The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-06-25
FOREIGN TRADE OF CHINA.
An Advance without Precedent Last
Year-ERect of the Railways.

The inspector general of customs in
China has just issued his annual report for
1880 on the trade of China under the title
Imperial Maritime Customs" and in 1t
he gives an extremely favorable account
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
deals with the condition and prospects of
the commerce of China as affecting tho
national interests and prosperity. and not
from the point of view OF the Individual
foreign trader. The latter still finds that
the while volume OF trade IL somewhat
small in comparison with the number OF
competitors for 1t. and the report admits
that this is So considering how great the
possibilities of the country ara, hut at the
same time Il points out that II the expect
ed results Of the coming railways are real
ICED. the prospects OF tho future increase
OF business are very bright indeed.
The general statement OF the trade of
1899 Ia given in the HaIkwan tael. eauiva.
lent to about 70 cents. 1t was character
ized. 80 the report states. by an astonish-
ing development, and merchants. both for
eign and native. made handsome profits In
almost every branch. Tho political sltua-
ton. although sun unsettled. gave rise
10 no immediate fears. exchange remained
remarkably steady. the rice crnp was
abundant; the spring weather during the
critical period for the slkwor.ns was UNI
usually favorable and. except for a rccr,i-
descence OF piracy on the West river, there
were no disturbances 10 check trade The
gratifying result was that the the year beat
all previous records and showed an advance
without precedent The total trade was
valued at BE- sss 2ss Haikwan taels equal to
= o. =. Of 80 Ia
taels. or ssS.1 soico OF 1895. and move than
double tho figures for $50
The internal trade OF the country was
unusually brisk, and the important changes
which will 10 brought about by the extern
saon Of railways have already been demon
strated by actual experience. The report
goes on 10 show that Much wang and Tien-
tsin already bear witness 10 the stimulus
effected by better means o. cornmun. cation.
and IN spite u a severe outbreak o, plague
at the former port. the trade ~ both has
made an trnmenss advance. The Russian
railway has been completed as FAR north
"a Mukden. ana the lire from Peiting 10
HankRD r. progressing steadily. Other
railways are aisD being pushed forward.
and wherever they have been compl-tesi
the Improvement IN commercial movement
t. seen
The revenue raised from the Gus, orns IN
ing AIS - Tk It's. or s2ss3 "a asher
than the prsva1as year. and aiG so Xix
Fis.. az 81 ~ s-g more than was colie>te3
IN ISL which VAS the record year The
import duties texciasive % duty on 0fsuuai
agnus-r tet 20 66sS62s Hk It's or tTe'ss,
which. On an import trade valued M rs
szS SIS fIk lis er Ns4. s{Sda. after de-
dUc;inE opium. represent an al va2orefu
duty u Ices than ) per cpnt
The greatest incrcase is shown IN the
exports Their value for $50 q. 80, ina Ted
AZ l.S ~ 90 Hk Tlz or t$a 90 Ta an in
crease q ss.7si,6s3 Hk It's. or 81, As 81
over the previous years total. and mo-e
than foubie tho figures f6r iSso In con-
nsctlon with the import trade. 1t may Re
remarked th-At thu import % American
and Japanese goods has shown the great
est developmeut-
The Skipping statistics are Of consider
able interest The entries from foreign
ports were 5.0o4. aggrexating s. 1000 tons.
as compared with 500 vessels o. ~ 90
tons in lssS The ocastwisc entries were
A.sss vessels. Of li.l47,Ov tons. against 49,