The times., 1899-11-20
Grand totaI.......... 2I2,23l.e94 2Is.745Sf

,. 10
The principal imports into China from
America are cotton goods. kerosene oil,
flour, provisions, railway material and en-
gines, manufactures Of iron and steel. man
ufactures Of wczd and manufactured to-
bacco. The report OF the Inspector Gener-
al of Customs OF China contains statements
from the Customs Commissioners at the
various ports and from the Statistical Sec
Tetary CT 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
because of their familiarity with customs
laws and commercial methods throughout
the world These reports. relating to the
commerce of the year 1898, comparing 1t
with that of previous 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. Z. Tay-
lor. in his general report on the commerce
of China for 1898, says The value OF the
trade in Gotten piece goods has remained
practically stationary for three years, but
there are certain movements in the trade
which deserve attention. Dutch goods are
rapidly losing ground; Dutch sheettngs
have disappeared; they cannot keep pace
In price or quality with those OF
America. japanese SHtElluRS SHOW an I'LL
mense decline said to be due to inequality
OF texture which handicaps them in cOmpe-
tition with American goods. Manchester
can no longer compete with the United
States in the Importation OF drills. jeans,
and sheetngs owing TO the lower prices
at which the latter country can land this
class Of goods in China. White and re-
fined sugar and American flour are being
bought more freely, which. as indicating
increased ability to purchase luXurtes, may
be taken as a sign CT prosperity
Customs Commissioner Hughes. of Kiu-
kiang. speaking of the progress in the
kerosene oil trade. says: The American
oil still maintains its supremacy, and.
Judging by our figures of the last two
years. seems TO be leaving its Russian
rival further and further in the back
ground" Customs Commissioner Rocher,
of Shanghai. says: There was a small de-
crease in the quantities Of cotton goods
imported. excepting the. case Of some
American makes, which are steadily max
ing their way and rule the market in the
north. They can. quality considered, defy
the competition of their older rivals.
Customs Commissioner Moorehouse. of
Annoy. writes: Imports of American tCur
increased considerably ,9S, ,S9S piculs being
consumed as compared with -. .1Sg in
1897 American flour can be laid down at
a less cost than -four ground locally from
native wheat" Customs COMMISSIONS:
Farago, Of Chinkiang. notes the general
falling off in imports at that port, and
says. American drills and italian cloths
remain the solitary exceptions TO the uni
versai decline" Customs Commissioners
Walter Lay, Of Nieu- Chwang writes: Both
American drills and American sheetings
have come into great favor here, the de-
mand for them having become quite Phe-
nomenal " Customs Commissioner Hippis-
ley, Of Tientsin. says: The imports show a
net value of 32, 600 GOO taels, or >. 400 coo
teals over that of 1897. Cotton piece goods
advanced from II $50 600 to IL, 200, 600
taeIs, all OF which is practically due to in
creased receipts of American makes, which
now represent about one-half of this
branch of the trade"