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THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
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(May 14, 1906. Silk and Pongees, and to Manchuria,the latter 1904 shipment amounted to 25,383 piculs or | depth of 116 metres, and mining operations will chiefly by junks from the northern coast ports. nearly as much as was shipped from Tientsin commence during 1906. Silk spinning and weaving in the interior has, (26,298 piculs), and over a third of the total Tschinglingohen reports the discovery of a vein-
The station at moreover, received, a new impetus through two shipped from North China (68,500 piculs), the of magnetia iron ore, 2,500 metres in length schools established in Tsingchow and Chang-i-export during 1905 has risen to 41,417 piculs, and from 10 to 35 metres in thickness, contain... · halen, which are reported to turn out annually of which 24,628 piculs were direct shipments ing 65 per cent. of iron, free from any deleteri- a considerable number of trained hands, and in against 9.884 piculs in 1904.
ous substances. consequence cofiderably larger amounts of
In both regions the relations Pongees, etc., are being manufactured there.
and the prospects throughout are good. with the officials and the people were excellent, In Ground-nut Oil likewise the export has been
A floating dook, capable of taking in vessels of smaller than usual and than is warranted by
16,000 tons capacity, 9 metres depth, 140 metres the good crop of Ground-nuts. A considerable
length and 26 metres width, commenced work amount of Ground-nut Oil now remains on the market for export in 1906. This is partly due
three winter months 8 war and merchant vessels in October, and took in and repaired during the to a bad market in the South and partly to one
of together 14,614 tons. The dook is fitted of those monetary crises caused by gambling
with the most modern appliances for lighting, operations in cash referred to in my Trade
etc.. by electricity from a central station, Report for 1899. In consequence, two of the
which is arranged to light up the vessels for old Ningpo firms have had to close, leaving
work at night inside and outside. Vessels in only two in this centuries-old trade; four cash shops are either bankrupt or about to close,
The workshops are capable of executing work dock can also be heated by steam from the donk. while three others will be able to tide over their
of all kinds. Two cranes, of 20 tons espacity difficulties. In this connection it should be
each, are now available, and from the beginning recorded that the Shangtang government has
of 1906 a giant crane capable of lifting 150 established a Mint for coining copper 10-cash
tons at a distance of 14 metres will be ready for pieces, which is already in operation. Our
work. statistics show an import of 15,000 piculs of Copper for this purpose. These coins, hitherto largely imported from Shanghai (vide Treasur statistics), are already in circulation, and, it is hoped, will help to steady the market and prevent the mischievous gambling operation" above referred to.
REVENUE-The total collection amounts to Hk. Tls. [545,150, of which Hk. Tls. 491,649 is Foreign and Hk. Tls. 53,501 Native Customs Revenue. Compared with the figures of the previous year, the Native collection shows a decrease in both Imports and Exports of about Hk. Tis, 5,000, while the Foreign collection has increased by about Hk. Tls. 118,000, or about 30 per cent. This increase is mainly in Import Duties, which show an advance of Hk. Tls. 94,000; while Export Duties show an increase of Hk. Tls. 19,000 and Coast Trade Duties of Hk. Tls, 6,000.
FOREIGN TRADE-(a.) Imports.-The value of the direct Foreign Imports, exclusive of Railway and Mining Materials, is Hk. Tls. 3,729,598, an increase as compared with the total of the preceding year of Hk. Tls. 1,216.604, or nearly 50 per cent. The value of Foreign Imports from Native ports, chiefly Shanghai, amounted to Hk. Tls. 6,458.010, showing also an increase of Hk. Tls. 1,149,139, or over 20 per cent. The large increase in the direct Foreign trade is all the more satisfactory, as it is distri- buted fairly evently over all classes of goods, thereby giving promise of continuation in the future. Cotton Goods have increased in value to the extent of Hk. Tls. 310,759; Miscellaneous Piece Goods, Hk. Tla. 96,813; Metals, Hk. Tls. 324,788; Artificial Indigo, Hk. Tls. 74,124; Window Glass Hk. Tls. 14,286: Japan Matches, Hk. Tls. 119,247; Needles, Hk. Tls. 5,587; Sugar, Hk. Tls. 76,656; Timber, Hk. Tls, 65,210; Wines, Hk. Tls. 7,105; and Sundries, Hk. Tls. 243,903; while a comparatively small decrease is shown only in Kerosene Oil, to the extent of Hk. Tls. 56,338.
