The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1917-03-31
u. S. HAS BIG TRADE
WITH THE CHINESE
Freight Rates Only Thing That Ham
pers This Line Of Business-Im-
ports Large in 1916.

WASHINGTON, March 81. - Consul
Gen George +. Anderson, writing from
liOugkong to the consular bureau, dis
cusses the status of the trade in that
section for American glass In his re-
port he says:
1.-The import trade in window and
plate glass into Hong kong has had not
able fluctuations during the past year
because of market conditions in pro
ducing centers, freight conditions, and
varying demand in Chinese consuming
centers. In a general way the United
states at present is supplying most of
the window glass that formerly came
from Belgium, and il is supplying the
larger portion of the plate glass i'm
ports and would supply practically all
of both grades of glass if freight rates
from the United States to Hongkong
were more on an equality with those
from Great Britain.
Imports during 1916 Were unusual
ly large. In the year Immediately fol
lowing the outbreak of the war in Eu-
rope there were large stocks of Bel
gian and British glass on hand in
IlOngkong, and there was some difficulty
on the part Of the Hongkong importers
making satisfactory connections in the
United States for the purpose of new
supplies. The result was that the i'm
| ports during 1915 were far below nor
NAL. During 1916, however, purchases
| from the United States governed the
market, and the trade places the i'm.
! ports during the year at six times those
| OF 1910. On the other hand, troubles
IN South China prevented shipments
into the interior, and depressed trade
IN nearly all lines in the interior alsc
rendered sales much below expectation
There has been an oyerstock OF
ordinary grades of window glass or
hand for some time and fully 10000
eases are now in Hougkong warehouses
| As a result Of the oycrstock price,
fell about December from SIS loca
currency TO 81 TO So local currency
or from Slo.0S to S7.Sj to 1895 gol,
yer ease, and the trade prospects TO
the coming year depend upon the abili
" of the importers TO get rid of tn
overstock now on hand. With the al
vent of more settled conditions in Soutl
China and with improved trade pros
meets generally, il is believed that tn
stocks will soon be cleared and neI
orders be sent forward.
"Ordcrs for glass a year ago wen
almost entirely to the United States
but during the past year freight cor
dltions out from Great Britain hav
been such that at times the c. i. /
price of glass from Great Britain ha
been less than that from the Unite
p. states. Deliveries from Great Britai
have not been as reliable, and tn
United States has been able to guar
, antee deliveries of special glass wher
british manufacturers were unable I
do SO. For longtime deliveries, how
ever, there will be competition b,
tween American and British glass du
ing the coming year unless freight col
ditions change.
: The demand for plate glass is con
paratfvclv limited, but fair amour
is now imported. The advance iii go.
of American plate glass delivered hei
J, has been about 100 per cent, while Il
= advance IN the c. /. +. cost of BIRTHS
d plate glass has been only about so y,
q cent and the British manufacturers al
t | again commencing TO secure orde
; where time is not matter of impo
. tancc. The greater portion of the bus
3 ness i'll plate glass at present is
= small sizes for the mirror trade. II
-e portcrs place the imports of glass du
ing 1916 at three times those Of 1911
y 0r about normal.
: Japanese window glass has n
i been success in this market. TT
= japanese glass can be laid down he
ut price far below the cost of Il
I American or British product, but j
= quality has proved so inferior and Il
8 oacking has been such as to result
such losses that it has come to be
i longer a serious competitor in the ma
1 ket. =