The evening times., 1900-06-01
TRADE WITH CHINA
A Great Reduction Lnst Year I'm
American Kerosene Imports


American Kerosene Imports
Consul General Goodnow. at Shanghai,
has sent 60 the State Department a report
concerning trade conditions in China Viii
is OF particular interest Just now. in view
OF the internal disturbances in the CeIes-
tiai Empire
Mr. Goodnow says that the consumption.of
American kerOsene during the year 1899
was Iessened By the high price He also
says that it is humilisting fact that CT
the total tonnage, entrances and clear
ances. the United States only contributed
1 per cent; Of the total tonnage entering
from foreign ports. the American flag
fioated over only per cent
He says that the imports of American
kerosene in China last year amounted to
but 2T,62s,4 ,41S gailcns, as compared with
A. 335, $50 gallons IN 1898. Continuing, the
Consul General says:
The foreign trade OF China during the
year 1893 was characterized by an aston
ishing development. and merchants. both
foreign and native, made handsome profits
In almost every branch. The political sit
uatiOp 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 unus-
uaIly favorable; and. except for a recru-
descence 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 ad-
vance without precedent. The total trade
was valued at 400. .533, ,2SS haikwan taels
($327, ,20S, sod, a rise Of 81 916. SOS haikwan
taels over 1898. and more than double the
figures for 1890. The internal trade of the
country was also unusually brisk, and the
important changes which will be brought
about by the extension Of railways have
already been proved
"Niuchwang and Tientsin have promptly
responded TO the stimulus CT better means
Of communication, and the trade az those
ports has leaped forward. although the for
mer suffered from a severe outbreak OF
plague. II IS found that Immediately trains
begin to run. districts through which there
was comparatively little traffic such as b--
tween Paoting and Pekin, suddenly com e
mence to hum with life and activity and
there springs up a ffourishing trade which
was formerly undreamed of and impossible
for want Of cheap transport. The Russian
line has been completed as far north as
Moukden. and the extraordinary richness
of Manchuria will soon become evident
The Lu-Han Railway. from PeiSin 10 Han
months. it is expected that trains viii be
running as far snuth as Chingting. The
difficulties in the southern section where
extensive tunneliug is required make COS
structiOn slower there; but rails have been
laid for 2i.S miles nOTthwaTd from Han
kau the track is now being made as far as
Sinyang-tO which place il IS hoped to run
trairs within two years-end the whole
line CT IA miles is to be completed in five
years. including the difficult engineerin-
feat Of bridging the Yellow River The line
between Taku. Tientsin, and Pekin con-
tinues to advance in prosperity. and the
extension beyond Shanhaikwan toward
Niuchwang is being rapidly pushed for
ward Yingltou. the real port of Much
wang, will shortly be connected by rail
with the capital.
There is no longer any doubt that the
effect of cheap transport will lead to an
enormous development OF China's trade
Ssntuao. which possesses splendid harboT
was opened as a branch office by the
Fuchau customs on the Sth of Nav. and
although a very small trade has been
done up to the present, there seems rea-
son for expecting q zcod future for the
port At Nankin the custom house COM
menced work on Eths3 1st Of May. and
Yochow was opened as the FIST treaty
port in Human on the 18th o. November.
There was an 5ncrease ip tie importa-
ton Of Americany drill cicths amounting
to about 700 per cent The trade in this
line would be even greater IL longer cred
its were given bySArnerie,P. exporters"