The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1900-06-30
TIEN TSIN A BIG CITY.
It's Formulation fn Round Numbers 10
I,OOO, OO9-New Chwang and Chefoo
Also Important Ports.

Tien Tsin, Newchwang, and Chefoo,
which are mentioned as the points OF
greatest activity and danger, aside from
Pekin, the capital, in the present troubles
in China, are especially important in re-
lation to American trade in that country.
They ara in the northern part of ths
country and 1t is in them that Ameri-
can goods seem to be In the greatest
ia vor. The growth OF our trade in that
section is described somewhat In detail
by recent publication of the Treasury
Bureau of Statistics, which describes
Tien Tsin as the most important city of
northern China, being located at the head
of the Gulf of Pechili and but so miles
from the capital, Pekln, with which 1t Is
connected by water and by railway line.
Another completed railway line runs
enthusiastically to Saskatchewan, and
an elaborate railway system is projected
southwark from this point through the
populous provinces of Shantung and
Kiangsu to connect Tientsin with Shang-
hal. In addition to these the Grand
canal, the most important of the great
artificial waterways OF China, has for
centuries connected Tien Tsin with the
Yangtse Kiang and Shanghai.
Its population is in round numbers
/, 200, 600, and its imports which In 1888
were less than $4,000, 900 haikwan taels
were In 1897 more than So, OOO, 600 haikwan
taels, having thus nearly doubled duri ng
the decade. The commissioner OF customs,
Alfred Hippisley, writing in 1898 of tn Q
1897 trade, calls attention to the impor-
tacne of American trade at that port, and
adds that it is the only trade which in
creased in 1898 over that of 1897, saying
that American drills, American sheet
ings and American kerosene had espec-
tally increased in imports during the
year, while the cotton goods from other
countries were showing q decrease. An
other interesting fact to which he calls
attention is that the new railway line
recently built to connect Tien Tsin with
Pekin is already proving extremely popu-
lar with the Chinese. On this subject he
says: 1T is astonish ing how speedily
Chinese, despite their reputed conserva-
tism, adapt themselves to a new environ
ment and make the most of increased
transport facilities offered them. Already
Pekin fruit is sent direct to Tanku for
shipment south, and Pekin Is similarly
supplied with southern fruit, and traffic
generally developed SO rapidly that IL
soon became neces sary to double the list"
Consul Reade, Of the United States,
says that lien Tsin ranks in commercial
Importance next TO Shanghai and Canton,
and in q report to the State departments
says: "Tien Tsins, by it's geographical
position, is the point of accumulation
and distribution of all merchandise des-
tined for thhe United States, or intended
for consumption in the northern prov
inces of China. Direct shipments from
the United States to Tien Tsin are i'm
practicable. 1t being In all cases more ad
vantageous to ship TO Shanghai or Hong
kong and then tranship to the steamers
of light draft that ply between those ports
and Tien Tsin."
Che Foo is considered an extremely inn
portant treaty port by reason of the con-
slant and growing demand for American
goods at that point. 1t Is located on the
gulf of Pechiii, comparatively near to
lien Tsin, but nearer to the British port,
Weihaiwei. and its Importance to Ameri-
can interests Is pictured by Consul Fow-
Ter In a report to the State department.
In which he says: at Is satisfactory to
see that during the six months under re-
view, the following American goods show
Q gain over the same period OF 1896:
Drills, 1894 pieces; sheetings, Hoo
pieces; kerosene oil, 942, $50 gallons. Its
h worthy Of note that Of the 30 classes