Vol. VIII. No. 94. 
IMPERIAL INSTITUTE JOURNAL. 
[October, 1902.] 
has improved considerably. The net revenue last year was 
nearly 13^ million dollars, of which the Customs yielded 
millions, and the excise 3! millions. In 1900 the revenue was 
less than 8 millions. In his report for last year the Minister of 
Finance stated that the country had only partially succeeded in 
overcoming the fiscal crisis which had afflicted it for several 
years, “and, as will be granted by those who reflect, if such 
returns are maintained or increased from day to day, as it is 
natural to expect, the actual necessities of the public service 
would be provided for, if it were not for the weight of liabilities 
which for years back has burdened the fiscal situation of the 
Republic." Expressed in local currency, the total debt is over 
92 million dollars, of which about ij million sterling is in gold, 
and 27I millions in dollars, national currency. Or, if the whole 
be put in sterling, the liabilities at the end of last year amounted 
to 4 2 . 564, 669, and the assets to 4922,121. 
Paraguay. — In his latest report H.M. Consul describes 
the condition of trade in Paraguay as very unsatisfactory, as 
the exceptionally high premium on gold has in many instances 
rendered business impossible, besides which the Asuncion 
market has been overstocked, A financial panic, which 
threatened at one time, was averted, and the few cases of 
insolvency were amongst unimportant firms. Trade is larger 
than might be expected, having regard to the want of means of 
communication and to other commercial deficiencies; but it is 
chiefly carried on by European firms in Buenos Ayres and 
Montevideo, and varies little from year to year. Most 
European articles are obtainable at prices which are not 
unreasonable, considering the freight and high duties. There 
are 25 large importing firms in Asuncion, all selling British 
goods, but there are no trade statistics. The premium on gold 
has varied from 800 to 1,000 per cent., and touched the latter 
figure at the end of last year. The total public debt is just 
over six millions sterling, of which over four-and-a-kalf millions 
is the amount of the non-interest-bearing funded debt. The 
revenue was 4616,829 in 1900, against ^310,507 in 1890; the 
expenditure in the same years respectively was ^725,181 and 
4162,129. The imports last year were estimated at a little 
over 4600,000 ; the amount from the United Kingdom was 
probably a quarter of this, and a German Consular report places 
the average annual imports from Germany at about the same 
amount. The exports are estimated at a little more than 
half-a-million sterling, and it is believed that the volume of 
both imports and exports has increased during the last few 
years. The main exports are yerba maffi, "hides, timber, 
tobacco, and fruit. Amongst the skins there is an abundant 
supply of alligator skins, varying in the raw state from 13d. to 
4s. each according to length, and from 5s. to 41 when tanned. 
The in at 6, or Paraguayan tea, goes largely to the other South 
American Republics ; there seems little doubt, says the Consul, 
that it is a great restorative in hot weather, or after physical 
exhaustion. The fruit goes to the Argentine and Uruguay. 
Cattle breeding is the most important industry in the country, 
and there is a slow improvement taking place in the stock. The 
number of horned cattle in the Republic is estimated at three- 
and-a-half millions, and the number slaughtered in Asuncion 
last year was over 33,000 head. A breakwater for Asuncion 
harbour was commenced last year. The Consul, in conclusion, 
states that the Paraguayan Chamber of Commerce supplies to 
all applicants, free of charge, information regarding the 
commerce and finances of the country. 
Persia (Baghdad). — The Tigris and the Trade op 
Baghdad.— The acting British Consul-General in Baghdad, in 
a report on his district for the past year, says that no description 
of the trade of the district would be complete without reference 
to the magnificent river Tigris, which is the chief means of com- 
munication between it and the outer world. The navigation, 
however, is growing increasingly difficult owing to the neglect of 
dredging, and the absence of supervision over the local Arabs, 
who cut channels and primitive canals in careless and unscien- 
tific ways. These cause the river to silt up, or to open out into 
broad shallows at awkward places, and thus lead to the restric- 
tion of steamer traffic, which helps largely to keep open the 
existing channels. If the proper preservation of the river received 
attention, the trade of the town and adjacent districts would be 
increased, and the country would be developed to an extent that 
w'ould amply repay the expenditure on the river. The export of 
wool declined last year, owing to great mortality amongst the 
Arab flocks on account of unfavourable weather leading to a 
scarcity of pasture. The market for mohair also was bad, as 
was that for galls from Mosul. Nearly all grain crops were 
short and of inferior quality owing to the lack of rain and the 
low water in the Tigris, but the date harvest was excellent in 
quality as well as quantity, and the poorer classes fell back on 
dates more than ever, in consequence of the scarcity in grain. 
The main exports from the district are wool, which is by far the 
most important of all, gum, galls, skins and hides, carpets and 
mohair. The carpets are from Persia, Baghdad being merely a 
place of transit. The import trade in piece-goods was large last 
year, the demand from Persia and Kurdistan being considerable, 
and it was this trade that suffered chiefly by the deficiency in 
navigation, as bales of goods sometimes remained at Basra for 
months before they found a conveyance to Baghdad. The 
Euphrates and Tigris Company alone conveyed cloths 1 to the 
value of over one million sterling to Baghdad" last year. This 
trade is increasing, owing to an extension of the system of giving 
long credits to small dealers by firms having the control of goods 
consigned for sale by manufacturers at home. 
