Washington sentinel., 1900-03-03

foreign ones are not. The fact
that we have furnished the Russian
Government with millions Of dol
lars worth Of various goods and
were paid Tor. the same is gratify-
ing. The Russian Government
always pays, but discrimination
should be used in dealing with the
business element generally.
PACKING SUGAR IN JAvA.-I wish,
says Consul Everett, at Batavia,
to call attention to the fact that a
new problem, and so far an un-
solved one, is appearing in con-
nection with the sugar trade OF this
colony. 1t is OF special interest to
Americans, as in the last two
seasons at least seven tenths OF the
sugar crop OF Java went to the
United States. 1t is the question
Of packing sugar.
AT present, sugar is packed in
cases OF matted bamboo straw, and
it has been found to be the ideal
packing, far superior to the grass
mats used for Philippine sugar.
Unfortunately, owing to improvi-
dent methods and neglect Of Gov
ernment supervision, the bamboo
is showing signs OF giving out, and
experts predict thatthe time is not
far distant when it will be so scarce
as to become too expensive to use
in packing sugar, in view OF the
present small margin in the profits
OF sugar planting.
In some districts; there have
been Government officials who
had foresight enough to compel
the natives to plant new tree as
soon as the old one was cut down.
but unfortunately such cases were
few and far between, with the re-
suit that many districts OF Java are
now almost entirely denuded Of
bar boo.
Conseque ently the planters are
casting round for a material to
take the place Of bamboo mating.
So far nothing has been found that
will answer. Jute is unsuitable.
A gentleman here who is largely
interested in sugar plantations,
with whom / was talking the other
day, told me that anyone who
could invent something satisfae-
tory would make a fortune in Java
alone, as his method would be at
once used by every planter. Inas-
much as the sugar exports for last
year were 686,s ,s42 metric tons, it
can readily be seen that it may be
worth someone's while to try.
Let an inventor acquainted with
sugar and its properties set his
brains to work to see il he can aot
evolve something that will meet the
situation l have described. Let
him, however, bear in mind that
what might be suitable packing for
Cuban sugar would not necessarily
do for Java, as this sugar has
much longer sea voyage to under
go, and must be much more care
fully protected.
l shall be very glad to answer
any further inquiries on the sub
ject.
LIGHTING OF INDIAN CITIEs.-In
reply to an inquiry from an Ohio
firm, Consul Fee. of Bombay, on
December 7, 1899, says:
The use OF electricity as power
and light is yet in its earliest stages
in India. Madras being the only
city using using it as a motive
power for street cars. Bombay is
poorly lighted by gas, and her
tramwaY is run by horse power.
The company operating it has it's
main Office in New York City, and
the stock is owned principally in
the United States. 1t has applied
to the Bombay municipality for
the privilege OF converting its
motive power to electricity. This
will undoubtedly occasion other
electric improvements Electric
lights are used in limited way in
the better class Of residences and
bungalows. Bombay is the best
place in which TO locate an agency.
1t is not only great in population
(having over S2I, ,ooo,) but also in
wealth and trade. One third OF all
the exports from the United States
to India come to this port. The
systems Of Indian railway as well
as the steamship p lines centre here.
The bulk OF electric supplies nov
come from Europe. The United
States during the past few years
has been pushing her trade in this
line, and the late steamers have had
noticeable shipments OF the sup.
plies from New York.
EXPORT OF WATCHES TO RUSSIA.
Vice Consul General Hanauer
writes from Frankfort:
During late years, Warsaw has
become the center OF the watch |
trade in Russia. The dealings be-
tween foreign and Russian mer-
chants are consummated there, |
these parties meeting once a year
Tor the transaction Of business in
this line. AT this time the Russian
buyers from Moscow, Tula, Sara.
taw, and Siberia give orders tor
the next twelve months and settle
for past purchases. This trade is
quite important. A few Geneva
sell over 1000, 900
roubles' worth here annually.
Swiss watch manufacturers pur- |
pose now to establish an extensive
depot Of goods In their linz AZ