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“...regions of Manchuria. That its trade volume should
expand is only natural in view of the expansion of the trade of
the whole of the Chinese Empire, and would need no comment.
But the last six eventful years have wrought great changes in these
three provinces, and as a result Newchwang is no longer the only
door of Manchuria. Now trade passes to and fro through six openings:
(1) Newchwang; (2) Tairen (Dalny) ; (3) Antung and Korea; (4)
Vladivostock ; (5) Harbin ; (6) the North China Railway, Hsinmin-
t'un-Tientsin, with the winter port of Chinwangtao.
Since the cessation of the Russo-Japanese war, these various
routes are competing with each other, and Newchwang will no more
represent the whole trade of Manchuria. The result will be a distinct
decline in the trade figures of this port for some time to come, until
Newchwang has found its level. When this point has been reached,
any future expansion of trade will then be in proportion with the
expansion of that of the whole of Manchuria. The time...”
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“...4
NEWCHWANG.
harassed native, who heaved a sigh of relief on the signature of peace,
soon felt that he was not to profit by it. He saw his carts or horses
or junks commandeered for military transport, whilst crops over-
flowed in the granaries.
Over- Trade in 1906 further suffered from another cause, also an effect
speculation. 0f ^he waT—over-speculation. The great demand for commodities
created by the huge contending armies in Manchuria, brought large
profits to the native pocket, and the Chinaman, a born gambler,
speculated on a longer continuation of the war than actually took
place, on a sustained demand for military supplies, and further on the
necessity of replenishing the exhausted stocks in the interior. Thus
by the beginning of 1906 every go-down was full of imports waiting
for the up-country demand. This demand never came, and the
Newchwang merchant soon realised that the reduction of the armies
meant a reduction in the demand for commodities ; that the railways
in Japanese...”
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“...distributed all over Manchuria—a
work of considerable difficulty at the present time. The cigarettes
are practically all supplied by the British-American Tobacco
Company. The native goods tables show an import of 105,579?.
worth of cigarettes in 1906, but these cigarettes are mostly those manu-
factured by the above British company in Shanghai, and classed
as native goods for fiscal reasons. Grouping thus foreign and
native imports together, the values of cigarettes imported in 1905
and 1906 respectively are 168,1202. and 118,1652. It may safely
be assumed that the difference of 50,0002. of cigarettes has been
imported via Tairen and Antung, and that therefore there is no
real falling-off in the import in 1906. The competition of the
Japanese Tobacco Monopoly or of the local Chinese manufactures
is not much felt. If advertising means success, then the above-
mentioned company must do a very prosperous business, as the
familiar pictures are met with in every town in Manchuria.
Dyes. The import...”
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“...NEWCHWANG.
11
The large drop in American kerosene from 2,931,250 gallons, .Kerosene,
valued at 65,1662., in 1905, to 864,220 gallons, valued at 19,9132.,
is also somewhat fallacious. This kerosene is usually brought out
in sailing ships, which come via Cape Horn; and should any arrive
in winter, they discharge at Tairen, instead of at ice-bound New-
chwang. Russian oil has naturally ceased to enter the port, but
there is no doubt that it is being pushed in the Russian sphere of
Manchuria.
There was also a small import in 1906 of Borneo and Sumatra
oil to the value of 4,5032. and 6,6182. respectively. These oils
are much coarser than American kerosene, but are more popular
with the poorer classes on account of their cheapness.
Sugar is a very important item in the import list, and Japan Sugnr.
is making a strong bid for the market. The import in 1905 of
sugar of all kinds was 508,852 cwts., valued at 304,6392., and in 1906
286,455 cwts., valued at 173,4502. Of these quantities the imports...”
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“...12
newchwang.
Silk piece- The import of native silk piece-goods amounted to 206,477?. in
goods. igo5 and tQ 259,384?. in 1906. The growth of this item, which is a
luxury, shows clearly that there is money enough in Manchuria, and
that it will find an outlet some day.
lea. The import of tea amounted to 208,6142. in 1905 and to 292,5742.
in 1906. The import of dust and brick tea that used to go through
here for Russia has completely ceased.
Tea is an article of necessity in China, and the consumption
increases in proportion with an increase of population ; the above-
mentioned increased import is therefore due to the increased
immigration of Chinese into the interior.
Bean
products.
IK.—Exports.
The total net exports, both steamer and junk, in 1906 were
2,798,1032., as compared with 2,076,9842., an increase of 721,1192.
Of this amount the export of beans, bean cake and bean oil amounted
to 2,021,9 352., or 72 per cent., of raw silk, 255,0632., or 9 per cent.,
and the balance of 19...”
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“...south-east of
Manchuria, but the export from there and Newchwang, both of
reeled silk and cocoons, is generally to Chefoo, where there are 28
filatures at work employing 8,800 men.
The shipping of the port, as viewed by the customs, is divided Shipping,
into three categories, viz, : Foreign-going ships, ships under Inland
Navigation Rules (that is, ships that in exchange for certain
facilities must not leave Chinese waters), and junks. The subjoined
table will give the tonnage under each head
Shipping Entered and Cleared at Newchwang during the Years
1905-06.
1900. 1905.
Number of Vessels. Tons. Number of Vessels. Tons.
Under general regulations .. ! 1,440 1,273,504 1,236 996,492
Inland navigation ..! 518 330,730 384 185,540
Total number—
Foreign vessels 1,958 1,804,234 1,620 1,182,032
Junks 12,272 1 1,522,000* 11,379 1,606,000*
* Approximately.
The steamers in the inland waters trade are mostly engaged in Passenger
carrying passengers. A great peculiarity of Manchuria, due totrBffie-...”
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“...109,984
1,322,200 ! 1,500,200 j 300,278 ! 1,710,406 ! 1,493,831
It has already been stated above that of the total exports to Japan
of 1,109,984?., the sum of 1,089,075?. covered bean products, i.e.,
98 per cent, of the total. This was conveyed to Japan in 301,625 tons
of shipping. Yet these ships only imported 383,847?. worth of
Japanese goods into Newchwang. Practically none of the Japanese
steamers come from, or go to, Shanghai or South China ; they trade
only between Japan, Corea and Manchuria, occasionally touching
at Chefoo and Tientsin. The inference, therefore, is that the cargoes
from Japan are discharged at Fusan, Chemulpho and Tairen, and
then the empty boats come to Newchwang for bean products. From
inquiries made it appears that no statistics of trade werejtept at...”
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“...authority looking after the trade were the police.
It has, therefore, been impossible to get any estimate of the Tairen
trade.
The imports exceeded the exports in 1906 by 3,246,5741, and yet Treasure,
the export of treasure amounted only to 299,7101., of which 931?.
was gold. In 1905 when the excess of imports amounted to
6,828,361?., there was actually an import of treasure of 336,3361.,
making a total of 7,164,697?.
It is difficult to say to what extent the Japanese occupation General
of South Manchuria affected trade, but there is no doubt that E^chTof
military requisition of carts, cattle, and junks caused some military
disorganisation. occupation.
Newchwang was under Japanese military control in 1906 until Rendition of
December 6, on which day the reins of Government were placed again Newchwang.
in Chinese hands. The Chinese flag was again hoisted over the
custom-house, an event that, with the exception of a few hours after
Russian evacuation during the war, had not occurred since 1900...”
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