The San Francisco call., 1904-02-15
lime Arrives for Taking
Action to Promote
Commerce.
Observation-Disclosures
Are Essential to An
Advance.
BY BRIGADIER GENERAL c. A.
WOODRUFF

hundred millions Of people are
centered upon the Orient and the i'm
portant happenings occurring or ex-
bected there. seems A proper moment
10 invite the attention of your readers
10 the importance 10 San Francisco and
The Pacific Coast in general Of estab-
fishing close business relations with
China and adjacent territory.
We are ia the Orient and are there
10 stay, we could not leave with honor
If we would and I think the majority
Of our people would not if we could.
AS the future Of San Francisco. If il
rs 10 become one Of the worlds great
commercial cities. depends largely upon
securing its share OF the trade Of the
Orient now. at the opening Of a new
era in China, is the time to secure this
trade
The construction Of the four thou
SAND miles Of practically assured rail-
roads IN China and many others that
are projected viii cause vast exDendi-
lures OF money for labor. food and ma
terials and from this viii naturally fol-
low the development Of new industries.
Higher wages and a higher standard
OF living viii prevail. all resulting in
increased expenditures in other walks
OF life
Great Britain. Germany. France and
Japan are exerting themselves to the
uttermost TO secure this trade. We
are. individually or collectively doing
almost nothing 10 bring ii TO our doors.
The conservatism Of the Chinese has
a tendency to keep them in the business
ruts once entered into; therefore. now,
al the commencement Of this new era
and before the canal is constructed, is
the time 10 create ruts that lead TO the
Pacific Coast: now is the time for or
ganized. combined. intelligent. WELL
directed efforts 10 achieve constantly
increasing results which, once estab-
hshed. viii endure for generations. Cul-
tivated. as is this inviting field. by rep
resentatives Of other nations. we can
not expect 10 reap the share Of these
benefits that by right OF location. polit-
ical conditions and natural advantages
belong TO US unless we exert ourselves
10 secure them.
GREAT GROWING MARKET.
In forty years Japan's annual imports
have increased from 81 per capita TO s.;
to-day China's annual imports are
about As cents per capita An increase
in China Of one-half that which fol-
lowed Japan's awakening would mean
imports amounting TO 81. 400 .0O0-
600 per annum- To enable San
Francisco TO secure her full share
OF this immense trade. intelli-
gent. active work on the part of those
interested and hearty cooperation be-
tween producers. manufacturers. mer-
chants and transportation companies
viii be necessary. This is not the time
for the siiurian,' the fossil or the
knocker."
We have long looked upon the set
ting sun closing our Golden Gate; We
should. in a business way. represent it
as rising sun opening that gate to
commerce that should reach TO the
farthest boundaries Of China and even
10 India and Siberia, which would en-
able US 10 dispose OF. in what should
become the worlds greatest market,
our constantly increasing surplus pro-
duce and manufactures.
Great Britain. Germany and France
send out commissions at great expense.
part Of which is borne by the Govern
rnents and part by the commercial
bodies. 10 report upon the conditions
and needs Of these people. to find out
NndL LUrl WANT anu INV DEcL ~ meet
those wants. We have been cOntented
10 hold the sack" hoping the lighted
candle may induce some bewiIdered
birds to enter.
Our principal exports 10 the Orient
have been -four, kerosene, cloths and
timber and that trade has come 10 US
because a few individuals have invaded
this field and pushed their goods. at
great expense. in the face Of opposition
from our national competitors To-day
we send 10 China goods amounting to
about SI5. 900 900 per snnum. or 8 per cent
Of her total imports. and receive from
China about s26. 900 900. or 10 per cent
OF her total exports. Take our great
wine industry for example. We supply
Jess than per cent Of the wine that
enters China
WORDS OF OBSERVERS.
To show that ] am not an alarmist
and that other observers agree with
me- let me quote:
Nj. GrosvenOr Of the British legation
~ Peking in a report upon trade con-
ditions said: "Englishmen should
watch carefully the development Of
events. remembering that the great re-
wards OF enter DItHe VIII NC " e'oTc WIN
arc first in the field"
Consul General GOodnow said: I
need not impress IL upon you that
Americans must now push more strong
Is than ever for the trade Of China You
have seen the situation, its possibilities
and dangers. II the trade goes into
other hands now IL is lost to US for
many years 10 come.
An exposition here viii increase
the variety OF our trade, which is now
largely IN a few great staples only.
Many Of our important manufactures
are unreDresented here You cannot
buy an American hat in Shanghai
know Of only one store where Ameri-
can shoes are sold, and ii has very
few for ladies. Collars, stockings, ties
and Like articles Of gentlemen,s wear