December 26, 1904.]
The Japanese sell beer and sake in their com- pound. but never have a case of drunkenness. The Germans have a home-like rathskeller, where beer and German foods are sold, and their drunkenness is nil. The American soldier is the most sought after, as he has far more pay to spend than the other nationalities, and the result is the extra tendency to fall into the hands of saloon-keepers, who especially cater to encourage this trade."
CHINA AND RUSSIAN WARSHIPS IN SHANGHAI.
Recently, says the Universal Gazette, foreign newspapers have frequently reported that two of the Russian warships at Shanghai are coaling
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
The Sinwanpao adds: As to the number of wounded crew of the Russian warships for whom the Consul-General. has asked the Shang- hai Taotai to get permission to return home, the Shanghai Taotai has been ordered by the Peking Government by wire to examine the said wounded orew and report upon their actual condition. Therefore the Tsotai has asked the Commissioner of Imperial Customs in Shanghai to engage a foreign doctor to see the 'wounded crew and report upon them.
FAR EASTERN ITEMS.
Mr. E. C. Wilton, British Vice-Consul at Chungking, has been made a Companion of St. Michael and St. George.
A bequest of £500 to the China Inland Mission was made by the late Mr. Hammond Chubb (for
477
The Nagasaki Press of December 12th states that a syndicate has been formed in Tokyo for the purpose of establishing a general printing, publishing, typefounding, and stationery business in China. The capital is to be Yen 600,000 in 12,000 shares to be floated as a joint-stock concern, and it is stated that the subscription is already guaranteed. of the promoters are going to Chins next month in connection with the scheme.
Some
The Mexican Government asked Congress on Nov.17 for authority to carry out the scheme of monetary reform which they had determined upon. It is understood that the Government will close the mints to the free coinage of silver to private holders, but not for export purposes, and that the actual dollar will ultimately be worth one-half of the value of an American Thus the consumption of silver in gold dollar.
in order to escape from the port and to meet many years Secretary of the Bank of England). Mexico will be the same as before.
the Baltic fleet. The matter one of the most grave nature, and if the reports in foreign papers be true. China cannot escape from the responsibility of her neutral duties being vio- lated. It will cause Shanghai to be involved in the trouble and it will not only cause accusations from Japan but the Powers concerned will
blame the Chinese authorities. Though the matter looks a simple affair at a glance yet it is not at all such a simple matter. Therefore we have decided to publish the following facts according to the dates.
On the 24th August the Russian warships commenced to dismantle and then anchored
alongside the wharf of the Chinese Eastern
- Railway Company.
in
a
Then the Japanese Consul-General Shanghai informed the Shanghai Taotai, that China should despatch a warship to take up position near the Russian warships to watch them.
Then the Russian Minister asked the Wai- wupu to keep the Chinese warship to watch the
Russian warships at a distance so as to maintain
the dignity of the Russian warships.
At the end of the 8th moon, namely the beginning of October, the Viceroy at Nanking
ordered the cruiser Kinching to come to Shang- hai to watch the Russian warships.
At the beginning of the 10th moon (November) the Kinching came to Shanghai and anchored at the Southern wharf, when the crew of the Riesitelini came to Shanghai and were removed on board the Mandjour, but the Captain of the Russian torpedo-boat destroyer is missing
On the 26th November the crew of the Ratstoropny came to Shanghai by the Chinese eruiser Haiyung.
On a certain day the Japanese Consul-General wrote the Shanghai Taotai asking to have the Kinching at a nearer position to the Russian warship as she is too far away from them.
Then the Shanghai Taotai answered the Japanese Consul-General that the Kinching being damaged is now repairing in the dock and cannot undock before the beginning of the 12th moon (January 1905), but when properly repair. ed she will be moored at Shahaipu.
Then it was reported that the Japanese Consul- General wished to have the Chinese cruiser anchored at the China Merchants' Pootung wharf instead of Sha-haipu as the latter place was too far away from the Russian warships.
However the idea of the Shanghai Taotai was that as Sha-haipu being below the stream from the position of the Russian warships is prefer able and he had decided to anchor the Kinching
at the front of the International Dock at Shahaipu.
The Universal Gazette says that Germany has again asked for the lease of Poyang lake and that the authorities of the province of Kianggi have wired the Waiwupu to refuse the proposal.
The Shanghai Tuotai has received a despatch from the Japauese Consul-General pointing out that the Russian cruiser Askold has been lately taking in large quantities of coal, altogether out of proportion to the amount needed for heating purposes on board that vessel during the winter, and further that it has been dis- covered that duplicates of important parts of the machinery and large guns of the Askold had also been lately secretly taken on board to replace those taken away to the Kiangnan Arsenal for safe keeping, at the time of the dismantling of the cruiser.
The following companies, unless cause is shown to the contrary, will be struck off the register in three months' time :-The China Ginger Manufacturing Company, Limited; Ramie Fibre Company, Limited;
Weihaiwei
Mining Syndicate, Limited; Hongkong Marina, Limited; Stoneley Gold Prospecting Company, Limited; Hongkong Building Materials Com pany, Limited; Heung Sing Steam-Boat Com- pany, Limited.