(b) Exports.-The value of the direct Exports to Foreign countries amounts to Hk. Tls. 2,430,350, and is nearly thrice that of the preceding year (Hk. Tla. 845,302), while the value of the Exports to Chinese ports, Hk. Tis. 4,794,908, shows a small decline Hk. Tls. 68,861. The most important increases in the direct trade are: Beancake, Hk. Tls. 569,506 (to Japan); Bristles, Hk. Tia 15,438; Coal, Hk. Tls. 50,164; Wild Raw Silk, Hk. Tls. 19,187; Shantung Pongees, Hk. Tls. 39,869 and Straw Braid, Hk. Tls. 903,296. Of these articles, Beancake and Coal appear for the first time in appreciable quantities. The former, due to a decline in Newchwang shipments owing to the war is not likely to figure in the Returns for 1906 to the same extent; but a beginning having been made, the export of this article is likely to gradually develop into a steady trade; while Shantung Coal, which has considerably improved in quality and has locally already driven Japan and others almost out of the market, is sure to have an increasing demand on the coast of China and become one of the staple Exports of this port. Another most satisfactory feature of the Export trade is the rapid increase in and the direct shipment to Foreign countries of Straw Braid. While in
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Coast Trade.-(a) Original Shipments Coast- wise.-The total export of native goods to coast ports amounted to Hk.Tls. 4,794,908, against Hk.Tls. 5,403,769 in the preceding year. Of this total, goods to the value of Hk.Tls. 2,343,902 were carried by Native junks, and HL.Tls. 2,451,006 worth by Foreign vessels. A decline is chiefly noticeable in Yellow Raw Silk, 1,371 picals, which is dne solely to the low prices obtainable at Shanghai and the high prices ruling in Peking and Manchuria, which took the whole supply, being conveyed to Peking by land and to Manchuria, by junk, from northern coast ports; in Ground-nut Oil, to the extent of about 16,000 piculs; and Fresh Pears, 50,000 piculs (in the last two commodities the falling off was due to a bad harvest): and in Cow Hides, 2,500 picals. Increases are shown in Pongees, 63 picals; Refuse Silk, 1,391 piouls; Goat-skin Rugs, 50,000 pieces; Felt Caps, 82,000 pieces; Melon Seeds, 11,000 picals; Dog-skin Rugs, 4,100 pieces; and Fresh Vegetables (Cabbages), 12,000 piculs.
(c) Coastwise Arrrivals.-The total net value of coastwise arrivals is Hk.Tla. 10,724,435, an increase of about 15 per cent. over the total in 1904 (Hk.Tls. 9,199,230). Of this amount, Hk. Tls. 6,458,010 represent the value of Foreign goods, almost all from Shanghai, agains Hk.Tls. 5,308,871 in the preceding year; and Hk.Tls. 4,266,475, the value of Native goods, chiefly from the Kiangsu and Chehkiang provinces, against Hk.Tls. 3,890,359 in 1904. Of the latter amount, Hk. Tls. 2,947,070 is the value of Native goods arrived by junks, and Hk.Tls. 1,319,405 of that arrived by steamers, The principal increases in Foreigs goods are to be found in Cotton Piece Goods, Metals, Win- dow Glass, Matches, Needles, and Sugar (for details, vide comparative table).
Shipping. (a.) Under General Regulations. --400 steamers and 6 sailing vessels, of together, 422,673 tons, entered the port during the year: of these, 327 steamers and 6 sailing vessels arrived with cargo and 73 steamers in ballast. 399 steamers and 6 sailing vessels cleared during the year, of which 315 steamers left with cargo, and 84 steamers and 6 sailing vessels in ballast. As compared with the total in 1904, the entries show an increase of 55 vessels and 37,616 tous. The total entries and clearances during the year amounted to 811 vessels, of 843,630 tons.
