The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-05-28
FOREIGN TRADE OF CHINA.
An Advance without Precedent Re.
corded Last Year.

The Inspector General OF Customs in
China has just issued his annual report
for 1899 on the trade of China, under the
In 1t he gives en- extremely favorable &C
count of the growth of trade between
China and other countries. Anticipating a
repetition by foreign merchants of their
criticism Of the previous years report,
that it was too optimistic. the report points
out that it denis with the condition and
prospects of the commerce of China as
affecting the national interests and pros
perity, and not from the point OF view of
the individual foreign trader. The latter
still finds that the whole volume Of trade
is somewhat email in comparison with the
number of competitors for it, and the re-
port admits that this is so, considering
how great the possibilities of the country
are, but at the game time 1t points out
that II the expected results of the coming
railways are realized, the prospects Of the
future increase of business are very bright
indeed.
The general statement of the trade of
1899 is given in the Haikwan tael equiya-
lent to about u cents. 1t was character
iszed. SO the report states. by an astcn-
ishing development, and merchants. both
foreign and native, made handsome profits
in almost every branch. The political sit
uation, although still unsettled, gave rise
to no immediate fears; exchange remained
remarkably steady; the rice crop was
abundant; the spring weather during the
critical period for the silkworms was tn
usually favorable: ard, except for a re-
crudesence of piracy on the West River.
there were no disturbances to check trad.
The gratifying result was that the year
beat all previous records and showed an
advance without precedent The total
trade was valued at 1881. JSS, 96l. rise OF
SCI. 1S0. leo on 1898, and more than double
the figures for 1890.
The internal trade Of the country was
unusually brisk, and the important changes
which will be brought about by the extern
sion of railways have already baen demon
strated by actual experience. The report
goes on to show that Nieu Chwang and Tien-
tsin already bear witness to the stimulus
effected by better means of communica-
ton, and in spite of a severe outbreak of
plague at the former port, the trade OF
both has made an immense advance. The
Russian railway has been completed as far
north as Mukden. and the line from Pekin
to Han-Kau is progressing steadily. Other
railways are also being pushed forward.
and wherever they have been completed
the Improvement in commercial movement
is seen.
The revenue raised from the customs in
1899 was s19, 206.2 PSI, being 81 1913, sos high
er than the previous year and S2,263.276
more than was collected in 1891, which
was the record year. The import duties
exclusive Of duty on opium amounted to
81, 1872, 76S, which, on an import trade val
ued at s164. SiS. 095. after deducting opium,
represent an ad valorem duty of less than
3 per cent
The greatest increase is shown in the
exports. Their value for 1899 is estimated
at $40. 965.079. an increase of $50 45s, 331
over the previous years total, and more
than double the figures for 1890. In con-
nection with the import trade it may be
remarked that the import of American
and Japanese goods has shown the great
est development.
The shipping statistics are of considerable
interest. The entries from foreign ports
were 1904. aggregating 5.479.000 tons. as
compared with 6,093 vessels Of 1927 900
tons In 1898. The coastwise entries were
%, $50 vessels, of 14,147.0O0 tons, against
1888 vessels OF f2.164.O0Q tons in 1898.
The total tonnage, entries and clearances.
was 39.26S009 tons. OF this total Great
Britain contributed SO per cent; China. "a;
Japan. Z; Germany. S; France. q; Sweden.
and Norway. 1; Russia, l. and the United
States, per cent.
The percentage contributed by each nag
to the total tonnage entered from for
eign ports were: British. 81; Japanese. 10:
s.; French, s. Chinese. 8; United
States. 3: Swedish and Norwegian, 2, and
all other flags, 3. The tonnage employed
in the foreign trade has about doubled
since 1890.
The respective values of the trade OF the
different countries with China are diff
cult to estimate exactly. owing to the fact
that a great deal Of American. Australian.
German. and other foreign trade goes
Hongkong, and Is all Jumped
with the British trade going through
that port. The main conclusion how
ever. to be drawn from the report is
that what China needs above all things to
make II an exceedingly valuable market
for the exports OF this country. as of
otlicTg. Is peace and the judicious extea-
sion Of railways.