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“...on the spot will not be treated with undue
severity. It should be added that the trade statistics for 1903 are
incomplete.
As was pointed out in the report for 1899, Tientsin's geographical General
position has for years past made it the second port in China. The importance ^
value of its total trade is only surpassed by that of the port of ^ade wntre.
Shanghai, and the net total of its foreign imports exceeds that of
Shanghai. Until it received the disastrous set back of 1900, its
commercial prosperity had been growing steadily since 1888 ; and,
after two years of depression, it in 1902 fully recovered itself
the sterling value of the trade in that year being only 8,000Z. behind
that of 1899, whereas the silver value was far greater.
(426) A 2...”
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“...8
TIENTSIN".
Amount.
j Tacla.
Land tax (quarter of 1 per cent, per mow).. 6,300
Rental assessment (5 per cent.) .. .. ; 7 700
Total .. ..] 14,000
A re-valuation of the property having been made, it was found
that the value of land had risen from an average of 6,000 taels per
mow to an average of 8,000 taels per mow, and the receipts in
consequence amounted to :
Amount.
Land tax
Rental assessment
Taels.
8,853
8,402
Total
17,255
or an excess of 3,250 taels over the estimate.
A reduction accordingly of 15 per cent, was allowed for the year.
Similarly the revenue of the extensions, wherein land tax is at the
rate of half of 1 per cent, per mow on 1,000 taels per mow, and
rental assessment lb per cent., the revenue exceeded the estimate
by 6,500 taels, and a reduction of 25 per cent, was allowed.
The other items in the receipts column afford additional proof
of the extraordinary way in which trade and traffic has increased.
In 1899 jinricsha licenses produced 4,000 dol. and trolleys 1,850 dol...”
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“...goods valued at
1,84-9,300/., 540,500/., 170,750/. and 170,720/. respectively. Her
sources of supply are Mongolia, Hei-lung-chiang, part of Feng-t'ien,
Kansu, Shanhsi, Chihli, Northern Honan and Shantung, whence
in 1902 she drew produce valued at 1,100,000/., and the gold-fields,
scattered throughout Mongolia and Manchuria, which used to
. furnish about one-half of China's annual export of gold. It may
be assumed that the Trans-Siberian railway will attract all gold,
and furs and skins of large value in small bulk; that part of the
supply of Honan goat-skins will be carried down to Hankow direct;
that the German railways in Shantung will make every effort to
divert exports to Tsingtao ; and that a Russian railway from
Kalgan via Urga to Verkneudinsk will in some measure interfere
with wool supplies. The Russo-Chinese Bank has already an
agency at Kalgan, proposes to establish itself at Kuei-hua Ch'eng
and thence move on to Lan-chou. The financial facilities it can
thus afford will throw a...”
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“...intercourse with foreigners
is facilitated by the fact that the latter almost all possess a know-
ledge of the language sufficient to carry on a business conversation,
an example which merchants at other ports might well follow.
Table A.Beturn showing Value of Total Trade of Tientsin
during the Years 1899-1902.
Value.
1899. 1900. 1901. 1902.
Net total foreign imports native Native produce of local origin exported to foreign countries.. Native produce of local origin exported to Chinese ports £ 5,912,426 3,405,378 133,035 2,230,263 £ 2,285,963 1,415,332 60,192 1,192,863 £ 4,027,392 1,779,419 95,500 1,406,949 £ 6,947,694 2,920,677 219,547 1,544,283
Table B.Comparative Table of Imports from Foreign Countries
during the Years 1899-1902.
Country. Value.
1899. 1900. 1901. 1902.
£ £ £ £
United Kingdom 547,006 119,356 127,664 j 565,644
United States of America 162,111 29,509 78,198 ! 238,946
Continent of Europe j
(Russia excepted) .. 109,966 76,137 260,802 367,473
Japan 726,226 169,957 85...”
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“...Metals
Iron, old ...
Steel
Quicksilver
Sundries
Dyes, aniline
Glass, window ...
Matches.......
Japanese
Mining gear and ap]
Needles............
Oil, kerosene
American .........
Russian .........
Paper, first quality ......
Railway materials ......
Seaweed, Japan........
Silk and cotton ribbons
Sugar-
Brown ............
White............
Refined............
Candy ............
Cwts.
1900.
1,424
147
7
21
1,109,600
637,589
221,504
129,872
680,459
37,042
1,878,395
297,269
Dozen
Value
Gross
Value
Mille
Cwts.
Value
Cwts.
Value
Cwts.
132,059
155,973
67,042
1,745,733
13,733,067*
20,414,933
4,380,400
14,520
5,005
1,064-
6,000
70,736
73,332
127,696
1,981,239
19.300
991,841
1,867,500
5,018,000
19,479
545,897
101,380
32,728
243,244
47,262
101,514
24,532
400
70
1
389,085
293,032
93,896
33,270
139,210
30,147
724,005
237,392
30,031
78,160
81,293
35,344
724,400
3,027,867
2 795,467
620,533
6,752
1,364
380
16,933
38,391
9,440
18,391
941,177
18,694
442,020
1,142,640
1,951,000
5,625
64,209
17,613
14,220
464
62...”
