The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-02-15
AMERICAN TRADE WITH
ORIENT, PROBABLE EFFECT
OF THE PRESENT WAR
Discussion Leading Up to the
Struggle Has Had a Deterrent
Effect on Commerce.
SMALL DECLINES NOTED
As Compared with the Figures OF
a Year Ago-Some Compare
tive Trade Tables.
,peclal % the IndianapoIIs Journal.

Special to the indianapolis Journal.
WASHINGTON. Feb. 14.-The value of
the commerce Of the countries fronting on
the scene Of hostllities In the Orient aggre-
gates about $500, 100000 per annum, and the
value of the commerce of the United States
with those countries aggregates over $780,
OOO.OO per annum. While the prospect of
war resulted in the placing in the United
States of orders from Japan for -four and
from Russia for meats. the general trend
of expectation 10 the four countries front
ing upon the scene of hostilities has been
downward during the period in which this
subject has been actively discussed. To
Japan the exports from the United States
during the month of December, 1903, were
&, 263, 245 in value, against $2,S11.5S9 in De-
cember of the preceding year, and for the
entire calendar year 1903 were about $1.OO0.-
GOO less than in the preceding year. To
Asiatic Russia the exports from the United
States were s716.274 in 1903. against $S9s, III
In 1902 and 81, / 800 in 1901. To China our
exports during 1903 were materially below
those of the preceding year, being for the
month of December $S4l, 1913. against $751;
733 in December, 1902, and for the entire
year / 4,9701 3S. against $50, 69S, go in 1902.
This reduction occurs chiefly in cotton
cloths, Of which our total expectation to
China in December, 1903, was but 1865, 364
yards, against 20,5S2,544 yards in Deem
Der of the preceding year, the value being
$3.50, 546 in December. 1903, against $1,O74, 1853
In December, 1902. For the entire year the
value of the cotton cloth exported from the
United States to China was $S,S01, 964,
against SIG, O4S. 455 in the calendar year 1902.
U-Is- o1,,otfo IN 70 ChgDo s- not
peculiar to the United States, as the official
reports of the Chinese government show
a general reduction in its imports during
the past year. up to the latest period COW
cred by the reports.
To Russian China our exports show an in
crease, being in 1903 SS46. 80. against s421, 16s
in 1902. To Korea the exports of the year
also show a slight increase, being valued at
$370,566 in 1903, against $257, 100 in 1902. To
Hong-Kong, which is sufficiently far re-
moved from the scene of existing disturb
ances TO be less affected, apparently, by
such conditions, the exports from the Unit
ed States show an increase, being in Deem
Der, 1903. 81. 1864 36, against $1,417, 736 in De-
cember of the preceding year, and for the
entire year 50, 1872, 1913. against s., Isl, 779 in
1902.
AS to the trade of the United States with
Manchuria, IL is not separately shown in
the general statements of the
with China. The Department of Commerce
and Labor, through its bureau of statistics,
however, has recently compiled some figures
which show that the imports of New
Chwang the principal port through which
Manchurian m now passes, amount
ed in 1902 to about eighteen million haikwan
taels, against seventeen millions i'm 1901 and
eight millions in 1900. The value of the
hafkwan tael in 1902 was sixty-three cents,
so that the value of the imports of Man
churia, stated in dollars, would be, I'm 1902,
about S11,OOO,O0. The official report of the
Chinese government does not specify all
classes of merchandise received into New
Chwang from the United States. but does
specify the four principal articles-Ameri-
can jeans. drills. sheetings and kerosene.
The total value of these four articles of
American production reported as brought
into New-Chwang i'm 1902. either coming di-
rect from the United States or from other
ports of China, was 6.11S, $50 aikwan taels.
which at the official valuation Of the haik-
wan tael In 1907 would make the total value
In United States currency 1854, 900.
Inc table which follows shows the value
or American jeans. drills, sheeting and kero-
sene imported into New-Chwang direct
from foreign countries and from other ports
or China from 1896 to 1902: