Evening star., 1919-08-31
BEATING THE BRITISH IN CHINA

world.
A number of cotton mills are now
being constructed in Tientsin. which
is apparently destined to be the tex
tile center Of China. The Heng Yuen
Cotton Weaving Company is putting
up a mill. with 200 looms and 10000
spindfes. at cost OF 100000. to man
ufacture sheetings. drills and heavy
is erecting an extension of 21,000
spindies to its existing plant with
$4,000 spindles. The Washing Cotton
Spinning Mill began operations with
$4,000 spindles at the close of 1919
and other mills are negotiating lot
cost of $3.406,000 All these mills
will use electric power from their
own plants and all the machinery is
to be of American make except the
boilers of one mill.
There is a big market for American
notions in Canton, China. Consul AL
bert W. Pontius reports. The demand
Is for American needles, thread, mer-
cerized cotton yarns, dress snaps. long
cloth embroidery, crochet cotton
knitting yarn and silk ribbons. He
advises that the increase of American
trade in these lines would be facil-
tated: (1) BY samples of American
goods supplied to the Chinese trade
(2) by better credit terms, CD by
prices that meet European and Japa-
nese competition. t4) by prompt de-
liveries. (5) by a constant watch of
the changing market requirements.
An American syndicate has recently
purchased from the receiver of enemy
property in Shanghai the centrally
located drug store and factory of the
largest German drug concern in
China. established more than fifty
~ D. :
will be thoroughly American.
y
ritory about Tsingtau is reported by
Consul WHY'S f.
Chances Near Peck. He has been
n informed by a local
e"u' American b u s ness
man that in the last year this Ameri-
can sold $4,000 worth of miscei-
ianeous American goods ordered from
firms whose catalogues were supplied
to him by the consulate, or whose ad-
vertisements appeared in trade jour
nails filed in the commercial library
of the consulate. These goods in
cluded small manufacturing plants
chfnery.
Direct American business in Malaga
is much impeded by the difficulty eX-
perienced by American merchants in
obtaining reliable credit information
about native and Chinese firms. Re
upon payment in advance for sam
pie order of 800 from most reliable
Chinese firm in Malaga, with assets of
more than 100000, because their
New York bankers had no informa-
ton about the latter. This firm was
with merchants of other nationalities
was unquestioned.
Another important suggestion as to
how the American interests can I'M
prove their trade relations with China
is found in report from Consul Al
that American aniline dyes have ap-
peared in the Canton market since
1917, although the American dye in
dustry was war-born. Lack of uni
formity of concentration and OF shade
and of sufficiency in strength texcept
in one brand Of ''scarletD have re-
suited in their not being in any great
favor with Chinese consumers. There
is at present a strong demand for
good qualities of American dyes in
scarlet, dianil blue. green in crystals.
cosmos magneta, phloxine and car
~
American black dyes gave very salts
fac-ory results. and an order for
similar shipment was Immediately
placed. Upon arrival the second con-
signmept was found to be not OF the
same quality, and tests showed diff
ference Of about so per cent in
strength. It is needless to observe
that a few repetitions of that unfor-
tunate occurrence would tend to dis
further orders and would re-
fleet on the integrity OF American
+ <
Shanghai is the center of the auto
mobile trade in China, and an Ameri
can agency should be
Auto Trade at established h e.
Vice Consul Samuel
Snangnal. Sokobin at Nanking
advises. Shanghai has very good
roads, very rich Chinese population
and a number of garages with good
facilities for repairing cars, "hich
has not.
The feeling of preference Tor amer,
can comm ercial exchange has spread
over into Indo-China. CASTOR Glrauo,
delegate in the C1lteo
States from French !ndo- CHINA: mas
of the United States Department or
Commerce and with American business
men through the Offices of the Cham-
Der of Commerce of the Un1teo states.
He has given the assurance that tne
of Indo-China are ANXIOUS 5
states instead of through other coun-
tries as intermediates. thus saving
costs, and to establish closer and
more cordial relations.
He points out that one of the great
obstacles to direct trade has been
a French port. IN order to benefit by
the minimum tariff: but, without
doubt, Amerfca in future Will enjoy
favored d-nation treatment.
In order to secure the business OF
the buyers in Saigon it will be neces-
sixty to ninety days credits that other
countries have always granted them.
as they are not in position to pay
cash against documents. Prices should
always be quoted c. j. f. Saigon. even
if it is necessary to add a liberal
charges and fluctuation in freights. as
the buyers cannot readily secure the
needed to figure what the
goods will cost delivered in Saigon.
X
Special care should be. taken with
+ he backing, as most of the goods are
forwarded to the inte-
rora IN rior in native boats or
other primitive means
facklnS. of transportation. The
interests in the United States who de-
sire to push the sale of American
Goods should mark them with a dis
tinctiye brand in the form OF a simple
hmt striking picture. AS few of the
natives can read, newspaper adver-
Using does not reach the masses
They are best appealed to by highly
colored pictures:
Catalogues and literature should be
in French to reach the trade, as Eng
i;sh is not generally understood.
- 4ha nrincinal merchants are