(b.) Under Inland Steam Navigation Rules. A beginning was made during the year to open trade with Haichow; but the difficulties, chiefly of navigation, soon brought the undertaking to a stop. One vessel, the s.s, Chefoo, 135 tons, made 11 trips altogether-3 with cargo and 8 in ballast inwards, and 6 with cargo and 5 in ballast outwards making a total of 22 entries and clearances, aggregating 2,970 tons.
(c.) Of Native junks, 4,389 entered and 4,536 cleared during the year, of a carrying capacity inwards of 1,495,205 piculs and outwards of 1,449,794 piculs. As compared with the pre- vious year's figures the total entries and clear- ances show an increase of 418 vessels and an increase in the carrying capacity of 150,582 piouls.
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according to the size of the vessel, from 40 The published docking rates vary cents per ton for a 500 ton vessel to 20 cents for a vessel of 6,000 tons and upwards. The Silk Industrial Establishment is now in fall work. Its products have found a ready sale, being highly appreciated in Europe. At present it employs 600 hands, which it is intended gradually to raise to 900. The majority of these have had from two to three years' training and turn out good work. The establishment, which is near Trangkou, the railway station 18 kilometres north of Tsing. tau, is quite a settlement of its own and a model of its kind, which will bear comparison with any in Europe. The employés are all housed by the company, men and women apart, supervised by elders, are well fed and cared for, and, in consequence, employment by the com pany is eagerly sought for. Besides the above there have been establised during the last two years here a brewery, a scap manufactury, and a tannery, which are now in full working and give every promise of success.
There were also two dairy farms started during 1905, bat both met with the great misfortune that the animals, 36 fine specimens from Eur po and and Austra lis, all landed in perfect condition, died of rinderpest: one lot after two weeks and the other within two months after arrival.
Finally, it remains to place on record the successful attempts which have been made during recent years to improve the fruit pro duction in these regions by grafting. The Forestry Department has, since 1900, imported a quantity of fine trees from Europe and California, bas instructed the farmers how to graft, and is now distributing gratis thousands of grafts of all kinds to the people who are anxious to secure them. In 1905 Foreign fruit appeared in the market in small quantities, and, as both soil and climate are suitable, a consider- able export of Foreign fruit may be looked for ere long.
CHINA TRADE RETURNS, 1905.
Following are further extracts from the the I. M. C. The collection of the year was report for 1905, by the Statistical Secretary of
Hk. Tls. 35,111,005, an increase of Hk. Tis. The Shantung Railway Company did a pros- 3,617,849, or 11 per cent. Conaldered in its perous business during the year, having convey-relation to China's Foreign indebtedness, the ed 303,000 tons of goods and 795,000 passengers, collection in 1904, at the average exchange of which is an increase of 69 per cent. in the for-
that year, realised £4,514,019, and £5.281,280 mer and 424 per cent in the latter category as compared with the figures of the previous year. fortuitous gain to the Chinese exchequer being in 1905, at the average exchange of 1905, the With the new Customs arrangement trade and thus 17 per cent, and the drain on the Imperial railway traffic will receive a fresh impetus, and resources being reduced to this extent. The the line, which is now beginning to pay bids increase is almost entirely provided by Import fair to become a lucrative investment as well as Duty, which was greater by Hk. Tlx. 5,168,779, a boon to the country. The Shantung Mining or 30 per cent.; the explanation of this increase Company is also progressing favourably. has been given elsewhere, and it should probably The Fangtze mines raised 134,000 tons of coal be held that much of it is anticipation of 1908 during 1905, which was used partly for the rail-Revenue. way and partly locally, and some was exported. With the opening of the Aunie pit during 1906 a considerably increased output and export coastwise may be looked for. At this mine 44 Europeans and 2,000 Chinese are employed, the latter at a pay of from 400 to 600 small cash day for 8 hours' work. In the Poshan region the Tsetschuan shaft has been completed to a
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unaltered, while Coast Trade Duty was more by Export Daty was practically Hk. Tls. 178 872, indicating a diminished foreign trade and increased shipments const wise. The revenue (duty and likin) from Opium was Hk. Tls. 6,857,249, a reduction of Hk. Tls. 88,476; to this revenue, foreign Opfum contributed Hk. Tis. 5,711,711, lens by Hk. Tls. 813,401, and Native Oplum contributed -
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