Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-05-28
BIG GAINS ARE MADE
Trade Between United States and
Chira Reaches High Mark.
LARGEST EVER KNOWN IN 1902
Official Returns Show That Imports to
China From United States That Year
Were Six Times as Large as in 1895
Comparisons With Other Years.

Chinese official returns show that
the imports from the United States
I'm 1902 amounted to 30,13S,713 Haik--
wan taels, against 23,529 SOC taels in
1901, 22,2SS745 taels in 1899, 12,440.302
taels in 1897, and 5,093, 1872 taels in
1898 The total for 1902 is the largest
IN the history of commerce between
China and the United States, and is six
times as much as in 1895. 21h times as
much as in 1897, about 35 per cent
more than in 1899, and nearly 80 per
cent larger than in 1901. Cotton goods,
kerosene oil and -four continue to form
the chief imports from the United
States.
The importations of American leans
in 1902 amounted to 529, 492 haikwan
taels, against 244,32S taels in 1901
American drills, 6,024 ,443 taels, against
4.S34,S79 taels in 1901; American
sheetings, 15,13OSOS taels. against Z,
636,714 taels in 1901 while American
kerosene oil shows a reduction.
amounting to 45.2S7 ,So7 gallons in 1902
against 57,759.677 gallons in 1901.
The decrease in Chinese imports of
oii' hoNSESi, is SSuSIdJ. luG IOldl udN-
ing fallen from 1870 million gallons in
1901 to 80 millions in 1902. That
from Russia fell from 80 million gal-
Ions in 1901 to 10 million gallons in
1902, and that from Sumatra from
401a millions in 1901 to 1894 million
gallons in 1902. Flour also showed a
slight decrease, the total value i'm
ported in 1902 being 3.844.319 haik-
wan tae's. AGAINST 4 726,962 in 1901
Ginseng. which comes. chiefly from
the United States. shows an increase
being in 1902. .614,9S9 haikwan
taels, against l.1S1.536 taels in 1901.
The average value of the haikwar
tael in 1902 is given by the report
at GO cents. American gold.
Figures On Cotton Goods
Statistical Secretary Taylor, who
presents the report, says in the pre-
liminary statement: THE value OF
cotton goods of all kinds imported
was estimated at 127.545,SO9 haikwan
taels, as compared with 99651 ,999
taels during 1901. T-cloths of all
kinds advanced especially Indian
which rose from 1920 to 126, 4S5
pieces. There was good demand
for drills, and English jeans made the
astonishing advance from Al 083 to
360,S5S pieces, while Dutch and Amer
lean about doubled. Sheeting also
found an increased inquiry. the Amer
lean trade going ahead as usual. It
is interesting to note. aud is not with
out significance. that Japanese drills
rose from 90 pieces to 11.620 pieces
and Japanese sheetings from 1905
to 1896 pieces. English cotton yarn
continued its downward course and
has now fallen 10 22.251 piculs, while
Indian has reached 1.SS7086 piculs.
and Japanese, 522. 40S piculs. Kero.
sene pill, with the exception of that
from Borneo shows decreases. Rus
sian oil having fallen to 1O.105.Sse
gallons from 324S6.070 gallons, thus
losing the ground gained during the
last ten years.
Three Noteworthy Events
Commenting upon the general condi-
ton of trade, Statistical Secretary
Taylor says: Three noteworthy events
took place during the year: The ne
gotiation of new British commercial
treaty, the revision of the import
tariff, and a heavy fall in exchange
OF these the last may prove impor-
tant. The revised import tariff, ow-
ing to the fall in exchange and the
rise in silver prices since the years
1897, 1898 and 1899, has left the Incl
dence of taxation very much as be-
fore. But the collapse in exchange
which will call for higher currency
prices for new cargo, with the uncer-
tainty of its future movements, nat
urally disturbs the import trade;
while, by augmenting the amount
which the government has to find to
pay its gold obligations. it has led to
heavier internal taxation.
No Excuse For Pessimists
The pessimistic views expressed in
some quarters regarding the CONNER
clal solvency of the country, based up
on the demand Of the government tc
pay the indemnity in gold, are without
any solid foundatin. The foreign
trade of China is trifiing when the
size and potential resources of the
country are considered, and only a
very small adjustment between i'm
ports and exports is necessary to GOV.
Ell the late increase of Indebtedness
At the same time, it is disappointing
to note that trade always seems to
be the first victim when heavier tax
alton Is decided upon. What the for
elgn trade OF China might be is shown
by comparison with Japan, which
with a population of less than one.
seventh, spends almost exactly as
much as China on foreign goods. But
before such expansion can be looked
FOR domestic trada must he relieved