Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-01-27
Our Trade With China

Trade of the United States with
China in the calendar year just end
ed Appropriated S55,000,000 in
value, of which about S23, 100000
represented the value of exports to.
and 100000 that of imports
from China. Exports to China show
distinct signs of recovery from the
depression which first became pro-
nounced in 1906 and continued with
out abatement down to the end of
1910. In 1905 our exports to China
rose TO the unprecedented total OF
$50, 100000; the next year showed
a shrinkage of nearly so per cent,
the total for 1906 being but $780,
| 900; and each succeeding year
showed a smaller total until 1910,
when the figures stood at less than
100000 or 100000 less than
in 1901, decade ago. The first IL
months of 1911, however, recorded
total export to China of S21 ,00O,-
900, November alone showing a to-
tai of S2,000,000, indicating that for
the IL months ending with Decem-
Der the total will be fully $4,000
| 900. Imports from China continue
at practically the same rate as shown
| by earlier years, the estimated total
of $32,000,000 for 1911 comparing
with $33 100000 in 1910, $4,000
600 in 1907, s29,OOO,OOO in 1904,
and $26,OOO,OOO in the calendar
year 1902.
Cotton goods, Illuminating oil,
-four. iron and steel manufactures
and lumber, are the principal ar
ticles forming our exports to China,
In that trade cotton cloths have long
held first place and for many years
steadily increased until in 1905 they
100000 yards valued at $33, 500, 900
and in 1906 attained a total of 271,-
100000 yards. Immediately fol
lowing these unusually large eXpor-
tations, however, and as a result, in
part at least, of excessive importa-
tions of cotton cloths into China i'm
mediately following the close of the
Russo-Japanese war, there ensued g
period of decreasing exports OF
American cotton cloths to China and
in 1907 the total dropped to $4,000.
600 yards. A slight recovery begar
in 1908 and in 1909 the total was
1874, 900, goo yards. In 1910 the to
tai again dropped to $4,000, 00(
yards, while last year showed signs
of improvement, the monthly eA
ports in the closing part of the yeal
being from three to four times al
large as in the initial months anC
the / . months totals standing at ap
proximately 10, 100000 yards val
ued at s7,500,000.
OF illuminating oil the export
from the United States to China hav
since 1904 ranged between $1,000,
900 and 100000 per annum, ex
cept in 1906, when the total wa
about 100000. In the calenda
year 1911 the total was about 81,
200, compared with $1,000, 90
in 1910, $4,000 in 1908, an
s2,5OO,0O0 in 1900. To China GU
exports of -four, which fell to I'm
usually small totals in 1909 an
1910, rose to 100000 last yea1
record total of 5000, 900 recorde
in 1907. Iron and steel manufactui
ers are also important factors in on
exports to China, nails and spike!
sheets and plates, locomotives an
steel rails being the principal items
Last year our total exports of iro
and steel TO that country exceede
100000. We also exported I
China last year about $500, 90
worth of tobacco and manufacture
thereof. In some years the export
of lumber to China are large. La!
year the total for the class designa
ed as boards, planks, joists, etc,
was about $500, 900 and in 1910
little over 100000.
From China the chief imports il
to the United States are silk, WOO
rice, goat skins, tea, mating an
bristles. We import annually fro
China from 10000, O00 to 10000
900 pounds Of wool. from 3,O0c,O C
to 100000 pounds of silk, abol
100000 pounds of goat skin