New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-05-05
THE AWAKENING OF CHINA
WONDERFUL DEVELOPMENT SINCE THE
WAR WITH JAPAN.
RICHEST PORTIONS OF THE EMPIRE THROWN
OPEN TO OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES TRADE
CONCESSIONS GRANTED.
Try TELEGRAPH TO THE rRrBuNE.l

TBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE.l
Washington. May 4.-Recent statements indicating
agreement between the English and RUSSIAN
governments touching their future course with
reference to the trade OF certain sections OF China
lend interest 10 publication just issued by the
Treasury Bureau OF Statistics entitled Commercial
China in 1899" This document, as its name indi-
Gates presents careful survey Of present COM
mercial conditions in China, showing the situation
of railway lines. navigable waterways now opened
10 the commerce OF the world, the treaty ports.
which the commercial doorways OF China, and
steamship and cable lines.
The imports and exports in the last quarter OF
a century are shown in detail, with the growth
of demand for each OF the important articles the
principal countries from which they have been
drawn, and the growth OF the commerce between
China and the United States. especially the sales
by the people OF the United States TO those OF
China
part Of this publication which discusses the
1 commerce Of the Yang Kang and West River
valleys Is OF especial interest because OF the re-
Gently published assertion that an agreement mas
been made between the British and Russian gov
ernments by which Russia confines her commercial
ambitions, for the present at least. in Northern
China The valleys of the Yang -Kiang and West
Rivers which occupy Central and Southern China.
are shown by this report to be the great CONNER
cla section OF the empire and their Importance has
been greatly increased by recent events. One Of
these is agreement by the Chinese Government
"alienated" to any foreign government so far as
relates 10 trade privileges while another OF equal
Importance is the opening OF the West River TO
the commerce of all nations free from any alena-
ton" or special privileges to any
That the Yang-tse and West River valleys are by
far the most important part OF China from COM
mercial point OF view. is apparent Two-thirds OF
the foreign commerce Of China passes through
Shanghai at the mouth OF the Yang-tse which is
the Mississippi River OF China The Yang-tse ex-
tends westwardy from the Pacific to the extreme
boundary OF the empire proper and penetrates an
extremely fertile. productive and densely popua'e ed
area
Next in Importance TO Shanghai from COM
mercial point OF view are Canton and the British
possession OF Hong Kong. which is adjacent TO
Canton both Of them being practically at the
mouth OF the West River. which is also ex
tremely important waterway and route OF COM
merce TO the interior.
A recent edict by the Chinese Government adds
greatly to the importance OF these two rivers.
This edct permits foreign steam vessels TO ply on
the navgable waters Of practically all inland
streams. this privilege being extended TO small
steam vessels which may 10 the head OF nav-
cation in all treaty port provinces. Another edict
recently issued permits foreigners TO visit all parts
OF the empire for business trade purposes.
The importance Of these three agreements, by
which the commerce OF the Yang-Tse and West
River valleys remains open 10 all nations desiring
to compete for IT, by which foreign steam vessels
may penetrate for business purposes to the head
Of navigation on these and other streams, carrying
with them foreigners for pleasure or business pur-
poses, and by which foreign manufactures and the
machinery which makes them are much more
freely admitted than formerly. can scarcely be
overrated. Commenting on the rapid development
OF events in China, the publication Of the Bureau
OF Statistics says:
The more rapid development OF the privileges Of
foreigners
modern commercial methods. dates from the treaty
in 1895 at the close OF the war between those
tons, and followed by commercial treaty in 1896
The important features of these treaties were that
they opened the waters OF the principal rivers and
canals to the citizens OF other aons. giving toT.
the Interior OF China, to rent warehouses without
engage freely in all kinds of manufacturing indus
tries in the treaty ports; also TO import an KINDS
duties thereon and on products manufactured by
them In China paying only such lniand transt
latter provision having been somewhat modified
however by the commercial treaty.; While me
privileges only on japanese subjects. they az once
became applicable to the subjects OF other nations
most favored nation principle.
The prompt result Of this was movement from
China and the establishment OF business and
manufacturing industries not only IN me o ora
opened by the Japanese treaty and BY subsequent
action Of the Chinese Government This was fol-
lowed by other evidences OF disposition to adopt
modern methods The railroad from Picking 10
Ten Tsin was quickly completed by the Chinese
Government. and agreements were made looking
to the construction by foreign capital Of other lines
thousands Of miles in length: teegraphs
tended electric roads and lights introduced in the
principal cities. mining and manufacturing conces-
sons freely granted. the West River, which pene-
trates Southern China from Canton westward, was
opened to commerce. and finally permission was
given for small steamboats, to penetrate the in
terror limits ~ navigation on all the rivers Of the
provinces containing treaty ports. The effect or
This is already in the esta blishment OF fac
tories and business houses the construction OF
railroa ds the extension and multiplication OF steam
naviRa ton lines and the opening OF mines in the
great sections where the iron and coal deposits are
eaid he he greatest in the known world.