The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-06-08
NORTH CHINA TRADE
SHANGHAI A CLEARING HOUSE FOR
ALL BUSINESS NOW DONE.
Kxtcusiou of Trade VIII Call for New
Distribution Points and More
Direct shipments.

American trade. while IN themselves grau-
f,ine reflect impulses that originate else
where American manufacturers are 10
be classed well down the list In foreign
supplies for this immediate field They pay
duty here and constitute an important Item
i'm the customs revenues Of this port, but
the masses who consume the bulk Of them
are far distant. Should reform in com
rnerce attend political regeneration in
China. il may be doubted whether Shang-
hal will remain the center Of interest for
American trade for while the home mar
ket may not escape the tolls exacted here
on silk and tea. and while it may be for
the present Indifferent 10 the charges &C
cumulated here for handling American
goods intended for the north. it IS not
unlikely TO object in time TO the payment
of double brokerage and shipping rates
on wool. hides. strawbraids and other prod
ucts which it buys in increasing quantities
every year from the northern region, where
% per cent. OF its own products eventually
land. When China trade shall acquire
sound reciprocal basis. and may rid itself
Of dependence upon trunk line shipping
routes il probably will appear that the
course so far followed with consignments
for the north would be paralleled in the
United States if goods from Europe. in
tended for New England. were entered at
Charleston and were subjected not only 10
duty. but also 10 commissions and the
cost and risk Of transhipment
Experiments already made disclose
tolerably definite tendency in this direc-
ton Shanghai may deserve TO be regarded
as the metropolis OF the East a distinc-
ton for which il is equipping itself by
harbor and other improvements. and by
the time IL shall fairly earn that title, the
American market i'm China will doubtless
have become so enlarged as TO contribute
its share toward the pre-eminence of the
port: but by that time the American goods
uppermost in China trade Will naturally
seek more direct market than that which
they have so far favored, and the trade
centering here will no longer comprise
nearly everything American that reaches
China. as at present, but will rather be
an index 10 expanding trade operations.
II may well be that England and Ger
many will hold the market for cottons
in this and more southern ATTITUDES. for
so long as American mills can compete
only in goods containing the maximum
of material and the minimum OF labor
they can hardly expect 10 sell their major
product except in the north, where al
ready II has leading place. sales being
practically assured upwards of one
million dollars per month. But in ma
chinery, in hardware. in provisions, and in
general supplies, American opportunity is
boundless. and, unless Japan be counted
as a worthy commercial foe, it is un-
rivaled. If there is to be expansion. the
agencies at hand will be altogether made
Cuate 70 direct it,
IN HANDS OF FOREIGNERS.
American trade here. as elsewhere in
China, owes little to American houses. of
the American firms that gave it a start not
one remains. The most prominent of them
tried 10 hasten the commercial tide. and
beached itself in the effort Foreigners
pieced out the wreckage and turned it to
some profit. besides engaging separate
equipment Of their own in the same line.
When consular and other trade reports
drew Americans 10 the field, they found
foreign houses in possession of American
business. The new American came with
much the same view that the Chinese are
said 10 hold who so 10 America. not for
d permanent home. or TO apply themselves
10 the welfare of the country, but TO make
all the money they could as soon IS possi-
bic and return to the United States and en-
JOY il. Consequently the business of most
OF them. and OF most foreigners, is a
catch-aH. They load themselves with agen-
cies. and are interested in selling for i'm
mediate account the goods that the market
will take with the least resistance. Observa-
tion at other selling points that Americans
should be- preferred for the sale OF Ameri-
can goods holds in respect 10 Shanghai
but il is equally true that the growth OF
trade can be best promoted through special
agencies. and that some of those already
here who take on multifarious lines have
little 10 commend them 10 American man
ufacturers. in choice between themselves
and foreigners. except that they are Amer
leans. The field is so accessible and In
formation regarding il SO readily to be OBJ
tanned that interests which seek promotion
in il viii save themselves time and al
manner of uncertainty by employing &c
that end the same means that they would
employ in assigning agencies in the United
States, or IN Europe. where the field is nc
more promising than here, and where its
proper cultivation requires attention no les:
careful.
Various manufacturers who have hereto
fore been in the China field haphazard
have had their own representatives out thi.
season on a visit OF inspection. Some OF
the visitors have found the old agencie:
satisfactory, and others have decided tha
new ones should be engaged. or special one!
planted: but there can be no doubt that il
every instance the visit has been felt Il
be OF advantage 10 the home Office Agent!
themselves have welcomed the visitors be
cause from them they haNe gathered sug
Eestions that may he helpful in broaden
ing their market. Instructive as may b,
trade reports or private correspondence re
laung 10 specialties neither source of in
formation is 10 be compared in its sugges
tive value or in practical effect with the re
suits or personal contact and observation
The visitors have had opportunity TO Iearr
AZ first hand what becomes OF their good
and how we'll or III they are treated on tn
way 10 consumers. They have noted tn
stages at which the goods have accumu
lated charges additional 20 their invoic
price, and have discovered some instance
wherein charges blocked progress 10
ready market The situation has thu
passed under review mfcroscopicaIl,
against a former acquaintance with
which may be likened TO an inspection