The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1902-01-23
SOME VIEWS AT WASHINGTON

the directly goods and merchail
disc to the value of $6oat The largest item the list
S345So for machinery parts and second is $5s
for bicycles and accessories In 1900 the imports of
bicycles from the United States larger than those of
other article From these facts may be inferred that
the inhabitants of Siam not far behind the rest OF the
world in their liking for Bicycles and that further, they
show their good taste by preerring the American made
! article
The United States Consul General King says first in
the import Of bicycles England standing how
ever, in the relation Of In the import OF wire,
America stands next Germany which is first If to the
figures credited America added those credited to
Hong Kong (and nearly all OF the wire probably
from America would stand first in this line also 1t is
hardly fair to that large amount of goods OF this
kind would be shipped from Europe Singapore dis
lance of miles Hong Kong and then be returned to
| Bangkok equal distance.
Americas trade in lamps is surprising. To the $4S,6t5
expended by Siam for United States lamps in may safe
be added the greater part of the imports from Hong Kong
$33G4s, for the reason stated above is fair
that the Singapore figures also should yield something
to American credit in this line, This trade is almost
tirey in the side and bottom winding metal lamp, that
burns kerosene without chimney.
The showing in chemicals and drugs is exceedingly good
Mr. King says considering that it is the first year the trade
has been recognized in the custom reports The for
tobacco are by with the business
done in that product considerable traffic has
acted by American houses located in China and Japan and
good trade is also done from Singapore Manila cigars
figure largely in the market They the Hayana Of the
East
There arc heavy imports of American canned goods
through Chinese houses in Hong Kong but only small per
Of the timed goods that 90 Siam from America is
credited country No -four is credited to America
although all the flour that used in Siam from here
In the large showing under the item Of provisions
from Hong Kong and Sngapore--especially Hong Kong
American flour and timed goods figure largely
There is large trade in American clocks. MIR. King
says he has penetrated the ungles OF Siam over
miles to the north and has travelled and and south
from Bangkok we'll, and in hamlet however remote
has he failed find the American clock 1t is impossible
however get any figures this trade The American
sewing machine has almost universal claim
Siamese has the American clock The sale from
to 600 every year
There is large and growing business in electrical goods
supply the Tamway company the electric light power
plant and the wentysx private plants in Bangkok In this
line America has the great export OF the market.
81 -
The amount of petroleum imported from Siam during the
year 43555I7 gallons OF this Russia o43I2
gallons the coming from Sumatra, Borneo and other
parts OF the far East from the American The
figures interesting, the import of Russian petroleum
shows to dollar the amount of Russian trade with Siam
The Shell line iron oil at Baku the
Russian and discharges Bangkok They then cleanse
their tanks with water, and lime, take rice, and dis
charge Bremen other German port returning
light to Baku. This company however, has its own
plant Borneo well way, bringing most Of the
petroleum from there This would indicate Rus
sian trade with Siam is yet to be considered permanent
factor i'll the question Of competition All OF this petroleum
is taken Bangkok in bulk and stored in large tanks below
the city The oil is inferior in quality, cheap and very
smoky but suits the and good trade is resulting
The American product which had always imported in
tin and of better quality supplied the European
demand in the city, but could compete with the poorer
oil in price When electricity introduced the demand
for good illuminating oil that those pre-
viousIy interested in American oil up the trade
porting their last cargo in 1893.
Crude petroleum for fuel becoming feature of the
trade because of the high price OF wood and SIAM
and this industry promises be growing The Bang
kok market Of the future will Mr.. King says be for in
erio grades OF oil and for crude petroleum. and order
compete, these must be imported in bulk.
Mr. Kings report is dated November and It is quite
likely that at that time he of the immense
strides being made in the development market for
Texas oil OF the fact that the discovery Of the Texas
field has had the effect OF bringing prices down to an easier
basis He says nothing of the price which the Russian
and Borneo oil interests deliver product in Siam bt
there is believe that within wear or 81 AZ b
most the development OF the Texas fields the widening
OF the market Tor the Texas product will have made il nos
sble for that product be delivered in Siam as we'll &C in
other foreign countries equal footing with the product
OF the Russian and other fields
-
The house committee on coinage weights and r,.,,...
has deeite'to give series OF hearings during which il will
listen to the views of a OF prominent business mon
on the question OF the ACCESSIBILITY feasibility Of adont
ing the metric system of weights and measures =, h -
fetal system OF this country. number Of scientific men
have appeared before the in past years and r,
teay without exception they have testified that the adoption
OF the metric system would be good thing for the country
They have been practically unanimous too in the belief
that the system necessity and its adoption ,oI
eventually become inevitable The theoretical and scientific
side OF the matter having been thus gotten at the couitt
has decided that it would be well inform itself as 10 b
manner in which the matter is regarded by the business in
teress OF the country. the business who will he s
moued will be asked the trouble and inco
Yenienee whch change TO the metric system would involve
and also as TO the expense which the change would make
necessary Ii it is that the business men are ns
nous nearly So in the belief that proposed chance
should be made bill providing for it will be favoraby re-
10 The house is o,f Ell.
that about twothirds OF the people of the world are now
using the metric system with success ~"
About $4,000 worth of silver bullion captured b
American marines Tien Tsn during the recent poxe
troubles win be returned the Chinese governments
through Minister WI 1t is stated that this money would