The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1901-02-03

| We are now selling more cotton goods to
North China q any other country, and
our Consuls think there Is no reason why
we should not rave the bulk of the fine
cottons which are sold by the English and
Germans throughout the Yang-tse Valley
and South China
Al present our trade il confined almost
entirely to the north. Just before the war
began We were selling more than half he
cotton goods imported at Tfen-Tsin. and
there Is a steady increase in the sale Of
American drills and sheetings in Manchu-
ria and other parts Of North China We
are also selling . great deal Of cotton to
Korea. and the possible extension Of the
trade IS unlimited. What our big cotton
factories need Is to have men here study
Ing the markets and to keep the factories
at home posted on just what the people
want and how II should be packed
Packing Goods.
One Of the great troubles with the Amer
lean products shipped to China Is in the
packing. The steamers are now going far
into the interior. and the goods should be
shipped to the nearest port from where
they can be transferred direct to the peo-
pie. A large part Of interior China is
mountainous. Thousands OF tons of goods
are carried over the country on wheelbar-
rows. on mall boats. on pack mules and
on the backs of men. Men either push or
haul the boats, men and donkeys propel
the wheelbarrows. and porters 60 bent over
loaded with goods. The best package Is
one Of from 100 to 200 pounds weight. so
put I'D that It will stand the weather and
knocking about.
As to most articles. the method of pack
ing has much to do with the sales. Things
packed in tins are more desirable because
OF the tin. There Is a regular business all
over China In secondhand tin. Coal oil Is
shipped In cans. These are beaten out and
sold as tin after the coal oil Is consumed.
Every glass bottle Is kept, and you find
shops In every village devoted to the sec
ondhand bottle trade. A certain London
firm controls the biscuit trade Of East
Asia because 1t puts up its goods in neat
tin boxes. which can be taken of without
cutting. Ali articles liable to be affected
by moisture should be sent In tins The
climate Of many parts Of China Is damp,
and Photographic materials. drugs and food
products not properly protected are sure to
spoil. The English send all their drugs In
glass and Photographic materials in tins<
American Ffrmn In China.
There are a number Of Americans who
have made money In China For genera
tions Russell & Co. were noted throughout
the Far East. This frm had its houses at
every port. II had its W steamers. and
did q great part Of the foreign business OF
China. It made the fortunes OF several gen.
erations and then went into other hands.
The Aston House Of Shanghai made a for
tune for an American and his family. This
is the other hotel OF that place. 1t now be-
longs to a company and pays dividends OF
about $1,000 a year.
One Of the largest American firms In Chi
ma is the American Trading Company. and
another which also does a big business Is
the China and Japan Trading Company.
These companies have their houses and
agents at the various ports. Their stock Is
owned in New York. and / am told that
they are making a great deal Of money.
They are doing a general exporting and I'm
porting business. handling American cot
tons. machinery and other products. Mus
tard & Co. OF Shanghai Is another old
American firm. They represent the Tobac-
co Trust and some Of the biggest establish
ments of the Pacific Coast. Fearon. Daniel
& Co are the agents of the Pacific Mail
steamship line. They also do a general
import and export business. dealing largely
III railroad materials. having furnished
most of the American locomotives used on
the Chinese railways Other firms are Dun
ming 4 Co. and Frazier & Co. engaged In
WhoIesaling and retailing.
FRANK q CARPRITER