Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-06-22
OUR TRADE WITH CHINA
SALES OF GOODS DOUBLED IN PAST
FOUR YEARS.
Interesting Statements in n Report by
Consul Fowler From Chefo0-Little
Commerce Under American Flag.

Consul Fowler at Chefoo has supple
mented a former report to the State De-
partment from Consul General Goodnow
at Shanghai in regard to United States
trade with China. He makes some very in
teresting statements of fact setting forth
the growth of this commerce despite many
shortcomings on our part.
In four years, from 1896 to 1899 inclu-
sive, the consul says we have doubled our
sales to China, Great Britain fell off 4,0'O,-
Coo taels, and Japans increase was twice
as great as ours. 1t is seen that in 1896
our sales exceeded Japans by 36l 1S2 taels:
in 1899 Japan led us by S.125,617 taels. On
the other hand, Great Rritain's best year
in 1896. and Japan and the United
States reached their highest figures last
year.
In 1897 the value of our sales to China
exceeded those of all continental Europe,
including all the Russias European and
Asiatic). by $'2O2S1; in 1898 this excess
had increased to s4,171.934 and in 1879 to
ST, 1911 1886. Great as this excess is, 1t is not
all, for large quantities of our goods now
come into north China via Japan and Hong
Kong.
China imported American goods last
year to the value of S16.2SS, I45, and British
goods to the value of S,S,936.0S:S, five-siXths
of the total importation coming from Bri-
fish and American territory and more than
half from Great Britain alone.
Sh1nO - nest I customer.
In the matter of exports, statistics show
that the United States bought more of
China in 1899 than any other country in
the world. The exports last year were
valued at s13, $50 1856 our increase of trade
during the year being ten times greater
than Great Britain's for the same period.
In 1897 the balance against us was 6,:}S4,-
1O4 taelS tS,,9IS, S-t'); in 1888 it turned to
our favor for 5.17G,541 taels @3,592.3l9: and
lp-t ,r-ti1 1nI htr1
7s:D. in spite of the fact that we bought
nearly ten millions more of China than in
the previous year, and almost twice as
much as did Great Britain.
The American oil trade in China is losing
ground, and will continue to do so. in the
opinion of those conversant with the trade,
as long the present method of handling
it is carried
In the northwestern part of Chefoo pro-
vince and southern Chilli. the natives are
now very much excited over rumor that
American oil tirs contain evil spirits, which
bring destruction and disease upon the land.
ShcetinEs in the Lead.
Up to last year, speaking generally, kero-
sene oil was our leading export to China
in fact. it represented one-thrd of the value
OF our entire exports-but in 1899, not only
have our sheetings taken the lead, but the
value G6,924,57W of this item alone is great
err than entire trade for any year pre-
, vious to 1896
The exports of tea to all countries were
1.G5O $50 piculs 1909. 800 pounds, showing
that our country bought more than one
eighth of the whole. We bought more than
half of the green tea. beng by far the
largest purchasers of that kind. while the
Russians purchased 416267 piculs G55,4SS,-
s.1 pounds of the entire expectation ESQ.,
Oh picu!s-113314,T2 1 pounds of black tea.
Consul Fowler strongly urges more di-
rect method of shipping our goods to China
ard severely criticises the prevailing round
about mode, involving thousands of miles
of unnecessary travel, and under almost
any flag but own
American Flag Never Seen.
Saws the consul: Il have but one
merchant steamer under our flag (and she
had no right to iO since l came to China
in February, 1S9O-ten years ago-and it was
seven years before 1 saw sailer direct
from the United States.'
About one-fortieth of the foreign carry
ing trade Of China last year was done under
the United States flag, while more than half
was under the British ensign. Germany did
ten times as well the United States.
Consul Fowler states significantly. Il can
see from my desk six modern Chinese m"l-
of-war all built in Germany or England
A large German corporation keeps a rep
resentative always in Pckin.