United States Minister Allen, Seoul, Cores, reports: "I was visited in July by the agent of the British and American Tobacco Company who desired to have the company's trade-marks There being no or labels registered in Corea. In view of this the
Japanese authoriti s have a suspicion that those system of registration of trade-marks in this on board the Askold are intending to make a country, I secured the issuance of a proclamation dash for liberty in that vessel, in consequence of forbidding the counterfeiting of the labels of which it is needful that the Chinese officials this company or the use of their boxes for con- should keep a sharp look-out on the vessel fortaining spurious goods." The Minister adds which they are responsible.
The Yungpingfu correspondent of the N.-C. Daily News writes: At a town near to Pakou
we fell in with a young Chinese giant, and felt almost sorry we were not relatives of Barnum that we might exploit him.
Seated in an inn one day writing, with a curious crowd round me in the usual style, my friend drew my attention to a man who had just joined the throng. He was stretching his head over the others, and I could not believe that he was not mounted on a box or something of that sort. But his feet were on the ground and his head was a long way from the ground. We measured him, and found him to be six feet nine and a half inches, and as he was strongly and sturdily built he was a very fine specimen of humanity I laughingly suggested to him that he should offer himself to Viceroy Yuan Shih-k'ai, as a candidate for post of personal bodyguard, and Wouldn't I just his reply in substanca was: like the chance !"
TRADE ITEMS.
The dividend of the Hamburg-American Line for 1904 is estimated at between 8 and 10 per cent., perhaps 9 per cent.
In explanation of the figures in the table, Mr. Hosie writes: "The figures set down against each area represent the minimum out- put. In each case there is an excess, but the exact amount thereof is unattainable. I have
thought it advisable, therefore, to add 19 per cent. for this excess as well as for trifling omissions, and the total may be taken to be as near the actual output as it is possible to make it."
stand for
Deutscher
An amusing story illustrative of the attitude The Japanese Consul-General further warned of the Japanese trader towards European the Shanghai Taotai that at this moment it was patents, is going the rounds of the Berlin very important to watch the Russian warship press. Many German articles bear the letters If owing to the repairs of the Kinching the re "D.R.M.S.," which was no Chinese warship to watch them, there Reichs-Muster-Schutz," or, literally, German might something unexpecte l happen and there-Imperial Sample Protection. It occurred to a fore the Shanghai Taotai should get instruc tions from Viceroy Chou Fu to despach other Japanese to register these letters as his trade mark; and now he is bringing actions against warships. The Taotai has asked the Viceroy German importers, whose wares bear them. to despatch the cruiser Nanchin, but she has not come here yet.
There are
many reports that the Russian craiser coaled over one thousand tons and that
as
duplicates of the parts of the machinery which were removed have been obtained by her so to slip out of Shanghai to meet the Dec. 13th the Japan- ese Consul-General wrote the Shanghai Taotai giving the reasons for such rumour,
Baltic fleet. e'c.
On
Messrs. Arnhold, Karberg & Co. have received a telegram from London informing them that the Shell" Transport Co., Ltd. have declared an Interim Dividend on account of 1904 of 1/. (One Shilling) per Ordinary Share, payable on the 1st January, 1905 Holders of Wariants to Bearer will receive this dividend against Coupon No. 5, which may be negotiated through the Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corpora-
tion.
that the Japanese Minister to Corea has stated. that his Government will protect in Cores trade-marks that are registered in Japan.
H.M. Consul-General at Ch'ôngtu (Mr. A. Hosie) reports that the red sandstone of Szech nan is unsuited to the cultivation of cotton, but there is a small area of the province, with a super-
incumbent layer of alluvial soil, where the cotton plant flourishes. This area lies to the north of the great rhea-producing districts between the Fou, the western branch of the Chia-ling, and the To River. The city of Sui-ning, and the market town of Tai-ho chen are the great centres of the native cotton trade, as well as of the import trade in Indian yarn, which is largely used, mixed with native yarn, in the weaving of cottons, a very important industry in this cottonproducing area. There can be no doubt, however, adds the Consul-General, that cotton growing in Szech'uan is on the decline n face of cheap Indian yarn.
The Canadian Commercial Agent in Yoko- bama (Mr. A. McLean) reports that the con- sumption in Japan of wire nails is increasing every year. In 1903 the quantity imported was 39,104,000 pounds, valued at 754,462 dols., mostly from the United States and Germany, whose manufacturers, it is believed, have an understanding as to prices. Great Britain does not send very many nails, only 473,000 odd pounds, but they are the best. Jobbers' prices in American nails range at present from 2,90 dols, per keg for 12 gauge, 24 inch, to 2:75 dols for 5 gauge, 7 inch. This includes the duty of 29 cents per keg. Nails for the Japanese market should be packed in extra strong kegs, 134 pounds net, lined with pitch paper to
protect against rust, which causes them to sell as damaged stock.
:
In his report on the Province of Szech'uan H.M. Consul-General at Ch'engta (Mr. A. Bosie) gives the following summary of the quantity and value of raw silk produced in that province :-
Value in Weight in Kind of Silk
Ch. ounces
Trels
873,333 2,863,000- Thin yellow.. 10,480,000 6,550 Stout yellow 36,200,000 22,625 3,018,686 7,979,000 Stout white... 12,660,000 7,912.5 1,455,000 2,817,300 59,340,000 37,087,5 4,945,000 18,659,300
10 per cent. for
Piculs Lbs.
extras and ́
494,500 omissions.. 5,934,000 3,708.7
1,365,930
Total 65,274,000 40,796 5,439,500 15,025,290
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