The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-06-24
OUR TRADE WITH China
FIGURES FURNISHED BY THE TREAS
URY BUREAU OF STATISTICS.
United States Cotton Goods Growing
in Popularity with the Natives
of the Far East.
Special to the indianapolis Journal.

Special 10 the indianapolis Journal
WASHINGTON. June 23-The growing
popularity of American cotton goods in
China is evidenced by some figures con-
tanned in the report on the foreign trade of
China for the year 1900. copy of which has
recently been received at the Treasury Bu-
reau of Statistics. The report opens with
discussion of the wonderful expansion of
China S foreign trade, and after comment
ing upon the interruption of this growth
due to the unsettled conditions during the
latter half of 1900, summarizes the principal
features of the trade follows:
1.-The close of the decade offers con-
venient opportunity for general review of
the progress of trade. With some excep-
tions the trade in cotton piece goods has
remained practically stationary and In
some items has even fallen off. The excep-
tons are American drills, jeans ana sneet-
ings. which show a strong advance. and
cotton flannel. principally American. and
cotton hastings. which are evidently in
creasing in favor English cotton yarn has
not progressed. while Indian and Japanese
yarns have advanced rapidly. Among sun
dries. candles clocks and watches, aniline
dyes, window glass, paints and perfumery
have gradually increased In demand; while
-four, kerosene oil, matches and soap have
been imported 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. Proximity
to China, cheaper freights and the evident
advantage of using indigenous cotton are
all factors which will contribute to the flu
ture expansion Of the American trade
The imports into China have increased
steadily and rapidly during the decade, in
creasing from l27,09S 4S1 Hai-Kwan taels in
1890 to 264, 74S. 456 taels in 1892 and continu-
ing this rate of increase up to the middle
of 1900, following which date there was
marked contraction in the volume Of trade
consequent on the unsettled condition OF
the country. Even with this setback the
imports in 1900 amounted to 2ll,O1O422 Hal
Kwan taels, a sum in excess Of any pre-
vious year save 1899. The share OF the
United States in this growing trade is graf
flying In 1895 we supplied less than 3 per
cent of the imports into China; in 1900 we
supplied per cent. This growth is the
more remarkable when II Is remembered
that American goods. for the most part,
reach China at the port of Shanghai, and
are thence redistributed through the ports
of New-Chwang. Tien-Tsin and Che-Foo.
located in the section most largely affected
by the recent troubles. These three ports
sustained a loss of over 80 per cent. in their
1900 import trade as against a loss of only
about 20 per cent. for China as whole.
Some idea to the future of American
cotton goods in the markets of China, with
the restoration Of normal conditions. may
be obtained by the citation of few rep
resentative items in this line of manufac-
lures. In 1895 the importation of American
drills into China amounted to SIS, 402 pieces;
in 1899 to 1.626.107 pieces. OF American
sheetings the imports into China in 1895
amounted 10 762. 095 pieces in 1899 TO 1875, 9O3
pieces. Of American jeans the imports in
1895 were 1873 pieces: in 1899. 1903 pieces;
ant in 1900 1877 36s pieces. OF the cotton
drills imported into China in 1900, amount
ing to 1.024,63 pieces, sos. S92 pieces were
American; and Of the cotton sheetings i'm
ported in 1900. aggregating 2.962. S76 pieces,
2312, 494 pieces were American-the proper
ton Of American In each case being, in
1900. about so per cent, against 20 per
cent. of the drills and 55 per cent. of the
sheetings imported in 1885,
China has somewhat decreased her i'm
portations OF kerosene oil since 1898; those
OF American being 500Si,O15 gallons in 1898.
40. 724 9S9 gallons in 1899 and "a ,112 gall
Ions in 1900; of Russian. 1926, 246 gallons in
1898, 1865, l16 gallons in 1899 and 80 70S. 757
gallons in 1900; and of Sumatran 26,S71, $50
gallons in 1898, II, 49,. 202 gallons in 1892 and
1e, 424 l55 gallons in 1900.
The following table shows the exports,
ret imports and imports from the United
States from and into China. respectively.
IT. each year from 1895 to 1900, the amount
being given in Hai-Kwan taels, the value of
which is about IS cents: