The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-12-20

AS far as can see the HolIanders wei
come foreign exports and our commercial
travellers are well treated. The cotton
goods form about the largest of the i'm.
ports.
All of the people dress in cottons. and
when population amounts to 35W0.00O a.
1t does there. such imports are valuable.
In Java alone there are 25oOO.OOO people,
every one OF whom has two or three calico
suits.
The average suit consists Of two strips.
one Of which is thrown around the Shout
ders or made into Jacket; the other -
In the form OF bag. which reaches from
the waist to the feet. forming a wide skirt.
twisted up in knot at the waist.
The cottons have very loud patterns, and
our American exporters should send
agents there for samples OF the native
goods and initiate them.
This is done by the English and Ger
mans. who supply most of the trade.
AT present the imports OF Java amount
to about $sc.00o.UO6 annually.
The country is rich from an Asiatic
standpoint, and its trade might be con-
siderabiy increased. We buy many ship
loads OF Java coffee every year, and
American vessels could carry out our mer-
chandise and bring back this coffee.
AT present the most of our sales are In
hardware and machinery. The Javanese
favor our carpenters tools. especially
axes and saws
They use many Of our hand sewing ma
chines, and in the sugar mills some OF
our heavier machinery IL to be seen.
The Dutch residents of Java need ev-
erytning Used by the better classes of the
americans and Europeans.
Inc omcials receive high salaries, and
many OF them have houses furnished by
The Government They live in grand styls
AMI are large consumers.
1t Is the same with the owners of thu
factories ana Large Dutch estates Thus
iias caused good stores to spring up tn all
the JaVanese cities and has created a d.
mand there for the best foreign gooda
Singapore about two days from Java, -
a good center to work the trade Of the
Islands about.
Sorneo. the largest island Of the world,
Is not Tar OF To The northeast, and Haa-
matra' the NTH largest, lies Just below.
You can go from Singapore to the Phil
1pplnes IN few days, and there arc bpaxs
several times a week for Sumatra, Hiam.
India and Java, as well as almost daily
INES passing through on their way b.
tween Europe and East Asia.
The result Is that Singapore has an enor.
nous trade.
1t handles about ssoa0ooo0O worth every
year, and Of this SLIT 10000 are imports.
Al present We annually sell there only
about $l,NO.0Je. and that Notwithstanding
we take $l00oU.0OO of the exportA
TRADE OF SINGAPORE
CARRIED ON BY CHINESE
There 10 an electric works which liSl,ts
the town owned by Americans, and Amer
lean goode are found In the stores The
trade OF Singapore is largely in the hands
OF 0ninese. who form three-fourths Of the
population. and they are about the most
swell chinese OF the world.
they ride about IN their carriages, some
s nayins white tie coachmen. They i've IL good
government Of the colony.
AT present much OF the trade Of Siam n
handled from Singapore. That country has
about TO- GN.0U people.
Bangkok. the capital. is growing about
as fast as any city OF the Iar East. Only
a few years ago 1t had no streets. and ali
rivers.
Most Of the people then lived in floating
homes, and every one went to market IN
boats Now there are forty-seven miles
The banks Of the Menam River have
been cut up by canals. the land IL drained
and bridged and a solid city has grown
up Many of the bridges are OF Steel and
there is an opening there for brideemak-
ing materials.
The present King of Siam is an enter
pris.ng fellow. ana he is developing new
territory. Siam is already one Of the great
rice-producing countries of the world, and
1t will be greater in the future
The old rice mills are being replaced BY
steam factories. nine Of which are already
lighted by electricity and some by plants
of American make. Bangkok has now In
candescent lights.
The electric company has put up 1000
lamps. and 1t Is paying per cent divi-
bends. There is an electric trolley. which
has a capital Of 10000. and u said TO be
doing well.
We are now selling some machinery to
Siam, but our chief trade there is In kef0-
sene and flour.
About all the flour used comes from the
United States. but II Is brought In by tho
Germans and English. so that 1t 10 not
credited TO us in the statistics.
Siam is now buying about $12O0000
worth Of foreiSn goods every year. and
she ought to take more from the United
States
The Germans are the most aggressive in
pushing their trade. They recently bought
some of the chief English steamers calling
at Bangkok. and at present the greater
part of the IMPORTS are carried In German
bottoms. FRANK G. CARPENTER.
Copyright 1909 by F. @. Carpenter.