temporary, steady progress is OBJ
servable, and everything points to a p-os-
porous future which will further develop
the foreign trade.
The net value of the import trade was
209, ,579, ,334 haikwan uaels (Sl45, AS, ,OJS),
exceeding that of all previous years and
being $3.50, ,709 haikwan taels above the
value for 1891"
In speaking of the value of the trade IN
cotton press goods, the report states that
Dutch sheetings have disappeared, as they
cannot keep pace in price and quality
with those from the United States. Jap
anese sheetings also show an immense de-
cline said no due tn inaUualfrV of rayr-
ure, which handicaps them in competition
with American goods. Manchester can no
longer compete with the United States in
the importation of drills, jeans, and sheet
ings, owing TO the lower prices at which
the latter can land these goods in China
White and refined sugar and American
-four, says the report, ARE all being
bought more freely, which, as indicating
increased ability TO purchase luXuries, may
be taken as a'sgn of prosperity. The val
ue OF the exports OF 1898 was estimated at
l5s O37, ,l49 baikwan taels (SI10.371 7S1), a
slight decline from the previous year.
which showed an advance OF thirty-two
millions over 1896.
Entries from foreign ports were 1893
vessels, aggregating 4 4,S27, 600 tons, as COM
pared with 5,2Sl vessels with total ton
mage of 4,799,000 tons in 1897. Coastwise
entries were 1855 vessels, making H.
l64s 600 tons, as against II, 639 vessels rep
resenting 1905, 600 tons in 1897. The total
tonnage inwardS and Outwards was "a 233, =
600 tons, and of this total Great Britain
contributed O. per cent; China, "a per cent;
Germany and Japan, each per cent; Swe-
den and Norway, l per cent; France ] per
cent; America, / per cent; and all otheg
flags together, ] per cent"
Consul Fowler has compiled several in
teresting tables of statistics. The follow
ing shows the value OF China's trade in
1888 by countries: