The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-06-21

this country with the Celestial Kingdom,
since the outbreak CT trouble in the Chi
| nese Empire. as TO the effect that the
present condition Of affairs is having and
is likely to have on the trade relations be
tween the two countries. The statement
is made that these enquiries are only less
urgent than those of the relatives and
friends Of the missionaries.
They = iicate in a very striking way
the recent rapid growth Of Americas ex-
ports to China and the value that the
country has come TO have as a market for
American goods.
Some of the most earnest demands for
information come from some of the South
ern States. where within the last few
years a considerable trade in cotton goods
with the Orient has been developed. Any
blow struck az this new trade. such as
would result from state Of war, or even
OF prolonged and general internal dis
turbances in China, would be very seri-
ously felt. Similar effects would be felt
also by the manufacturers and exporters
of -four. mineral oils. and other commodi-
ties. including railway materials and sup
plies. and many other articles for which
there has been a large and steadily in
creasing demand in the Orient. as we'll as
Oy Americans who are interested in rail-
way, mining, and other projects
The export trade of the United States
with China has been making rapid strides
in the last few years. and its volume has
already reached large proportions. Ten
years ago it amounted to less than s., 0OO.-
OO0. and last year IL had increased to about
Sl4. sec. 0G0. and had more than doubled in
the previous four years. In 1899 the di-
rect exports of cotton manufactures from
this country TO China amounted TO g.S2S,-
253, which was nearly AZ per cent OF the
total exports Of such goods from the Uni
ted States to all countries IN that year,
and eight times the total exports of cotton
goods from this country 10 China in 1890.
This trade has increased by leaps and
bounds since the cotton factories of the
United States, especially those in the
Southern States, entered the field OF com
petition with the Manchester mills for the
Chinese trade in the cheaper and coarser
grades Of cotton piece goods.
In addition TO the exports from the
United States direct to China, it was es-
tim2ted that from 20 TO 60 per cent II
those 10 Hcngkong found their wav into
| China, increasing the total from SI4.5OO.-
goo 70 SIT 000, GOO 10 $500 900. or the
1851 coo worth Of goods exported 10
| HOngkons last year, about fOur-sevenths
consisted OF breadstuffs. The exports of
| breadstuffs to China direct last year
amounted to only S114331. while those to
| Hongkong amounted TO 5000. 600, three
| hfths OF which would be $2.41s, 00O
At Tentsin. which is now g centre OF
disturbance. the imports Of American
goods have been rapidly increasing. All
/ these goods have to be transs A2ped
| through HongkCng and Shanghai fen
tsin is the point Of accumulation and dis
/ trfh of all no Ha- f-,sg
/ for consumption in the northern provinces
OF China II contains a population OF a
million, and the province OF Chi-Hi-LI
in which Pekil. only eighty miles dis
tant. is situated, contains \ population OF
about eighteen millions. although its area
is the same as that Of the State OF Geor-
/ gia. Tientsin is the terminus OF two
government railways-one to Pekfn
| which has been partially destroyed since
| the beginning Of the existing troubles
and the other running nOrtheasterly 10
! Shani-Kwan. also on the Gulf Of Pe-Chee-
/ Lee.
An elaborate railway is projected from
/ Tientsin southwark through the provinces
| OF Shantung and kiang-Su to Shanghai
a distance of about zee miles. Shantune
l has a population Of g.. eco. eco. and the pop
ulation Of Kiang-Su is q .CO0. 600 The three
/ provinces mentioned have about the same
population as the United States, although
their combined area is only I6S, 553 square
miles about the same as that OF New
England. Pennsylvania and Georgia.
II the existing disturbances in China
shall be settled within a reasonable time
and with suitable and satisfactory guaran-
tees for the future preservation of public
order and protection Of the lives and pro-
peTty Of foreigners. the railway develop
ment of the country will undoubtedly be
rapid from that time forward and a larger
market created for many kinds of AmerI-
can manufactures. American locomotives
and other railway supplies and materials
found their way into China last year for
use on the Government railroads which
radiate from Pekin and comprise a length
of about $50 miles.
Among the railway lines projected. sew
eral Of which are already in course of
construction. is one from Canton to Han
Kow. on the Yang-tse-K iang River This
line has already been surveyed by a corps
Of American engineers and surveyors un-
der the direction Of W./B. Parsons OF
New York. The concession for this road
was granted two years ago to an american
company or syndicate. among whose mem
bers were Gen Samuel Thomes, Hugh J
Grant and Thurlow Weed Barnes, of New
York. the Carnegie Steel Company and
others. The estimated cost Of the line.
which will be about 600 miles long is
$4,000 GOO.
The road will traverse a rich agricuI-
tuTal region, containing population rear
iy equal to that Of the United States and
connect the great commercial metropolis
Of southern China with the important ard
pCpulous city of Han-Kow- The former has
population OF %, O00. coo acd the latter
100000. At Han-Kow the line will connect
with the one now building under a ccnces-
sion to Belgian syndicate. ard extending
TO Pekin, a distance OF about $50 mi es
The estimated cost Of this line is SIS
OOo,Oc0. German capitalists are building
lines through the province IF Shaatung
and several million dollars wC-Lp of ma
terials for the construction G. le road
nave already been shipped fro1z2 Germany
Inese lines viii tap the projected trunk
lire extending from Tientsin to Shang-
nal, distance Of about 200 miles
The combined mileage (estimated) OF tie
several projected railways will somewhat
exceed $500 miles. and when the projects
shall have been carried out China will be
pretty well provided with railway facui-
ties, and Il will be only a short and easy
, step 10 the linking of the Chinese railway
system with that of British India in the
southeast and that CT the trans-S bsrian
system in the northeast