The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-01-29
OUR ASIATIC TRADE.


WASHINGTON, Jan. ga report on our
Asiatic trade prepared by Mr.. Frank H.
Hitchcock, chief of the foreign markets
section of the Agricultural Department
shows that there has been great develop
ment of our thrade with China and Japan
during the past decade. Record figures
were easily reported in the fiscal year 1892
when the value of the merchandise
changed with these two countries, including
the port of Hong Kong. reached $S7, 3O5, $685.
against only sl6,294,167 in 1889. The four
years following 1889 with a record of $780,
2S1, $50, the highest up to that time. In the
fiscal year 1884, during which our importa-
tons greatly curtailed as a result
of the prevailing financial depression, the
trade dropped to S51513, 149, and thereafter
rose steadily by leaps and bounds.
OF the $S7 .3O5.6SS valuation placed on our
trade with Japan. China and Hong-Kong
during 1899. A!,S5,033 represented the i'm
ports into the United States and $39, 400 653
the exports from this country. The ex-
cess of imports over exports amounted to
IS, 324 $50. In 1889 the imports were valued at
$50, 1850 and the exports at $11, 097 497, a
difference of s2f,099 173. These figures show
that in the decade ended with 1899 there
was a gain of SIS, S93, 49, or 256 per cent in
exports. while the increase in imports
amounted to only s12.sls36 or Sc per cent
During the last few years, in fact, the i'm
ports disclosed an actual falling off, the
value for 1899 being 81, 164. 131 less than that
for 1885, whicn was recorded at SiS.97S,1 66
Our exports on the other hand more than
doubled during the three years succeeding
1896.
During the years 1SS9-lS99 our imports
from Japan advanced from SIG, ,992 to $26,-
1888. and the exports from S4619.9S5 to
Sl1 26i. 6SS. In the last few years there was a
remarkable growth of exports From ST.
6S9.6S5 in 1896. the value of exported mer-
chandise rose to SIS, AS in 1897 and to
$40 SSS, 400 in 1898. The value for 1899 s17264.-
6SS although somewhat less than that for
1898. was larger than any previous record
In our commerce with China during 1882
1899 there was gain of $13. 293, los. The in
crease occurred almost entirely in the ex-
port trade, which advanced from s., 791, lbs
in 1889 TO s14. 495. 40 in 1899. Our imports for
1899 amounting TO $lS.6l9,26S, were only
slightly larger than in 1889, when q value of
ST., OBS, 4l2 was reported. The exports TO
China, like those TO Japan. showed an ex-
ceptional growth i'm 1897. 1898 and in 1899
Our trade with Hong-Kong. although less
important than that credited directly To
China was almost doubled during 1Ss9-1S99
Exports for 1899 were $1.732. SIS. as COM
pared with only $3,6S6,34 for 1889 The i'm
ports were smaller and showed marked
fluctuations. In 1889 they were valued at
sl.4s0, 200. but these figures were not equaled
again until 1892 when value of s., 1924
was recorded.
Our exports to the countries mentioned
consisted chiefly of cotton, cotton goods.
kerosene oil. wheat, -four and manufac-
lures or iron and steel, the value OF these
five classes of articles exported aggregat-
ing in 1855 nearly so per cent. of the total
exports 10 China. Japan and Hong Kong.
Japan took nearly all the new cotton, while
cotton manufactures went quite largely
TO China. All three took kerosene oil in
large quantities. The exports OF wheat
flour almost trebled during the decade, ex-
ports from Japan actually rising from 49,
81 barrels in 1883 To 16l. 654 barrels I'm 1885,
while Hong Kong the latter year took $780,