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“...Articles.
Opium
Malwa..
: Cwtfl...
Quantity.
226
Patna 87
Shirtings
Grey .. j Pieces 615,693
White.. 3) 369,793
Drills -
British........ >> 11,324
American >1 401,908
Dutch........ 54,860
Japanese J> 52,479
Sheetings
British.. ) > 23,655
American 766,278
Japanese ; Dozen 45,404
Handkerchiefs 18,996
Cotton yarn
British.. Lbs..... 299,333
Indian.. M * 16,598,666
Japanese ,, . 9,387,866
Cotton thread, British .. 1,784,933
Camlets, British.. Pieces 1,586
Lastings, woollen Value.. £ 6,370
Dyes, aniline 37,162
Matches Gross 2,288,093
Needles .. .. Mille.. 1 669,663
Oil, kerosene
American Gallons 1.693,120
Russian >> j 4,938,550
Lankat ! 894,343
Imports. From the time that Tientsin was thrown open to trade in 1861
until now her foreign imports have exceeded in volume those of the
other treaty ports, and that this is only what one need expect, a
glance at the map of the large tract of country for which she con-
stitutes the sea gate will show. Central China can draw...”
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“...The bulk of this difference
has to be carried by Shanghai and has very seriously hampered
business there. Prospects for 1904, however, are good. Stocks
in the north are light, cotton has risen in value and is scarce, trade
is reviving, as has been pointed out, on a sound basis, and there
ought to be no difficulty in effecting a complete clearance in the
spring.
Attention is called to the large increase the figures of 1902 show
over those of 1899 in respect of American drills and sheetings, grey
shirtings, and above all cotton yarn, on which latter article very
handsome profits were made.
In looking back over the reports of earlier years, it is interesting Woollen
to find the prominence given to the importation of woollen goods goods,
into North China from Russia, via Kiakhta. The average value
thereof in the eaily sixties was put down at 2-30,000Z., whereas
to-day, as far as customs statistics go, they have entirely disappeared,...”
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“...22
TIENTSIN".
and their place has been taken by sea-borne goods, having an aggre-
gate value of some 48,250/. only.
Sundries. As regards sundry imports, notable increases (figures for 1902)
have to be recorded in Japanese matches, needles, kerosene oil
and sugar.
Imports .at The new feeder of the Tientsin market, Ch'in-wang Tao, must in
Taoln Wang ^e consideration of imports not be left out of account, and
Table C (3) shows how this trade is progressing.
Table C (3).Return showing Principal Articles of Import via
Ch'in-wang Tao during the Year 1902, and from January 1
to September 30, 1903.
Quantity.
Articles.
1902. 1903 *
Shirtings
Grey .. .. j Pieces 58,785 81,686
White : 35,379 66,870
Drills-
British * 6,600
American ! 19,095 64,160
Dutch ... .. I 3,000 5,450
Sheetings
British 620 ; 2,600
Japanese 1,100
American 132,715 ! 109,705
Handkerchiefs Dozen b,500 3,047
Cotton yarn
British ...... Lbs..... 104,400 I 26,000
Indian .. .. .. 1 1,370,000 7,983,000
Japanese...”
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“...Carles
has given the history of the export trade of the port, which was
entirely built up by the enterprise of British merchants, and of
which they have succeeded in retaining some 65 per cent. Whereas
the control of British imports is principally left to Chinese, German
and American firms, the manipulation of exports, which go almost
exclusively to America, is mainly confined to the three British
firms who made the first start.
Some 40 years ago, when the value of raw cotton exported from skins aild
Tientsin amounted to two-thirds of the value of the total exports, wool,
skins and wool were only remotely thought of. Certainly no one
then contemplated that cotton would disappear from the export
list, and hopes of future expansion were centred on coal. The
fleeces of sheep and the wool of camels, bred far beyond the confines
of the 18 provinces, and the skins of goats from Honan and Shanhsi,
which are converted into the smart American boot, have gone a
long way towards building up the wealth of...”
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“...is to be attributed the gradual drawing freights,
off to the United States of articles such as bristles, cow-hides, un-
tanned skins and jute, which might otherwise go to the United
Kingdom. The normal rate of freight from Shanghai to New York
is il. 5s. per ton of 40 cubic feet net, and rates have been quoted
as low as 175. 6d., while to London the rate is 21. 5s. per ton (less
10 per cent, rebate, refunded about one year after payment of full
freight). In making purchases of produce of low value and great
bulk, such as above cited, the American merchant thus possesses
a very great advantage over his British competitor, and may quite
conceivably obtain an undue control over the London market,
as, if his cargo fails to find a market in New York, he can readily
re-export to London at 7s. 6d. per ton extra. The merchant, who
ships direct to London at 21. 5s. less 10 per cent.21.05. 6d.per ton
net, therefore pays 85. per ton more than the American merchant
who ships to New York and then to...”
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