The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-05-14

total trade was valued at 46o $50. 2ss haik-
wan taels the average value OF the haik-
wan tael was 81 las in 1890. so.e97 IN lsl3
and sO722 in 1890, a rise of sos
haikwan taels on 1898, and more than
double the figures for 1890
The internal trade OF the country was
also unusually brisk. and the important
changes which will be brought about by
the extension of railways have already
been proved. NewChang and T1entsin
have promptly responded TO the stimulus
OF better means of communication and
the trade OF those ports has leaped for
ward. although the former suffered from
a severe outbreak OF the plague II IL
found that Immediately trains begin to
run. districts through which there was
little traffic. such as between PaotinR and
Pekin. suddenly commence 10 hum with
life and activity. and there springs I'D a
nourishing trade which was formerly un-
5reamt Of and impossible for want OF
cheap transport. The Russian line has
been completed as far north as Moukden.
and the extraordinary richness Of Man
thur.a will soon become evident The
Iu-Han railway from Pekin 30 Hankow.
makes steady progress. Within six months
Il Is expected that trains will he running
as far south as ChinEting.
The dlfheultiss in the southern section
where extensive tunneiing is required,
have been laid for forty kilometres north
wards from Hankow the track Is now
being made as far as Ssnyang-to which
place Il Is hoped 70 nun trains within
two yrara-and the whole line OF DO kilo-
metres Is 20 be completed IN Ave years,
including the difficult engineering feat OF
br,aaiur the yellow river. The line be-
tween Taku. Tientsin and Pekin con-
,lnues 20 advance In prosperity. ana the
extension beyond ShanhAikwan towards
Nov. hwarg viii shortly D. connected by
ran with the capital Difficulties regarding
the question % control are hamgeFing
the conces~ionRries Of various other Zines.
hut Il Is 70 ~ hoped that these will
soon - satisfactorily arranged. as there
is n LONGER any DOUBT thai the effect
OF cheap transport will lead 70 an enor-
nous development % China's trade.
yalue of Import Trade.
The ne; value % the import trade was
"a -. 81 haIkwan taeis, being an advance
o. ss1salaa ha!kwan theis, over the prey
tons wear and double the hgurcs Tor 1850
The trade IN co4ton goods. whlch
had remained practically STATIONARY for
three wears made = great edYaule. the
value having risen from TI.Tss24 hatswan
tasls 10 los TX 6ss haikvan taels- . would
b. tedious 10 particularizo all ;he sains
bu, every article mentioned n tac table
az Imports. gtth the exception ot gray
shirttnEs insignificant decroase). T-ciotHs.
Ynciish and Dutch Jeans and Eugliss
warn were imported IN quantities sx ,eed-
ing the figures Tor 1895 As regards the
falling 0ff in T-cloths. Il is explained that
their place is taken BY VIA; are generals
known in the trade as "coliinentals."
which are included IN our returns under
the heading Of sheetinzs. English sheet
fngs showed an advance from as3.ags to
76a. ~ pieces. and the increase must be
ascribed partly 10 continentals and partly
20 the higher prices which prevailed In tho
United states American sheetinEs rose
again. from z4s3.s9l 10 3s75.so5 pieces.
Speaking generally. the year commenced
with small stocks on hand, and demand
was brisk
a snort cotton crop Throughout the
world gradually raised prices, but contracts