The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-08-19

ping trade OF tho Yangtse was. up 10 re-
cent times. entirely In the hands OF Great
Britain, but Of late years other nations
notably Germany and America. have
shown disposition to try for some Of
the trade. and already a German company
has been formed to place a notilla Of
German boats on the waterway.
Shanghai, one OF the principal treaty
ports. Is the great emporium for the
Yangtse and Its trade amounts to some
Elecoo,eo per annum. the total tonnage
cleared being over 5000 900 tons. Over 90
per cent. OF this Is British. ~ per cent.
belongs 20 japan. Germany takes per
cent, and France ts
OF the chief ports along tho yangtse the
trade OF Hankow rs considerably over
A7,eaoo0 the shipping entered and cleared
having a tonnage OF over 1, 80 900, of
which $4,000 was British.
At Chinkiang the total value was
Es.5oo 90, the tonnage being over $500 900,
OF which nearly $500 ooo were British.
These figures, roughly given. will give
some idea OF the amount Of trade done
by Great Britain In tho Yangtsc valley.
but 10 must he remembered that besides
the actual trading (which will be vastly
increased with tho completion of rail-
ways and the opening of some OF the on
shoots Of the yangtael there are through
out the 1angtse region many concessions
granted TO British subjects for mining.
railway construction, etc. The mineral
wealth 81 the region Is vast and little
touched. mining being against the prin-
cipiss OF the Chinese, who regard any
disturbance 81 the natural features OF the
earth as likely Ia awaken some slumbur-
tina genii or let loose mAlign influences.
These prciudices have been Ia the way Of
al development q tho mining and other
resources throughout China. but are par
tieuleraS troublesome IN thu Yangtse and
southern regions. where the billy nature
81 tho country makes tuBneiing ard cut
ting inevitable. Nevertheless the thor
oukhiY ChinSSa character % the people
Of the Yangtse and southern China - a.
character untaln,ed 80 far by the tnnu-
enoe 81 she martial Manrhps- makes their
commercial future far more hopeful The
ChlnamAn "a born trader. Industrious
cumming and with an eye always on the
main chance. lie is far from Incapable
% approaching the advantages o1ered
him through A weli-orsanlxea commerce
with Great Britain. az any ether power.
but he Is cautious ard suspicious % en-
creaeAmsut tss. lnaeed. be has great foa-
son 20 bel. and Ne VII resist "a thr death
any attempt 60 interfere win tha local
autenQmy 20 which, Under tho most ass-
patle government, be has always been
accustomed
The Feceet DEVELOPMENT Of RAILWAYS In
Narthetn china has elvuR an Immense
impetus 20 trade. bat. unfortunately. the
unchecked growth 81 Russian Influence.
ana her sgccessfsl diplomacy On obtain
tnE cpDtFai not only of the railway insa
but q this trade routes throuxh the rich
country ~ Aancharia 10 the ports On the
literal % that country. augur IN Tor the
commercial prospects % Great Britain ia
the North % China. which a pract{raitv
a Russian sphere, The policy % Russia
has always been exclusive. and prefer
entail tariffs and diserontiai treatment
wili Inevitably have an anfavorahse eject
on the trade with Britain By deerees
she viii "a sduesxed cut, for the ''cprn
decr" has never been one OF Russia's
aEnh,tsons--she has a vast land-Hoekea
empire. ana wants a market Tor her own
goods. The same may be said In a minor
degree o. Germany. and IN this eonnec-
ton II must be noted that all the powers
who have established spheres % influence
IN China. with The exceptions 90 Britain
and-caTlously-of Japan. have asked for
and obtained exclusive priylieses or mo-
+. nopoiies In the territory over which they
extend their gyotestisn