The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-05-10
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
WASHINGTON
CORRESPONDENCE.
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.

Special Dispatch to the Post-Inteliigencer.
WASHINGTON, May s.-Recent state
ments indicating an agreement between the
English and Russian governments touch
ing their future course with reference to
the trade OF certain sections Of China lends
interest to a publication jus; issued by the
treasury bureau OF statistics. entitled
Commercial China in 1899" This docu-
ment as its name indicates. presents a
careful survey OF present commercial con
dtions In China. showing location Of rail-
way lines, navigabie waterways now OPEN
ed 10 the commerce OF the world. the treaty
ports which are the commercial doorways
10 China. steamship and cable lines. and
the imports and experts In detail during
the past quarter OF a century. showing the
growth Of demand for each Of the impor-
tant articles. the principal countries from
which they have been drawn, and the
growth of the commerce between China
and the United States. and especially the
sales by the people OF the United States
10 those OF China.
A part Of this publication which dis.
cusses the commerce os the Yangtzeki
ang and Yves. river valleys is OF especial
interest 1T this moment. because OF the
recently published assertion that an agree
men, has been made between the British
and Russian governments by which the
latter confines It's commercial ambitions
for the present at least 20 Northern China.
The valleys OF the Yangtzekiang and
West rivers which occupy Central and
Southern China are shown by this report
In be the great commercial section Of
the empire. Not only so bat their i'm
portance has been greatly Increased By
recent events. One Of these events lis
agreement by the chinese government that
no section o. the Yangtxe valley shall be
"alienated' To any foreign government.
SO far as relates TO trade privileges. while
another OF equal Importance Is the OPEN
ing Of the West river TO the commerce Of
all nations free from any alienation or
specia, privileges 10 any That the
Xangtxe and West river valleys are BY
far the most important part Of China from
a commercial standpoint is quite appar-
ent Two-tair4Ss Of the foreign commerce
az China passes through Shanghai. iocat-
Ell al the mouth Of The YanEtze which il
the Mississippi river % China, extending
westwariiy from the Eartnc ~ the ex-
srern~ boundary ~ the efnrir. proper. and
penetrating an extremely Ier<fs~. prof.Gc-
tive and dsnsely populated area Next In
Importance 10 Shanghai frum a CONNER
c4al standpoint are canton an! tse Brit
ism nossessson NJ Uorgkeug wh.ch lies
adjacent. both Of them being practically
at the mouth of the West river. which Is
also al extremely important waterway
and route ~ commerce 10 the Interior.
A reren, sti;ct hy the 1hlress woEsrums nj
ADDS greatly 10 the Importance - These
swo rivers This eesct permits foreign steam
vessels 20 ply apon IN. nsslgah.e waters
o. practically all iniand streams. this pr.F-
Nege being extended 10 small steam yssseas
WHICH may 60 10 tte very head % nsvtga
sion tn all treaty part prov nees An0sneF
.essEcf recently issued permits feEssgnaSs 10
visit, All parts o. the empire for business
or trade purposes.
TIE importance 81 these three agree
rrents hr which the commerce ~ the
Ysngsse and tie West river valleys regSs3a
open "a all nations desiring 70 compete for
il. second ay which sorelxn steam vessels
MAY penetrate for ssgs4rsess purposes 10 sns
very head q navigation upon shes. aa3
ether streams carrying with them sersiEa-
srs Far pleasure or business purposes
coupled With tie fGFfhe. fast that .crelgn
manufactures and tae machinery which
manufactures them arc much mere fsesiy
admitted ;aaa formerly. can scarcely Be
oxeT-Tais1
Commenting ussor the rapid development
q eyt1i. 10 China tire publication % TIE
bureau 81 statistics sass.
The rsere rapid development af TIE
privileges 81 foreigners IN China ard %
tna introduction o. modern commercial
methods datss from tae treaty OF oas-