The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-07-22
AN UPWARD turn IN TEA
The Effect of Trouble in China Felt
in the Market.
A Ten Per Cent Advance Within
Three weeks-Further Rise Ex-
to Yangtse kiang Districts, Where
the Commodity Ii Produced.

NEW YORK, July 21.-Thanks to the
Chinese trouble, tea merchants all ovel
the globe are preparing for crisis in theii
trade. Within the past three weeks tea
has gone up 10 per cent, and that Is only
in anticipation of contingent events. The
great tea-growing districts Of China have
not yet felt the fame with which that
murderous society called Boxers is at
tempting to fire all China.
The tea-growing districts which are
nearest to the present trouble are Han
kow, Kiu Kiang, Wen Chow, and Ming Pc.
judging from the latest reports from the
East, Wen Chow and Ming Pc have already
felt the advance Of the Boxers, and Han
kow and Kin Kiang are threatened, but as
vet no news has arrived that would tend
to show that the tea growing in those dis
tricts has in any way been affected. The
great tea districts Of China, however, are
Foo Chow and Annoy, whence comes the
Oolong tea. Tea merchants are Of one
mind, that this is too far south OF the
present strife to be affected for many
months, but in anticipation of future trou-
these districts to supply the markets OF
the world to tide over the many months Of
troublous times in the East that the world
now expects.
Should the Boxers descend upon the
Yangtse Kiang Valley and block that
great avenue-the Yangtse Kiang-through
which so per cent of the tea grown in
China goes TO the seaports and thence to
the Western world. there will be exciting
times indeed in the tea market. From
hundreds of. miles on both sides OF the
Yangtse Kiang tea is transported from the
great tea fields to be shipped down the
river to various seaports.
Most of this work is done by coolies, each
carrying single chest Of tea on his back
In some instances coolie will carry a
chest of tea several hundred miles, cover
ing the entire distance on foot. In most
cases the coolies travel in large numbers
and are under the surveillance Of a sort OF
foreman, but It is no rare thing for two
or three coolies to be seen threading their
way in the broiling sun over limitless
tracks of waste land, cropping through
tangled jungles, swimming rivers, fording
streams. and at last arriving at the banks
of the Father of Rivers, where capacious'
Junk, or, in the case OF the very rich
grower, fine steamboat. is awaiting to
Head the fragrant cargo and descend the
river to the sea.
When the Boxers come down upon these
great tea-growing centres, incalculahle
damage is anticipated. and long cessa-
tion Of China's tea trade looked for. China
furnishes so per cent OF the worlds sup-
ply Of tea. The remaining so per cent is
grown in Japan and Ceylon, Japan furnish !
Ing 40 per cent. and Ccylon 10 per cent. So
that even II China's tea market were
closed to the world entirely, 1t would only |
be necessary for the tea drinkers Of |
Europe and America to 60 on half rattous |
When the present troubles in China |
broke out, there were 2s.00o. 900 pounds Of |
tea In this country. This tea b being
rapidly bought up By retailers. and Il |
there Is any Interference In the tea grow
ing Of China, rapid rise In the price Of /
tea viii result II there 10 NO interference. |
and the trouble does not spread, there l
vim Be In exceedingly dull market Three
years ago Congress passed . Law forbid |
1ing tie Importation into this ceuntry q