The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-04-07
United States Has Forfeited All
Favor in Formosa.
ENGLAND A CAREFUL PACKER
High Price of Condensed MIX
Draves Natives to Patronine 9th
cr COuutrics-Inferior Methods
of Packing United states Goods
of the Islnnd-What In Required

The trade OF Formosa has made great
progress during the last few years and
the United States has ii larger share than
any other nation, with the exception Of
the mother country. China. writes Consul
James W. Davidson from Tamsui. under
date Of January -. In $50 the tota.
United States trade with the island
amounted 10 s3sss $50: and In lss7. out Of
total foreign trade. excluding China.
OF about $50. 80. that portion falling TO
the United States amounted 20 s3.2s s-s
The decrease In 1877 from the preceding
year was due to an uufayoraaie tea sea
SON. OF these amounts. the export trade
formed by far the greater portion: still,
the import OF American goods as COM
pared with that of other nations, was
considerable.
In issi the last year of the Chinese ad-
ministration, our import trade amounted
to about ss2.see. With the island under
japanese control, our imports reached In
1854 the value of 500. 1884, and In 1897 s4o6. $50.
Some American goods may be found in
nearly all the numerous Japanese shops
which have sprung up In the various cities
Of the island: but nearly all their stock
arrives from Japan, via kelung where no
statistics are kept, and this together with
American goods arriving from Hongkong.
which are found In the customs statistics
as Hongkong exports, renders ii impossl-
bic To state figures as TO the actual con-
sumption of American products in the ISL
and, However. ii is a safe estimate to
place the total value OF the same at over
$at3,0o0.
United states Supplies.
The principal imports from the United
states are: Petroleum valued at $2Si $40:
-four. valued at sl(5,s52; and ginseng val
ued at Sc. rs Other items appearing in
the customs statistics are condensed milk,
confectionery toiscuits, cakes etc.).
shrimrs, clocks hrassware blankets piece
goods. tobacco. cement, furniture lamps
porcelain and earthenware.
Among these items we find a decrease
as compared with 1896 in condensed milk.
-four. clocks and tobacco The Anglo
Swiss Condensed Milk Company's product
which Is sold on this market for 1914 cents
has gradually driven all other brands out
and. although the Eagle brand is SUPERIOR
the market price Of the same2p cents-is
almost prohihl.ory.
Two brands OF American unsweetened
so called eyaporated cream. have been i'm
ported into the island and found much
favor among very limited number Of
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES and japanese; but
the Chinese and Japanese generally desire
the sweetened milk as more economical
and possessed Of better keeping qualities
lf Il brand or condensed milk fully equal
10 the Anglo-Swiss could be placed on the
DOUBTLESS recover much Of the trade which
the United States once possessed in this
commodity, The consumption OF CON
dcnSed milk In the island In 1897 reached
some ., 600 dozen cans. valued AZ about
s-s"r Every year shows q rapid growth
In the use Of this coranodi.y
Decrease in Flour aud Clocks.
TIE decrease IN -four is very slight, and
due perhaps 10 the withdrawal Of con-
siderable portion ~ the military forces AZ.
% rssgss Nf -.
maDd Is assuming larger proportions wear
by year. and with the arrival Of increasing
numbers Of japanese ard TIE greater pros
pefi'y OF the Chinese iaboring classes. this
iTport r quite Eke.y 70 reach more i'm
portant dimensions. The total import OF
American aour for 1897 amounted ~ sag
$50 pounds. Waited al sizes SIS
The decrease in American Cocks IL not
rather 10 the transfer 81 the trade Ia Ia
pan. The numerous japanese merchants
rave taken the sale 0us Of the hands ~ the
CGtnese ana are now importing Their SIM
Plies from japan. via ke.ung no record
ar their arfEFa! being kept Nv the customs
American clocks 8nd watches can be found
among the stock Of all dea.ers In such
wares. The demand Is sor the cnespese
class ~ these goods
Tohacco Ike milk, is rapidly falling into
the hands q ear competitors bnt in this
case II y due almost entirely - the method
The damp atmosphere ~ Rorsnasa. Ike
tat Of many other Eastern countries Is
such that tobacco rapidly spo.}s IL II -
uot rut UP in hermet4cal.y sealed fins
American cigarettes q wa.ca there was
az one tire a considerable consumption
arrive in little pastehoaFd packets. me Gig
are'fes protected hy a wrapper of tirfoil
ana In 4 very short tirse~-a matter % a
sew weeks ollS-they turn sTet1 ard fnolsy
and are practically worth .ess Nigs =
60. ard English arrn. pack the!r cisar~
cites. ws.ch are advertised as being n de
= American tobacco in round IN cases