The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1902-09-13
BUSINESS OF CHINA.

inst reached the Treasury Bureau OF
Statistics. shows that railroad con-
struction has been actively resumed in
several of the provinces, that practical
Nv 1000 miles of railway are now IN OPP
GRAFTON. and that several hundred miles
VIII be added during the present year;
while the record of the foreign COM
merce presented by the reports shows
that the imports into China in the year
1901 were larger than those OF any pre-
ceding year. The total value Of the
imports is given as 26S. Sd2. 91s haikwan
taeIs, or 1872, 97S, 100, against 264 million
taels in 1899, 202 millions in 1897, III
millions in 1895 and 1872 millions in 1884.
The exports are valued at 169, $50, 735
haikwan taeIs ($122, 15S .OOO). and exceed
those of any prior year except 1899
From the United States the imports
in 1901 We're valued at 2S,529, 6o6 haikwan
Itaels ($16,S41, 5000, against 16,724,4s5 haik-
wan taels in 1900, 22,2Ss.745 in 1899, H.
1892 in 1898, and 9.263.OS2 in 1894. Thus
the imports from the United States
have increased about $50 per cent since
1894, while the exports to the United
States in 1901 were practically the same
as those of 1894, the figures of 1901 be-
ing 1872 SS haikwan taels, and those
of 1894, 1912 SS Comparing the prog
ress of the United States with that of
other countries, it may be said that the
imports into China from Great Britain
on toe
in 1894 to IL millions in 1901; those from
Hongkong increased from 81 millions to
120 millions: those from continental
Europe except Russia, from millions
to II millions, and those from Russia
increased from less than one million to
three million haikwan taels. The
growth in imports from the United
States is larger than that in imports
from any other country, though Hong
kong, Great Britain, Japan. and India
rank higher than the United States in
the import statement of 1901
American merchandise continues to
find favor in China, according to a
statement of the Statistical Secretary,
Mr. r. E. Taylor, which accompanies
the report. american heavy goods, -
he says, continue to find favor, drills
from that country having now reached
1,649626 pieces, or more than double the
importations of 1900; while sheetings
rose to 2,S4O,518 pieces. japanese goods
also show progress, Japanese shirtings
having risen from 1856 to 14,029 pieces.
Grey and white shirtings were about
the same, amongst them being included
a growing Importation of American
goods. Owing to the fall in exchange
and the dearness of cotton in America
and Europe, there was a marked de-
mand during the year for cheaper quail
tiles of cotton goods, which was rather
reversal of the tendency of late
years. American kerosene oil was six
largest previous Importation, in 1894;
Russian kept its place, while Samaritan
! is rapidly gaining and has reached 49,
640,049 gallons"
| An interesting feature of the report
is that relating to the resumption of
/ Shantung railway had $50 kilometres
completed at the end of the year, and
trains were running between Tsingtao
and Tso-shan. This next spring it is
expected to reach the Ma-ssu Coal
mines, and should be completed as far
as Ghi-nan-fu, the capital of the prov
ince, in three years. The Imperial rail-
ways of North China between Picking
and Tientsin and Newchwang, with ex-
tensions to Chinwangtao, and from
extensions to Tung-chou and Hsin-min-
tun, have 901 kilometres completed. The
short line between Shanghai and Woo
sung, Is kilometres, is said to be pay
ing its way now, but nothing has beer
done by way of commencing the pro.
jected railway from Shanghai to 500
lchow. Ningpo, etc, and it is understood
that there is some difficulty in raising
the necessary capital, owing to the
terms of the concession not being con
sidered satisfactory to the investors
The great trunk line from Picking t.
Hankow makes steady progress, anC
the influence on trade should be fel
Immediately. During the year the sec
ton between Lu-kou-chiao and Pao
lting-fu, destroyed by Boxers, was re
built, and the line has been carrie,
down to Cheng ting-fu, distant from
Picking 262 kilometres. In 1902 it i
hoped to complete the line as far soutl
as Shun-te-fu, further distance of II
kilometres. In the south, at the end @
the year IT'S kilometres northward
from Hankow were completed, an
, trains will be running as far as Hsin
yang (220 kilimetres) about May Is
S next. By the end of the year it i
: hoped that the track will be laid 70
e another 100 kilometres north of Hsfn
yang. 1t is intended to commence wor
shortly on the line from Wuchang t
4 Canton. Experience has already show
that railways in China are eagerl
s awaited of and that business increase
: wherever they are built
The London Times advises the use o
English railways of the big America
d freight cars.