The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-06-24
AMERICAN COTTON IN CHINA.
Growth of the Trade as shown by
Treasury Statistics.

Treasury Statistics.
Washington, June 2S.-The growing non
ularity of American cotton goods in
China is evidenced by some figures con-
tanned in the report of the foreign trade
OF China for the year 1900. a copy of
which has recently been received at the
Treasury Bureau of Statistics. The re-
port opens with discussion of the won
dertul expansion of China's foreign trade
and after commenting upon the interrup-
ton of this growth due to the unsettled
conditions during the latter half of 1900.
summarizes the principal features of the
trade, as follows:
Inc close of the decade offers a con-
Venient opportunity for a general review
or the progress of trade With some ex
ceptions the trade in cotton piece goods
mas remained practically stationery and
IN some items has even fallen Oft The ex-
ceptions are American drills, Jeans and
sheeunss, which show a strong advance,
ana cotton flannel, principally American.
ana cotton hastings, which are evidently
increasing in favor English cotton yarn
mas not progressed, while Indian and ia
"
Among sundries. candles, clocks and
watches, analine dyes, window glass,
paints and perfumery have gradually in
creased in demand while flour, kerosene
OIL, matches and soap have been import
ed In much larger quantities every year.
AS regards heavy cotton goods, the
expansion in American manufactures at
the expense of British is natural and
must be expected to continue Proxim-
ity to China, cheaper freights and the
evident advantage of using Indigenous
cotton are all factors which will contrib
ute 10 the future expansion of the Ameri-
can trade
The imports into China have increased
steadily and rapidly during the decade,
increasing from 10, 09S, 4S1 Haikwan taels
IN 1890, to 264,74S, 456 taels in 1899, and con-
unuing this rate of increase up to the
middle of 1900, following which date there
was marked contraction in the volume
Oh trade consequent upon the unsettled
condltlon of the country. Even with this
setback, the import in 1900 amounted to
zl,OfO,422 taels, a sum in excess of any
previous year save 1899. The share of the
United States in this growing trade Is
gratifying. In 1895 we supplied less than
per cent. of the imports into China; in
1870 we supplied nearly per cent. This
growth is the more remarkabl when it
is remembered that American goods for
the most part reached China at the port
OF shanghai and are thence redistributed
through the ports of New Chwang. Tien
Tsln and Che Foo, located in the section
most largely affected by the recent trou-
pies. These three ports sustain the loss
or over 90 per cent. in there 1900 import
trade, as against the loss of only about
20 per cent. for China as whole.
some idea as to the future of American
cotton goods in the markets of China,
with the restorations of normal condi-
lions, may be obtained by the citation of
few representative items in this line of
manufactures In 1885, the importation of
american drills into China amounted to
olS 4o2 pieces; in 1899, to 1926, 1O7 pieces.
" American sheetings the imports into
emma in 1895 amounted to 762O95 pieces.
in 1899, to 3T5,9O3 pieces. OF American
jeans. the imports in 1896 were p. 79s
pieces; in 1899, 126,SO3 pieces, and in 1900
loLSb6 pieces. Of the cotton drills imported
INTO China in 1900, amounting 10 ]. O24. ga
pieces, SOo,SR pieces were American. and
OF the cotton sheeting imported in 1900.
agsregatins 1885,, S76 pieces, 231249 pieces
were American-the proportion of Ameri-
can in each case being in 1900 about 90
per cent, as against 70 per cent of the
urlls' and 80 per cent. of the sheetings
imported in 1895.
emma has somewhat decreased her i'm
portations of kerosene oil since 1898. those
OF the American being 50,OS4. OBS gallons in
1888; 4o7249SS gallons in 1892 and 34.447112
gallons in 1900; of Russian, 1885. 24s gal
Ions in 1898; $685. III. gallons in 1899. and
81 IOS175 gallons in 1900; and of Sumatra.
D'S1,s6o gallons in 1898; Il, 9O3 POP gallons
IN 1899, and 1924 1851 gallons in 1895.
The following table shows the exports
and imports from the United States from
and into China, respectively, in each year
from 1895 to 1900: