CHINA
677
new and suitable premises are to be erected shortly. In 1908 the value of Japan's direct trade with China was Hk. Tls. 89,620,908, and in 1915 it amounted to Hk. Tls. 197,926,331, without including the unrecorded trade at Kiaochow during eight months of the year, probably worth another 14 millions. From which it would appear that results have fully justified Japanese methods of developing trade.
Value in Silver and Sterling of the Foreign Trade of China, 1891 to 1915 :—
Year.
Average Exchange.
Imports.
Exports.
s.
d.
Hk. Tls.
£
Hk. Tls.
£
1891 1892
4
11
...
139,661,186
34,333,375
100,947,849 24,816,346
4
41
140,298,086
30,544,061
102,583,525
22,333,288
1893
3
11:
149,928,703
29,517,212
116,632,311
22,961,986
1894
3
23
*
163,897,525
26,206,530
128,104,522
20,483,379
1895 1896
3 ·34
...
172,853,145
2>,268,688
3 4
...
1897 1898 1899* 1900+...
· 1901
2 113
3
2
1902
1903
1904
1905
1906
....
1907
...
1908 .
...
1909
1910
1911...
1912
1913§... 1914...
1915
...
NNW WNNNN 03 03 03 N IN NW CO NO
2 103
3
0
209,106,866 34,851,143 204,554,227 30,470,055 217,761,975 31,416,701 280,907,296 42,282,402
143,293,211 23,434,411 131,081,421 21,846,903 163,501,358 24,354,889
159,037,149
22,944,422
195,784,832
29,469,696
11
223,791.888
34,734,365
158,996,752
24,677,621
11
11윭
280,472,693
41,559,625
169,656,757
25,139,243
7/1/1
335,601,739 43,628,226
214,181,584
27,843,605.
2
7-
343,300,1:15
45,296,542
214,352,467
28,282,616
2
10%
348,603,090
49,966,442
239,486,683
34,326,424
458,340,485 68,942,047
227,888,197
34,278,183
414,184,061.
68,167,793
236,456,739
38,916,838
422,838,531
68.711,261
L
264,380,697
42,961,863
2
396,261,991
52,834,932
276,660,403
36,888,053
2
417,586.237
54,264,460
338,992,814
44,051,410
462,437,260
62,260,433
380,833,328
51,273,653
473,517,685
63,628,938
377,338,166
50,704,816
3
471,809,192
72,000,048
370,520,403
56,542,957
570,064,611
86,103,508
403,305,546
60,915,941
2
546,425,296
74,564,285
345,280,874
47,116,453
2
...
454,475,719 58,939,820 418,861,164
54,321,057
It is interesting to observe in this table that an increase in silver values docs not always mean an increase in trade when measured in sterling.
RAILWAYS
Although China is traversed in all directions by roads, they are usually mere tracks, or at best footpaths, along which the transport of goods is a tedious and difficult undertaking. A vast internal trade is, however, carried on over the roads, and by means of numerous canals and navigable rivers. The most populous part of China is singularly well adapted for the construction of a network of railways, and a first attempt to introduce them into the country was made in 1876, when a line from Shanghai to Woosung. ten miles in length, was constructed by an English company. This little railway was subsequently purchased by the Chinese Government and closed by them on the 21st October, 1877. Since that time the principle of railways has been fully accepted. The railway from Shanghai to Woosung was re-opened in 1898, as forming part of a line to Soochow, which the provincial authorities had obtained per- mission from the Throne to construct. A tramway, a few miles in length, begun in 1881 to carry coal from the Kaiping coal mines, near Tongshan, to the canal bank, has. been extended to Tientsin and Taku on the one hand, and to Kinchow and Newchwang on the Gulf of Liao-tung on the other. This track was only completed in the early part of 1900, and during the summer months was, between Kinchow and Newchwang, largely destroyed by the Chinese so as to preclude the advance of Russian forces on Peking via Manchuria. A line from Peking to Tientsin was opened in 1897, the
* Influence of railways felt. Revolution in October. || European war from August. + Boxer outbreak.
§ Rebellion in summer.
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