The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1900-05-27
FOREIGN TRADE or CHINA.
An Advance without Precedent Last Year
Effect Of the RAILWAYS.

The InSppctur-(;enera Of Customs in China
has Just issued his annual report for 1899 on
the trade Of China. under the title. Imperial
Maritime Customs" and in II lie gives an "S-
tremely favorable account Of the growth Of
trade between China and other countries.
Anticipating n repetition by foreign merchants
Of their criticism Of the previous years report.
that il was too optimistic, tho report points
ont that it deals with the condition and pros
poets Of the of China as affecting the
national interests and prosperity. and not
from the point of view of the individual foreign
trader. The latter still finds that the whole
volume of trade is somewhat small in com
pariSon with the number of competitors for
IL. and the report admits that this is so, con-
sldering how great the possibilities Of the coun-
try are, but NJ IL" same time il points out that
d the expected results Of the coming railways
are realized. the prospects OF the Iuturp IN
crease OI business AR" very bright indeed.
The general abatement OF the trad" OF 1899
j. given in IN" HaIkwan tael. equivalent To
about :? cents. II was characterized, 80 the
report states, by an astonishing development,
and merchants, both foreign and native, made
handsome profits IN almost every branch.
The political situation, although still Unsettled.
gave rise 10 no immediate fears. exchange re-
manned remarkably steady. the RE. crop was
abundant III" spring weather during IN" critl-
cal period for the silk worms was unusually
favorable, and, except for u reCrude~conce OF
piracy on the Wes, River, there were no dis
turbanors 10 check trade. The gratifying
result wa- that the year beat all previous rec
Ords and showed an advance without precedent,
The total trade was valued at IRO. j33, 2ss iiaik-
wan ta"l>, equal TO 1891 $50. 087, a riS. al 81 ,sl6 :
s6 liaikWan taels, or sec, lSO, 100 on 1905, and
more than dOubl" the figures for 1890.
The internal trade of tn" country was nm
usually brisk, and the important changes
which will be- brought about by the extension
OF railways have already been demonstrated
by actual experience The report goes on 10
show that Niuchwang and Tipn-tsin already
bear witness to the stimulus effected by better
severe outbreak uf plague NJ the former port.
vance, The kussinn railway has been rom
plot"d A. far north rs Mukden. and III" line
from P"kin To han-kau j. progressing steadily
Other railways are also being pushed forward,
and wherever they have been completed ID"
Improvement in commercial movement l. seen,
The revenue raised from the customs ~ lsW
was 26,88l, 400 Hk. Tl~.. or $40 ?rd.? 5i, being
i,liSt@ lk. Tl-. or g., 30. sOj higher then IN"
preNiot~ yenr, and 3, ~, 40 liz. ! H., or f?,28a.-
278 more than was collected IN 1901, which was
the record y"Hr. The import duties teNcllslv"
~ dnty on OPIUM amounted to d,G56,62a Hk'
Us. or S,Io2, I6s. which. on an import trade
valued al 2 1855. 6ss Xix. Tls. or slA. sts,O15.
after deductlng opium, represent an ad vnlorem
duty ofless than 2 per cent,
The greatest Increase j. shown IN the eN-
ports. Their value tor is8p j. estimated NJ
i05. ~, ". Hk n. Or Sip, a8S. o7J. an Increase
ol 80, ~ $50 Hk. It's. or $50, i5s.39i over the pre-