The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-03-20
RUINED BY THE BOXERS
AMERICAS TRADE WITH NORTH
CHINA ALMOST ANNIHILATED.
Reports from ConsuIs Fowler at Che
Foo and RagsdaIe at Tien-Tsin
ON Effects of the Uprising.

WASHINGTON, March 19.-The State
Department has received from United
States Consuls Fowler. at Che-Foo, and
Ragsdale. at Tien-Tsin, reports intended
TO show the effect of the Boxer troubles
in north China on United States trade.
with particular regard TO h Americans
lost in America through the outbreak,
rather than in China.
A resume of the trade returns in north
China entire, comparing the quarter ended
June 30 last with that ended Sept. 30.
shows an almost complete anntsfation of
the American import trade, and, in Con-
sui Fowler's language, ''gives a good idea
OF what a mob in China can do in inter-
fering with trade" The greatest loss was
felt in cotton piece goods, and the ces-
sation of this class of imports, says the
consul, must have been most keenly felt
in the Southern States. Probably no other
country in the world, says Consul Fow-
Ter, suffered as much as did the United
States, for the scene of strife covered
practically the entire field of trade. In
compiling the statitics, the amounts are
indicated by gallons, pieces or set out in
Chinese money, so that an estimate of the
actual value of the losses sustained is not
easily available. but the comparative tables
indicating the greatest increase in our
trade with China ever known at the be-
ginning of 1900. and setting forth the most
serious losses TO IL at the end OF the
year, are sufficiently impressive TO serve
the purpose.
AT Chetoo, which, compared with the i'm
mediate northern ports, was peaceful, there
were more riots and tumults than ever were
known before, and the various American
mission losses probably will total $4,000 in
gold. After June Is the imports at Chefoo
ceased, all commercial transactions being
absolutely nil.
The effect of the Boxer movement is
shown to have been felt much earlier and
more seriously at Tien-Tsin than at Che
foo. Ships loaded with Oregon lumber
reached Taku and were unable to land their
cargoes, thus entailing an enormous loss
upon the American lumber trade. one
American firm paid over 5000 in gold on
demurrages alone from this account, be-
sides losing the, sale of the lumber destined
for Tien-Tsin.
At Neu-Chwang, which saw less fighting
than Tien-Tsin, the trade was wiped out
almost completely. The only foreign power
that interfered there. 1t Is stated, was
Russia, that government Selling the port
as early as August. On Aug. II 1t had
cOntrol of the customhouse
The total collection of duties for all Chi
ma during the quarter ended Sept. 30 last,
showed a loss of 2, 459, 591 taels,
as compared with the same period OF 1899.
The figures submitted, Consul Fowler
points out, don't fully show American
losses, for immense quantities of merchan-
disc were held up in the various ports and
must be worked off before importations
can begin. The losses to the cotton trade
alone are estimated at over $1,000, 600.
Consul Ragsdale submits statistics show
ing the consequences OF the Boxer troubles,
as regards the export trade from Tien-
Tsin. The country north of Tien-Tsin,
where the principal articles of export are
produced, he says, is now overrun with ex-
Boxers and ex-soldiers, who have turned
bandits, and it will be exceedingly difficult
for merchants to get goods out of or into
the interior. The supplies for the United
States troops in China, which nave come
into Tien-Tsin, Mr.. Ragsdale says, have
attracted the notice and envy of all other
nationalities, including the merchants as
we'll as the soldiers. The enormous discrep-
ancy between the export figures at Tien-
Tsin, for the. present, and for last year,
show a startling array of losses, and the
favorable.