Arizona republican., 1909-09-13
RELATIONS WITH AMERICA
While China's Exports Have
 Increased and Imports
 Have Decreased, Other Nations Than the United States Are the Sufferers

Washington. D. C.. Sept. 12.-Com- mercial conditions in China and the position of the United States and other leading nations in reference thereto on the foreign trade of China for 1908, a copy of which has been received by the Bureau of Statistics of the De- partment of Commerce and Labor. Re ducing values to United States cur rency on the basis of 65.5 cents per haikwan tael, in which they are stated in the report imports are found to have been s25S,000.00O in 1908, com pared with s273,000,000 in 1907, S293,- eeo. .e00 in 1905, and 25.000.000 in 1904. There was thus in 1908 decrease in imports of S15.000.0e0 when compared with 1907 and of s35.000,O00 when com pared with 1905. the year in which China's imports reached their highest record. Exports from China are re- ported at s1sI ,OOO. .OOO in 1908. compared with s173,0OO,O in 1907, an increase of sS.000,000.
 That the United States has, in the import trade of China. fared better than most other parts of the world IS indicated by a table in the report show
 
 principal countries and grand divis- ions; for whereas net imports into China during 1908 decreased 15.0OO,o00 from the figures of the preceding year, those from the United States increased about 5000. .Oo0-from s24.1T1.777 in 1907 to s27,Oi5,s36 in 1908. Imports from Japan on the other hand. decreased from s37 7,637.224 in 1907 to s34.3ss,l2s in 1908: those from the continent or Europe (Russia excepted), from s22,- 329.s75 in 1907 to s1s,50O.006 in 1908; and those from Korea, from s9Is,1O4 in 1907 to sS64,794 in 1908 Imports from Russia. however, increased from s5ss.245 in 1907 to s5.667, ,391 in 1908, when merchandise valued at s200,00O.- 0Oe reached China by rail from Russia and Siberia.
 The increase of ss,000.0S0 in the ex- ports from China during 1908 was due entirely to larger shipments to coun- tries other than the United States, since the value of exports to this country decreased from over s17,000.0OO in 1907 to about s15.OOO,O0O in 1905 The exports to Russia increased from s11.OOO,OOO to over s19.OO0,0OO; those to other Europe. from sS3.000.00O to s37. 900. 900. and those to Korea, from about s1,5O0,OO0 to s1.75O,OOO; while ex- ports to Japan and Formosa decreased from s2s,OOO,OO0 in 1907 to s24.oOo,OOO in 1908
 The countries of origin of the prin- cipal articles imported into China are given in the report for a few commo- dities only, but in so far as they are stated they present an encouraging eX- hibit of continued recovery in those lines of American goods which nad been especially depressed. Under im- ports of cotton goods, for example the report shows that imports of plain gray shirtings from the United States in- creased from 35,5s9 pieces in 1907 10 291.7Ss pieces in 1908: while Engllsn shirtings of similar grade increaseo from 3,3S9,O37 pieces in 1907 to 4,422'- OS7 pieces in 1908 and Japanese shirt ings from 53.741 pieces in 1907 to 163.531 pieces in 1908. Imports of pialn gray sheetings from the United states increased from 375,O76 pieces in 1907 to 623,O04 pieces in 1908; while those of English and Japanese manufacture showed little improyement-the 1orrilel from 106,396 pieces in 1907 10 ilo'ooo pieces in 1908, and the latter from 251.Ss9 pieces in 1907 to 25s,31S pieces in 1908. American kerosene OH IF rapidly occupying the Chinese market to the practical exclusion of Russian' oils, imports of kerosene from the United States having been, in l90S 121.742,6Ss gallons, compared with 4S'- 547.643 gallons from Sumatra, 1S'oZS'- 633 gallons from Borneo, and but 2,''V'- 9S6 gallons from Russia. The change in position of the leading oil-producine countries with respect to the chinese market is illustrated by the fact tha' in 1900 the proportion of the various kerosene oils imported into China was; American. 34.4 million gallons; Russia 32.7 millions; and Samaritan. 16.4 nlil- limos; in 1905, American, so mlliioi gallons; Sumatran 4S.5 millions; Rus sian, 12.7 millions; Borneo, Ill mil lions, and Burma, 1.2 millions or gar Ions. Thus the United States has III creased its proportion of kedesene nm porst of China from Al per cent o1 tii' total in 1900 to 52 per cent in 1905 ano 66 per cent in 1908.
 Discussing general conditions II China during the year 1908, MT J. Chalmers, acting statistical secrelar' of the inspectorate-g general of customs says in part:
 The hope of revival of foreigr trade. which seemed to be justified oi a review of the conditions prevailing