The Saint Paul globe., 1900-05-17
| Chat Of the Capital
Washington Gossip, Political aa1 other /
wise, for tte Readers of tae dlobs.
SXAKZNENlNNXI W

statement just received by the treasury
bureau of statistics. The statement in
question, from the Returns Of Trade
by the Imperial Maritime Customs Service
of China, shows especially rapid develop
ment in the section where railways have
recently been opened. The following are
extracts from the report in question:
1.-The foreign trade of China during the
year 1899 was characterized by an as
tonishing development, and merchants,
both foreign and native, made handsome
profits in almost every branch The
political situation, although still unset
tied, gave rise to no immediate fears; ex-
change remained remarkably steady; the
rice crop was abundant; the spring
weather during the critical period for the
silkwOrms was unusually favorable; and,
except for recrudescence of piracy or
the West river, there were no disturb
anceS to check trade The gratifying re-
suit was that the year beat all previous
records and showed an advance without
precedent. The total trade was valued al
460, ,53S 2S8 haikwan taels, (the average
value OF the haikwan taeI was ST. 14S in
1880, $069I in 1888, and $0.722 in 1890, a risa
of 9l,9l6,S05 haikwan taels on 1885, and
more than double the figures for 1890.
The internal trade of the country was
also unusually brisk, and the important
changes which will be brought about by
the extension OF railways have already
been proved. Newchwang and Tientsin
have promptly responded to the stimulus
Of better means of communication, and
the trade of those ports has Ieaped for
ward, although the former suffered from
a severe outbreak of the plague. 1t is
found that Immediately trains begin to
run, districts through which there was
little traffic, such as between Paoting and
Pekin, suddenly commence to hum with
life and activity, and there springs up a
dourishing trade which was formerly un-
dreamt of and impossible for want OF
cheap transport. The Russian line has
been completed as far north as Moukden,
and the extraordinary richness Of Man
chur1a will soon become evident. The
Lu-Han railway, from Pekin to Hankow,
makes steady progress. Within six
months it is expected that trains will be
running as far south as Chingting. The
difficulties in the southern section where
extensive tunneling is required, make con-
struetion slower there, but rails have
been laid for forty kilometres nOrthwards
from Hankow, the track is now being
made as far as Sinyan-to which place it
is hoped to run trains within two years
and the whole line of 1,200 kilometres Is to
be completed in five years, including the
difficult engineering feat of bridging the
Yellow river. The line between Taku,
Tientsin and Pekin continues to advance
in prosperity, and the extension beyond
ShanhaikWan towards NcwchWang win
shortly be connected by rail with the capt.
tai. Difficulties regarding the question of
control are hampering the concessionaries
of various other lines, but 1t is to be
hoped that these will soon be satiSfacto
lily arranged, as there Is no longer any
doubt that the effect of cheap transport
will lead to enormous development of
China's trade.
GGrINl.z
264, 74S, 456 hk. tls., being an advance of
55,169122 hk. tls., over the previous year
and double the figures for 1890. = 3
The trade in cotton goods, which had
remained practically stationary for three
years, made a great advance, the value
living risen from S24 hk. tbs. to 103,-
465, 04S hk. It's. 1t would be tedious to par
ticularize all the gains, but every article
mentioned in the table of imports, with
the exception of gray shirtings Gnsigniii-
cant decrease), T-cloths, English and
Dutch jeans and English yarn, was i'm
ported in quantities exceeding the figures
for 1898
''As regards the falling off in T-cloths,
it is explained that their place is taken
by what are generally known in the
trade as 'continentals. which are includ-
ed in our returns under the heading of
sheetings. English sheetngs showed an
advance from 523, 366 TO 763 762 pieces, and
the increase must be ascribed partly to
continentals and partly to the higher
prices which prevailed in the United
States. American sheetings rose again
from 2, ,4S3, 991 to 3975,903 pieces Speaking
generally, the year commenced with
small stock9 on hand and demand was
brisk. A short cotton crop throughout
the world gradually raised prices, but
contracts for delivery in China were made
so far in advance that importers were
able to lay down their goods at prices
which realized handsome profits. To-
wards the close of the year higher prices
tended to check business, and it Is pos
sibIe that importers may have to face
some delay in disposing Of the importa-
tions which arrive at dearer rates. The
feature most worthy of note was the
continued advance of American and Jap
anese goods the latter especially SHOW
ing very rapid development. The class
of white shirtings now imported is great
ly superior to what came formerly the
people demanding a better article. 1t is
worth noticing, as evidence of prosperity,
that what may be described as cotton
goods de luxe, such as chintzes, printed
twills, cambricS, etc. and handkerchiefS
jumped from 305, ,314 to 67S, 1856 dozens. Cot
ton flannel showed a REM q bile increase
from 153,SS5 to 397, 469 pieces, and Japanese
cotton flannel from S35 to 1865 pieces.
English cotton yarn suffered a falling
off, While Indian and Japanese increased,
the latter having now risen to 779 700
piculs. 1t is probable that the local mills
will gradually get the better of their for
eign rivals The yarn made from Chinese
cotton is much whittier than the Indian
yarn and obtains better prices, which
explains why Japan imports raw cotton
from China to mix with Indian.
''Woolen goods, though not showing
such a promising progress as the cotton
goods made a distinct advance. camlets,
hastings, long ellis, and blankets all hav-
ing increased.
THE metal trade remains ineastic, and
the total value was slightly below that
of the previous year.
1.-THE value of the exports was estimated
at 1876 7S4 S32 hk. It's. an increase of Sc IA 6S3
hk. tbs. over the previous years total
and, as in the case of imports. more than
double the figures for 1890. In view of the
fact that railways are now opening up
districts previously cut off from com
munication with ports it is fairly safe to
predict that in less than another ten years
the trade will have agan doubled. Ex-
ports are a present checked by price
and inferior quality-the former due to
cost of carriage and heavy taxation, the
latter to adulteration or faulty methods
of preparation for foreign markets. Prices
viii come down when railways bring the
goods more cheaply to the ports and in
crease the supply.