The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-01-09
THE GERMAN WAY.


tions as we'll as the United States are
now feeling, is illustrated in a recent sub
sidy agreement made by the German gov
ernment by which it proposes to pay
more than a million dollars "a year for a
ffteen-year term for the establishment of
steamship lines to ply between its ports
ard those of japan, China and Aus
tralasia and certain ports of Oceanca.
That the German government and those
of it's citizens participating in its com
merce should feel a special interest in
the trade of the Orient is not surprising
in view of the fact that it's exports to
that part of the world have quadrupled
during the past decade.
A COPY of the contract between tho
German government and the Lloyd
steamship line for the establishment and
maintenance of postal and commercial
communication between Germany and
eastern Asia and Australasia has reached
the treasury bureau of statistics. 1t
shows that the Lloyd company agrees to
maintain for u space of fifteen years,
steamship lines running from Bremen
haven or Hamburg, Germany, by way of
a Belgian or Dutch port through Genoa,
Naples, Port Said, Suez, Alden, Colombo,
Singapore and Hong Kong to Shanghai,
China, and back by the same route, a
second main lire through the same ports
to Yokohama, Japan; also a main line
through the same ports to Adelaide, Mel
bourne, and Sidney, Australia also
branch lines from Hong Kong to Shang-
hal and from Singapore TO German New
Guiana, and other ports in Oceanica,
%
Four steamers are under this contract
to be built for the Chinese and Japanese
service to be of not less than 5000 tons
and equal to those Of foreign nations in
every respect, their plans to be approved
by the admiralty, and to be running re-
spectively by October ], 1899, January !,
September l. and November l. 1900. The
steamers to be constructed for the Aus
tralian line are to be not less than $500
tons, and also equal to those of foreign
nations in every respect and subject 20
the approval Of the admiralty. All the
ships are to be built in German yards and
German material is to be used as far as
possible. all admiralty requirements to
be carried out in them, putting them into
condition in which they can readily be
utilized for war purposes when neces-
sary The agreement provides that in
cases of mobilizing the fleet, the chan
cellor can purchase the vessels on fun
payment of their value, or can hire
them. The terms Of the contract also
provide that only German coal is to be
taken on board at German, Belgian or
Dutch ports of call, except by the special
assent of the imperial chancellor; that in
cases of German and foreign goods being
simultaneously offered for dispatch the
German goods are, If necessary, to have
preference, and that the chancellor may
prohibit the importation by German, Bel
CLAN or Dutch ports Of such agricultural
products as may compete with those of
German agriculture.
The agreement provides that the Ger
man government shall pay to the Lloyd
company 5,59O,000 marks per year payable
monthly. Value of mark 23S cents).
This contract extends from April, 1899.
for term Of fifteen years; the regular
plan of sailing on the Japanese line must
begin at latest in April, 1899 1t is also
annuonCed that a Bremen firm intends TO
establish with steamers now being built
for that purpose a steamship line on the
Yangtse Kiang in China, to ply between
Shanghai and Hankow. BY the aid of
these lines, which will connect with the
subsidized lines running from Hamburg
| to Shanghai German dealers and German
| interests will be in direct communication
| not only with Shanghai which has two
| thirds of the import trade of China but
| also with Eankow, one of the most i'm
| portant commercial cities of China, 9nd
| having a population of about 100000. 1t
| 10 lO" DGlllS COhllSClSu Will IthlHS Dy
railroad. Hankow is probably the most
| important of the distributing centers of
| interior China, being splendidly situated
| in the very heart of the country, sur
| rounded by a net work of rivers and
lakes, and reached by the largest ocean
steamers, and when to this is added the
| railway system now under construction,
| it's Importance as a distributing point for
| interior China is very great.
| o
| Germany's exports to the Asiatic coun-
| tries have increased very rapidly during
| the past decade. Her exports to China
in 1887 amounted to IA 900 marks in
value, and In 1896 to 45,266OO0. To Japan
the 1887 exports were 6,39SO00 marks, and
those Of 1896, 35,6ll 900. To British East
| Indies they were In 1887 100000, and in
| 1896 $4,000 marks. TO Dutch East In
Indies and the Philippines they were in
| 1887, 5,Si9,00O and in 1896 16 943, 900. 10
Australia they were in 1897 100000; in
1896. 29,2410O0 marks. The following table
| shows the total value of German exports
to Asia and Oceanica by years from 1881
| to 1896:
| Year. MarEs
| 1881 ''''''',........,,.'..... 4l,256,OO0