New-York tribune., 1902-05-05
INVESTMENTS N CHINA.
AMERICAN TRADE INTERESTS STEADILY
EXPANDING.

EXPANDING.
Washington May 4 (speclaD.-Amerlcan canital
Is being invested In various enterprises in Chfna.
ana the expansion Of United States trade interests
IN that country is steady according 20 the reports
"' 'he consular officials. which 20 be printed
in the forthcoming volumes Of "CommerciaI Re
iations" issued from the Department Of State for
gratuious distribution
The consul at Canton. Mr.. McWade notes that
an American company has applied for perrnission
70 run line OF passenger and freight steamers
between Canton, HenEchow and Hong Kong Heng-
cho~ has population Of over one million and is
a most fertile agricultural district. Consul VII
cox, or Hankau. reports that the American syn
dicate which secured the concession for building
the Hankau-C Canton railway and made a nreJ,r,
mary survey Of the proposed route In 1899 Is pre-
pairing 10 begin work AT points on the line
lie also notes that concessions for mining gold
silver copper and antmony ores have been given
by the Board Of Mines 10 parties of Americans
frenchmen and Germans. who are AT present on
ueaVoring TO develop their claims The concessions
are OF such recent date however. that It is too
easily to expect returnst from the properties
Mr.. McWade says that American goods have an
established reputation In China and are preferred
TO all other foreign articles. This is well appre-
clated by the japanese. who put many cheap and
INFERIOR limitations OF our products upon the mar
ket. large trade in goods Is done bv Brit
ish and Chinese merchants through Hong Kong
The Chinese are especially fond of novelties the
wealthy classes taking pride I'm possessing any
thing that affords entertainment or amusement
In their yamens are often found cameras magic
lanterns. music boxes. monographs. etc. Watches
as well as clocks, are extensively sold the cheaper
varieties leading. There is a good demand for
silver watches costing from s. to $40 and manv
gold watches are disposed Of. American time
pieces preferred to all Others
Consul Ragsdae. Of Tcn-Tsin saws that a land
investment company has recently been organized
there, with a capital OF s3500OO gold. This com
pany has purchased large landed interests in the
different concessions. and has erected buildings
all OF which readily find tenants even before com
pletlon. The income from rents Is already equal
to 70 per cent per annum of the capital invested
The principal stockholders are Americans
me consul also says that our piece goods have
obtained a strong foothold in Manchuria as well
as throughout China. 1t Is safe to say that three
nfths Of this trade goes to the United States
Japan and England controlling the remainder
lhere Is an Increase Ia the use OF -four the
quantity sold at Tien-Tsn last year being 600 per
this was doubtless due to the presence OF the
allied troops, but the better class of chinese arc
beginning 10 use II In preference the native
product. ''
Consul General RubIee, of Hong Kong saws tbat
mere mere Is an an opening FOR cheap pumps throughout
from wells, employing the primitive method OF at
tachlng jar or other receptacle to the end OF a
long bamboo pole and dipping ii into the well Tbe
substitution OF pumps for this laborious process
and once introduced the field for them wo1id h
almost unlimited. '
Nj Wilcox describes the difficulties encountered
INDUSTRIAL enterprises. According "A thu
Chinese retain controlling interests in railway and
other concessions but they get beyond their depth
IN attempting 20 dictate the management and for
their iron works. aTsenalS textile mills agric,It-
ura colleges, etc they have secured foreign super
intendents. Having been educated, however IA
think that the Chinese way Of doing a thing is the
best they will not allow the Superiutendent ~
carry on the work according TO his Judgment tn
foreigners who as rule, well qualified for
their positions. arrive at their posts with high
hopes and full OF energy. But they have not cal
culated upon the Chinese character. They are
forded them for making their work a success T'hex
select their men and organize for the undertak
ing. but they soon learn that there are uanv ON
cials who desire that their relations shall be on
the payroll. These employees are not nut there 70
work. but to draw their salary Many mann
factories have from six 10 men 70 do the labor
that could be done by in the West They
do only what work they compelled TO do
Again, unless the superintendent is ever on the
watch. no care is taken of anything Hundreds
of thousands Of dollars worth of imported machin-
cry is allowed 10 be exposed to the weather m
housed for months until II Is ruined "
The professors that came start an aeri-
cultural college brought several thousand dollars,
worth of farming implements. They were given
eight or ten boys students to the college
with; also. eight lahOrers and two head and two
assistant superintendents for these eight men The
laborers worked only when the superinteDdenfs
were present. To the managers allotted a
half acre of ground to start with. nlant the
trees and shrubs they had brought. Plenty OF land
for the farm promised. '
They w2Ad for months; thar told 10