New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-10-15
Peoples
Trade
Ways

The continuation of the high ex-
change value OF silver has brought bust
ress in all lines that have TO do with
native production and consumption to
almost a complete standstill IN South
China. In some lines of foreign indus
tries in Hong Kong, Consul General
George f. Anderson reports, particu-
larly in shipbuilding and kindred trades
and in the manufacture Of rope, cement
and other products of the sort, bust
ness is quite good, the shipyards being
operated at their utmost capacity.
In the import trade generally. how
ever. there is stagnation, due partly 70
the fact that people cannot buy goods
readily, but largely because deliveries
cannot be made. Owing to high e%-
change it is probable that there will be
temporarily a brisk import OF many
staple lines as soon as shipments can
be made with safety, although the long
continued troubles and the difficulty OF
realizing on native products has left
the average consumer in South China
with little money to spend. The same
difficulty experienced in bringing IN
imports has been met with in getting
ont the more valuable exports.
The trade in human hair in the Far
East has become so depressed that hair
experts in Hong Kong predict the prac-
teal extinction of the trade within
short time. Most Of the smaller facto-
ries in Hong Kong for cleaning, sort
ing and preparing the hair have been
closed. Some of the establishments
have been operated at loss pending
readiustment of the trade, but the pros
pects at present are so unfaVoranle
that the industry, it is predicted, VIII
not long survive present conditions
The trade in human hair out OF hong
Kong reached its height in 1910, when
the limited States took hair to the value
of s695,l37 direct, in addition 10
large amount-probably as much more
that went by way of Europe.
In the Vera Cruz consular district,
according to Consul William W. Can-
ada. the men and women of the better
classes as "A rule purchase Imported
handkerchiefs. Moreover. all the finer
grades of drawn-work handkercnieis
that come from the interior OF Mexico
are made of imported materials, the
best being manufactured out OF irish
linen. The same is true Of the Spanish
lace handkerchefs in use there, the
lace being imported from Spain in the
form of hollow squares and the cen
tres being filed in with imported linen
by women who make them for their
own use.
Some printed and colored cotton
hrndkerchiefs of attractive design are
made in the textile factories OF the
Vera Cruz district, especially IN NO
gales. a suburb of OriLaba, and are
bought Dy IL lew pSNNSi N'"-' fNNf'~'
particularly men. On the other hand,
the peasant class can afford 20 buy only
handkerchiefs Of domestic manufacture
principally gay colored bsndsnas.
Cartridges anf small fire arms such
as are sold by sporting goods houses
are wanted in considerable quantities
in Holland. according to consular ad-
vices. Heretofore the Holland dealers
have imported sporting ammunition
mostly through agents in Brussels and
Hamburg, but those sources Of supply
are now cut off. There are more than
one hundred sporting clubs using am
munition in Holland.
A measure providing for control over
production, distribution and price OF
Chilean nitrate has been submitted to
the Chilean Congress by q special com
mittee appointed to consider steps nee
essary TO meet danger OF competition
from artificial nitrate production in
Europe and the United States. The
measure proposes special organiza-
ton. with a capital of si0,oo0,o0o, in
which the nitrate producers and ex-
porters and the Chilean government
shall be stockholders. 1t provides also
material reduction In the present ex-
port tax on nitrate.
Reports from Chile state all German
nitrate works closed down as the result
of the British blacklist"
The Blacklist in Chile
The British blacklist Is causing con.