The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-07-25
American Manufacturers Lose
Millions by Present Troubles.
FOREIGN GOODS UNSTABLE.
Interior Chinese Merchants Dispute
ConsiGnments of Flour, Cotton
OIL and Machinery-H. G. Brown,
of Hongkong, Describes Trade
situation-GeneraI Belief That
Movement Cannot he Crushed.

United States trade in China is not
only at a standstill. says Howard u.
Brown. far eastern agent for manu-
facturers of -four, cotton. oil ana mer-
chinery, but loss has been sustained
that 1t win take years to compensate
those directly involved.
MIR. Brown is located at Hongkong. and
has an agency in Shanghai He arrived
in the city yesterday from the former
place. and Is en- route to Minneapolis,
where he win confer with the officials
of the washburn mills on Oriental trade
matters He has occupied his present
position four years during which time he
has handled large percentage, he says
of the American goods shipped into the
interior Of China. In an interview yes
terday at the Butler he said;
sacks of American -four held up in China
al the present time. In the city OF
Hongkong there Is fully one,half OF TINS
amount awaiting shipment Into the in
terror. Within two weeks previous to
my departure from Hongkong. about q
So, 900 sacks were shipped from that city
and Shanghai TO Chinese merchants at
interior points. Every sack has been
held up by the warning forces and now
the question arises who is TO stand the
loss, the shipper or consignee. The Chi
nese absolutely refuse to consider it.
claiming shipments should not have gone
forward. All other orders have been
Cancelled.
The amount OF American -four now In
the Interior cannot be sold by the Chi
nsse dealers, owing to the anti-foreign
feeling and Demonstrations But IL this
was alone the loss American manufac-
turers would be called upon - stand II
would not be so bad Reports from in
terror points. where the United states
was selling a large amount of raw cot
ton. oils and machinery. state that these
stocks and shipments In transit have met
similar fate, and when ANAL estimate
of the loss is made IL Will foot up sew
eral millions OF dollars.
Should the present trouble continue
for any length OF time there Is no doubt
that the United States will be called upon
to furnish "A large amount or supplies for
the allied armies These bodies VIII re-
quire great amount OF flour and canned
stun, at least, but those who are most
familiar with the conditions in China,
are of the opinion that this will not
make up for the big losses that have
been sustained In stocks and loss OF trade.
losses, as reported, turning out to be
true. there VIII be a demand on the gov
eminent to make them good, but the loss
In trade Will not be made up for many
months TO come.
Yes, Il is my opinion that az soon as
China becomes settled IL will present an
improved field for American commerce.
But when will that time beG In Hong
kong you can hear all sorts Of stories.
not more than ! per cent. OF which are
true. IL that but the general opinion
among the English settlements. In both
Hongkong and Shanghai, is that peace
on earth" far as II applies to China,
is not near at hand.
1T is my own opinion, as we'll as that
OF hundreds Of others who have resided
any time In China, that the Boxer trou-
BILE WIN not be put down as speedily as
ment was begun in the North. the South
was just az we'll posted as any other
section Of tho empire. They were slow
In taking up the movement waiting for IL
10 develop strength. In fact. the anti
foreign sentiment pervades every city
in China. whether It has broken out or
not, and as the mob army grows this VIII
be demonstrated.
struggle To he Long.
1T has been said that Cinnamon are
not warriors. This may have been true
In the past but religious and anu-for-
eign fanatcism Is now rampant through
out the provinces, and the war Will ba
carried on, / believe. even after tho
hordes have been driven back into the
Interior.
There is no doubt that the emperor
and empress dowager have given encour-
ageJnant 10 the Boxers, and even tn their
present attitude. II is but a plan 10 de-
fore true light Is shed to the world.
so far as the situation at Picking IL
left Hongkong, From what | know OF
the Chinese ! would not put much faith
In Minister ConEefs dispatch, although
fl Is posaible he may be alive Ho~ever,
Americans are on no better footing than
citizens ~ any other nation.
While ! Mould hs surprised to see for
less In case Of a general declaration OF
war by the powers. there Is the same
auti-foFeign sentiment expressed there.
a siurring remark passed By n native on
foreigners, Why I think the seaboards
comparatively safe IL due TO the pres
ence of warsa1ips and although l soc
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