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“...line has been coming for the last two years, and the
Japanese will naturally, now the war is over, replace with Japanese
vessels their chartered steamers of other flags.
The imports from Shanghai of piece-goods and yarn decreased
at least 30 per cent, owing to the rise in tael exchange and the
depreciation of the copper currency, in which retail sales are paid
for in terms of silver.
The amount of cargo carried westward was much the same as steamer
in 1904, the products of the Wuchang cotton mills filling the deficit t™fl'10 witu
of imported yarn and piece-goods. An increased shipment of opium, 0 iang"
say 20,000 against 15,000 chests, made the downward business some-
what better.
Tonnage on this line is amply sufficient and no change took place
during the year.
Cargoes to Changsha and Siangtan increased slowly but steadily, Steam traffic
whereas the curtailment of the rice export reduced by one-fifth Wlt,h Hunftn-
return freights to be divided among a full supply of tonnage. This
trade...”
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“...silver exchange. Hankow
piece-goods dealers are calculated to have lost at least 600,000 taels
during 1905 and the local market is very dull. Of the Shanghai
mills' products Hankow kept only 3,380 pieces of sheetings against
11,560 pieces in 1904, but the yarn supplied rose from 2,158 to
2,400 cwts. The Wuchang mills' shirtings passed through the
Imperial Maritime Customs were 60,435 pieces and their yarn
13,570 cwts., against 37,239 pieces and 56,289 cwts. last year. Their
total production was 164,930 pieces shirtings and 100,000 cwts.
of yarn, and their profit for the twelvemonth was at least 25 per cent.,
so that the Viceroy's share, in addition to the regular rent of
100,000 taels, was over 40,000 taels—a clear proof of what
Chinese business men can do when free from official tutelage.
It must be remembered, however, that the mills get transit passes
gratis.
In the customs tables the various yarns are rated as follows per
cwt. :—British, 41, lis. 9d.; Wuchang, 2>l. 15s. 9d.; Shanghai...”
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“...putting
poison in their cigarettes against which the anti-American agitation
is also invoked, while smokers are urged to buy only the Government
makes. These placards may emanate from boycotters or the native
agents of the Japanese makes whose sales are declining owing to
vigorous competition.
Foreign, mostly Japanese, coal fell owing to the competition of
the P'ing-hsiang product; but Kai-ping coal again advanced.
Foreign flour dropped 60 per cent, to 6,420 cwts., and the Shanghai
and Wuhu mills (11,900 cwts.) also felt the competition of the
Hankow mill which exported, besides its local sales, 9,600 cwts.
Another mill is reported to be starting under French auspices.
The re-organisation of the Hanyang ironworks caused the large
increase in the importation of machinery.
Japanese and Shanghai matches alike diminished in face of the
inferior but cheap local article.
The import of kerosene oil of all grades reached the unprecedented
total of 26,390,610 gallons, being an advance over 1904...”
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“...hankow.
21
Return of Principal Articles of Native Net Import to Hankow
during the Years 1905-1904.
Articles. 1905. 1904.
Quantity. Value. Quantity, Value.
Bags, gunny ......... Bamboo shoots ......... Books, printed ......... Coal, Kaiping mines ...... Cuttle fish............ Fans............... Mats ............... Medicines............ Musk ............ Oil, castor............ Opium, native ......... Paper, Shanghai mills ... ,, joss............ Silk piece-goods......... „ and cotton ribbons...... Sugar— Brown ............ White ............ Tea dust '............ Other sundries ......... Pieces Cwts. Tons Cwts. Pieces ... 11 ••• Lbs.'" ... II »»■ Cwts. II ••• Lbs. »i Cwts. Lbs. 1,243,126 45,545 4,306 76,390 4,949 2,095,081 202,906 "'301 1,096,400 32,568 10,767 7,364 232,667 36,133 116,667 108,517 3,329,333 £ 11,540 45,424 34,692 17,267 14,319 7,563 18,312 86,155 9,795 23,377 15,849 15,644 32,353 160,363 11,954 67,366 86,106 37,461 266,117 1,393...”
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