Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1899-11-25
GROWING IN FAVOR
Sfrengths ming Chinese De-
mond for PRODUCTS.
Reports From Customs Commission
erS at the Various oorts Show
Great Increase In the Com.
merce with China.


those of any other nation. The annual
report of the inspector general of Gus
toms of China covering the year 1898.
just received by the treasury bureau
of statistics, shows an increase of near
ly forty per cent in imports into China
from the United States. while the in
crease in total imports is less than
five per cent. Imports into China from
the United States in 1898 were Il, ,163,-
512 Jaikwan taels, against 12.44O, ,3O2
taels in 1897, an increase of 4.I23,O
taels, while those from Great Britain,
our most active rival in oriental trade,
fell from 40,015,5S7 taels in 1897, to "a
962,474 taels in 1898, while from the
continent of Europe the 1898 imports
also showed a slight reduction, being
1882, 73S taels against 11,SOO,974 taels.
The imports into China from Hong
Kong are of course largely of European
origin and amounted in 1898 to 97.214.-
OH taels, against 9O,125,SS7 taels in
1897. Even assuming that all of the
imports into China from Hong Kong
and Macao are of European origin, and
combining them with those from Great
Britain and the continent of Europe,
they make a grand total of European
products imported into China in 1898
of 146,376,946 Haikwan taels in value,
against 145, .S26 taels for 1897, thus
showing a gain in European products
imported into China in 1898 of less
than one per cent, while those from
the United States, as already indi-
Gated, show a gain of nearly forty per
cent.
The principal imports into China
from the United States are cotton
goods, kerosene oil, flour, provisions,
factures of iron and steel, manufac-
lures of wood and manufactured to-
bacco. The report of the inspector
general of customs of China contains
statements from the customs commits
sioners at the various ports and from
the statistical secretary of the customs
service which, as is well known, has
been for many years administered by
natives of England selected for that
service by the Chinese government be-
cause of their familiarity with Gus
toms, laws and commercial methods
throughout the world. These reports,
relating to the commerce of the year
1898, comparing it with that of pre-
vious years, contain many interesting
statements showing the gains which
American products are making in the
import trade of the empire.
The statistical secretary. Mr.. F. f.
Taylor, in his general report on the
commerce of China for 1885, says:
THE value of the trade in cotton piece
goods has remained practically sta
tionery for three years, but there are
certain movements in the trade which
deserve attention. Dutch goods are
rapidly losing ground; Dutch sheetings
have disappeared; they cannot keep
pace in price or quality with those Of
the United States. japanese sheetinSs
show an immense decline said to b.
due to inequality of texture which
handicaps them in competition with
/ American goods. Manchester can no
] longer compete with the United
States in the Importation of drills,
| Jeans and sheetings, owing to the lower
prices at which the latter country can
/ land this class of goods in China.
White and refined sugar and American
flour are being bought more freely,
which as Indicating increased ability
| a sign of prosperity"
Customs Commissioner Hughes of
Kiukiang, speaking of the progress in
the kerosene oil trade, says: The
American oil still maintains its su-
premacy, and judging by our figures
of the last two years, seems to be
| leaving its Russian rival farther and
farther in the background" Customs
Commissioner Rocher, of Shanghai,
says: There was a small decrease in
the quantities of cotton goods i'm
ported, excepting the case of some
American makes, which are steadily
making their way and rule the market
in the north. They can, quality con-
sidered. defy competition of their older
; rivals" Customs Commissioner Moore
house, of Annoy, writes: Imports of
American flour increased considerably,
9S,S9S piculs being consumed, as COM
ma red with ~ OSg in 1897 American
flour can be laid down at a less cost
than flour ground locally from native
wheat" Customs Commissioner Far
ago. of Chinkiang, notes the general
falling off in imports at that port,
and says: American drills and Ital
ian cloths remain the solitary excep-
tions to the universal decline" Gus
toms Commissioner Walter Lay, of
Newchwang, writes: Both American
drills and American sheetings have
Il i