Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-05-17
CIRCULATIoN.
CHINA,S PROSPERITY.

CHINA'S PROSPERITY.
China's foreign trade, and especially
her trade with the United States, de-
veloped very rapidly in 1899, as is
shown by a statement just received by
Z the treasury bureau OF statistics. The
statement in question, from the Re
turns OF Trade by the imperial mari
time customs service of China, shows
especially rapid development in the
section where railways have recently
been opened.
Til following are extracts from the
report, in question:
The foreign trade Of China during
the year 1899 was characterized by an
astonishing development, and mer-
chants, both foreign and native, made
handsome profits in almost every
branch. The political situation, altho
still unsettled, gave rise to no immed-
late fears; exchange remained remark
ably steady; the rice crop was abun-
dant; the spring weather during the
critical period for the silk worms was
unusually favorable, and, except for a
recrudescence of piracy on the West
river, there were no disturbances to
check trade. The gratifying result
{ was that the year beat all previous
records and showed an advance with
out precedent. The total trade was
valued at AGO. 533,2Ss haikwan taels,
4 (the average value of the haikwan
tael was $1.14S in 1890, $0.697 in 1898,
and $o.722 in 1s99), a rise of 91,916,S05
haikwan taels on 1898. and more than
double the figure for 1890. The in
ternal trade of the country was also
unusually brisk, and the important
changes which will be brought about
by the extension of railways have all
ready been proved. Newchwang and
iTentsin have promptly responded to
the stimulus of better means of COM
munication, and the trade of those
ports has leaped forward, altho the
former suffered from a severe out
break of the plague. 1t is found that
Immediately trains begin to run, dis
tricts thru which there was little traf-
\ fic, such as between Paoting ad Pc
kin, suddenly commence to hum with
Z life and activity, and there springs up
q fourishing trade which was former
" undreamt of and impossible for
want of cheap transportation. The
Russian line has been completed as
far north as Moukden, and the extra
ordinary richness of Manchuria 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 diff
icllties in the southern section, where
extensive tunneling is required, make
have been laid for forty kilometers
f1,vxyo rle,
is now being made as far as Sinyank-
trains within two years-and the
whole line Of 1900 kilometers is to be
completed in five years. including the
diffcult engineering fete of bridging
the Yellow river. The line between
Taku, Tientsin and Pekin continues to
advance in prosperity, and the extern
sion between Shanhaikwan towards
Newchwang will shortly be connected
by rail with the capital. Difficulties
regarding the question of control are
hampering the concessionaries of
various other lines, but it is to be
hoped that these will soon be satisfac-
torily arranged, as there is no longer
any doubt that the effect of cheap
transport will lead to an enormous
development Of China's trade.
The net value of the import trade
was 264,74s,456 hk. It's, being an adj
vance Of 5,169,122 bk. tbs. over the
previous year and double the figures
for 1890. y y 4 The trade in cotton
goods, which had remained practical
" stationary for three years, made a
great advance, the value having risen
from 77,61S,S24 hk. tbs. to 1903, 465, O4s
Ink. It's. 1t would be tedious to partic-
ularize all the gains, but every article
mentioned III the table of imports,
with the exception Of grey shirtings
insignificant decrease) T-cloths, Eng
lish and Dutch jeans, and English
yarn, were imported in quantities ex-
gcefding the figures for 1898. As regards
the falling off in T-cloths, it is explain
that their place is taken by what are
generally known in the trade as "Con-
tinentals, which are included in our
returns under the heading of sheet
ings. English sheetings 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 2,4S399l to 3,975, 903
pieces, Speaking generally, the year
commenced with small stocks on hand,
and demand was brisk A short cotton
crop thruout the world gradually
raised prices, but contracts for de-
livery in China were made SO far in.
advance that importers were able to
lay down their goods at prices which
realized handsome profits. Towards
the end of the year higher prices tend
ed to check business, and it is possible
that importers may have to face some
delay in disposing of the importations
which arrive at dearer rates. The fea-
ture most worthy of note was the
continued advance of American and
Japanese goods, the latter especially
Ashowing very rapid development. The
ialass of white shirtings now imported
7en greatly superior to what came form
Buy. The people demanded better
,hia gle. 1t is worth noticing, as evil
rates z Of prosperity, that what may be
,urposeoed as cotton goods de luxe,
many str, chintzes, printed twills, cam
purposes and handkerchiefs, jumped