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“...2 lli
I
It is questionable, however, whether such a comparison should
be made, as not only was 1905 a record year in the annals of the
port, but those immediately preceding were also exceptional.
The year 1905 saw the close of the war between Russia and Japan,
and the heavy shipments of supplies which poured into Chefoo
for transhipment to Manchuria during the three months following
the signing of the Treaty of Peace accounts in a great measure
for the abnormal trade reported for that year. Similarly, the
prosperity of the previous period (1901-04) may be ascribed with
equal reason to the influence of the Russian occupation of Dalny
and Manchuria, and to the condition of affairs existing both before
and during hostilities, which had the effect of creating an unusual
demand for all classes of goods—native and foreign—for the supply
of which this port was the natural source by reason of its contiguity.
Now that these causes have ceased to exist it may be assumed
that the trade has once...”
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“...chefoo.
n
28,904 cwts. in 1903. British yam figures only to the amount of
484 cwts. Altogether the imports of yarn have dropped during
the last five years from 175,093 cwts. to 79,268 cwts.
The market for cotton goods generally opened very badly, but
improved in the autumn, owing, it is said, to the condition of affairs
in Manchuria. Large stocks, however, are still held, and it will
be some time before they can be worked off, so that any immediate
advance in values can scarcely be looked for.
The Japanese are now the only merchants who stock goods Stocking of
in this district; others having long since given up the practice, merchant'°Cal
as it was found they could not compete with the larger markets in
Shanghai and Hong-Kong. The difference in practice is to be
found in the fact that apparently no business is too small for the
Japanese trader, who is always ready to break up a bale or parcel
of goods to suit his customer, whereas the European merchant
will decline to sell in driblets...”
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“... however,
large quantities of oil—American, Borneo and Sumatra—were
forwarded direct to those places from Shanghai, and great efforts
were made by the Japanese authorities to attract as much trade as
possible to Dalny (to the detriment of Newchwang), one of the
inducements offered being special rates of freight on the railway
from Dalny to Newchwang.
From these two causes—namely, the competition of the Shantung
railway in supplying the interior of the province, and the direct
shipments to Manchuria—the import of oil into Chefoo during
1906 showed a considerable decline.
The chief brands of oil which find a sale here are :—
Price' "per'Cose.
Currency. | Sterling. i
Taels. 1 .. A
American—
(a) Devoes 1-77 5 91
(6) Tiger 1-52 4 \l\
Dutch-
fa) Crown (Sumatra) 1-54 5 0J
(6) Croas (Borneo) 1-35 4 51
These brands are quoted in order of present popularity, but
it is probable that the cheap Cross brand of Borneo oil, which
was introduced into Chefoo for the first time in 1906, will gradually...”
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“...The Japanese are showing a greater interest in raw
silk than^they used to show, and it is reported that they have
acquired a site in Antung for the erection of a filature : this cannot
but affect Chefoo. There are three filatures with foreign machinery,
and about 20 with Chinese reels, employing about 8,500 men, in
operation at the port, but two of the former have had to close down
owing to the short crop of cocoons and the high price demanded for
them. The cocoons are chiefly imported from Manchuria via
Tatungkow and Antung. Considerable purchases were made
during the year for the Tsingtau filatures.
The value of the silk exported amounted to over 500,0001.
In pongees a very considerable business was done, and all Pongees,
concerned must have found it remunerative. The demand from
foreign markets has been strong, the European markets having
been large buyers, while Shanghai and Hong-Kong, and also Japan
and Vladivostock—the latter in a small degree—lave been eager
for goods. A new feature...”
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