The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1900-06-26
REPUBLICAN COUNTY TICKET.
Our Interest in China.


Affairs in China have gone from critL-
cal to grave, until now there is consider
able apprehensionas to the immlnenceo of
protracted struggle between the Pow
ers and the Chinese government. The
killing and woundIng Of American ma
rlnes In an ambuscade near Tien Tsln
has caused the American government
to take the most energetic measures to
meet the aggravated situation. AT this
time 1t is interesting to note the import
ant relation that the points of greatest
activity and danger, Tien Tsln. New
chwang and Chefoo, aside from Pekln
bear to American trade. They are In
the northern part of the country and 1t
is in them that American goods seem
to be in the greatest favor. The growth
of our trade In that section is described
somewhat in detail by recent publIca-
ton of the treasury bureau of statis-
tics which describes Tlen Tsin as the
most important city of northern China,
The commissioner of customs, Mr.. Al
fred Hippisley. writing In 1898 OF the
1897 trade, calls attention to the import
ance of American trade at that port,
and adds that It Is the only trade which
increased in 1898 over that Of 1897. say
Ing. that American drills, American
sheetings and American kerosene had
especially increased in imports during
the year, while the cotton goods from
other countries were showing a de-
crease. Another Interesting fact to
which he calls attention is that the new
railway line recently built to connect
Tlen Tsin with Pekin Is already proving
extremely popular with the Chinese. On
this subject he says: ut Is astonishing
how speedily Chinese. despite their re-
puted conservatism, adapt themselves
TO new environment and make the
most Of Increased transport facilities
offered them. Already Pekln fruit is
sent direct to Taku for shipment south,
and Pekin is similarly supplied with
southern fruit. and traffic generally de-
veloped so rapidly that It soon became
necessary to double the line"
Consul Reade, OF the United States,
ASSERTS that Tien TsIn ranks in COM
mercIal Importance next to shanghI
and Canton, and In a report to the state
department, says: "Tien Tsln, by its
geographical position, Is the po'nt OF ac-
cumuatIon and distribution Of all mer-
chandise destined for the United States
or intended for consumption In the
northern provinces of China Direct
shipments from the United States to
Tlen Tsln are impracticable. 1t being In
all cases more advantageous to ship to
shanghi or Hongkong and then trans
ship to the steamers Of light draft that
ply between those ports and Tien TsIn."
chefoo is considered an extremely
important treaty port by reason Of the
constant and growing demand for
American goods at that point.
Newchwang, while comparatively
small city OF but 10000 population. is of
especial Importance to the United
states as treaty port. It is located
considerably farther north than TIen
Tsin, and is of especial Importance to
the United States because Of the de-
mand for goods from this country In
that sectIon. American cottons, oils
and American manufactures generally
are in great demand in the province Of
shlngklng. OF which Newchwarg Is the
treaty port and most important city,
nnd goods reach the interior by the
Muren river. which IS nayigab'e nearly
to the northern border of the province