Philippines (Manila). — From a report of the British Consul 
at Manila it appears that the islands are pacified, but in an 
impoverished condition consequent on the events of the past 
five years. Not only has there been great loss of life among the 
.natives owing to war, but rinderpest and a disease called 
“surra” have reduced the supply of draught animals to such 
an extent that all cultivation is seriously hampered. Rice, the 
staple food of the islands, has suffered most seriously, as not 
only has the actual amount planted been smaller than usual, 
but owing to drought the last year’s crop was light. British 
trade occupies a predominant position in the Philippines, but 
the fact must not be overlooked that large quantities of goods 
transhipped at Hong Kong and Singapore figure as British and 
swell the totals, although produced in other countries. In 1901, 
out of a total of imports valued at $32,758,095 gold, $15,545,734 
worth came from various British or Colonial ports. These paid 
$3,183,055 duty out of a total ot $6,394,915. Imports have 
increased from $24,284,666 in 1900 to $32, 758,095 in 1901, the 
increase being mainly due to a much increased civil population, 
whose food, drink, and clothes all have to be imported. As 
regards exports, a total value of $13,783,179 gold went to 
British ports out of a gross export of $20,760,648, paying duty 
to the amount of $402,073, out of a total ot $669,085. The 
total quantity of hemp exported in 1901 amounted to 913,349 
bales, of which 781,838 bales were shipped by British firms. A 
large reduction in exports to the United Kingdom may be 
expected in the current year, owing to the abolition of the 
export duty on hemp sent to the United States, as this product 
will then have to be shipped direct to the United States of 
America to obtain this privilege. The total quantity exported 
will probably increase largely in the next few years, as, 
tranquility being re-established, larger areas will be planted 
with this valuable crop, which is not hard to cultivate and is 
popular with the natives. The export of leaf tobacco was below 
average. Only the cheaper qualities of cigars are sent to the 
United Kingdom, the better classes apparently being unable to 
compete with Mexican and West Indian cigars in home 
markets. Australia and the China coast are, however, good 
customers. A new tariff came into effect in November, 1901, 
which has in many cases raised the previous duties, although it 
was intended only to raise those on luxuries and reduce the 
charges on necessities. 
Zanzibar. — In his report on the trade of Zanzibar for 1901, 
the British Vice-Consul states that the Customs returns show a 
net revenue of 475.025, an increase of £7,169 011 that of the pre- 
vious year, chiefly due to an improvement in the value of cloves 
entering the Customs-house from various parts of Zanzibar and 
Pemba islands, and brought to this town in dhows. Cloves show 
an increase in revenue, as compared with the year 1900, of 48,171, 
owing to a good crop. This fact is only mentioned as a matter 
of interest and as showing the healthy conditions of the islands as 
regards the clove produce. Apart from the above-mentioned 
cause, the import trade shows an increase of, in round numbers, 
480,000, while the value of exports is also greater, though to no 
very appreciable extent. Imports from the U nited Kingdom show 
a slight improvement. The value of piece-goods imported from 
London, Liverpool, Manchester, and Southampton contributed 
to this increase with a total of 4*39-7 2 4. as against 437’ 1 55 ' n 
the year 1900. The amount of coal from Cardiff slightly de- 
creased, but only to the extent of 4 r . 938 , an insignificant fall 
as compared with the previous year, when a decrease of 431.000 
had to be reported. The outlook is promising, for if during a 
year of commercial depression in the United Kingdom, there 
has been no diminution of the goods which have entered or left 
the country, there is good ground for expecting still better 
returns in future years, when trade in the United Kingdom and 
in other parts of the world will have resumed its normal vigour. 
There is a decrease of about 44 . 000 > n the value of imports 
from Germany which, among European countries, stands next 
to the United Kingdom in importance, but a rise of some 46 ,ooo 
in the value of imports from the United States. Petroleum, 
however, one of the principal exports thence to Zanzibar, does 
not contribute to the increase, that article showing a decline in 
import value of 419.620, owing, probably, to the local bulk oil 
installation which has been established here by a British com- 
pany, and also to the fact that Russian oil now competes largely 
with American case oil, 

FOREIGN CONSULAR REPORTS. 
Pineapples in the Bahamas.— According to the United 
States Consul, the average number of pineapples shipped from 
the Bahamas is about 6,000,000 per annum, worth some 
$250,000 or $275,000. The falling off this year, both in quantity 
and value, means a serious loss to the planters of this colony 
and a certain loss to the trade of the United States, which takes 
the entire crop, selling the colonists goods in exchange. It is 
estimated that from sixty to seventy-five cargoes of the fruit are 
carried to the United States in small, swift American schooners, 
which earn from $40,000 to $50,000 as charter money. The 
pineapple industry is developing new life, despite the threatening 
competition in the near future from Cuba and Porto Rico, and 
the plantations are being extended. So great is the demand for 
new plants, and so inadequate the supply, that the Colonial Legis- 
lature has just passed an act imposing an export duty on the 
plants of $t *20 for the first hundred and $2 ‘40 per hundred for 
all above that number. Pineapple tops and slips are included 
in the term plants. An order for 170,000 dozen plants was 
lately received from Cuba. This act seemed necessary, as the 
shipments of plants to Cuba and Florida were becoming very 
large. The proprietors of canning factories here are much 
concerned over the apparent intention of the United States 
Customs authorities to consider all pineapples put up in tin cans, 
with ever so small a quantity of sugar, as “preserved" fruit, 
liable to duty at 1 cent per pound and 35 per cent, ad 
valorem. The canned fruit from this colony has heretofore been 
classified as “ fruit in its own juice,” and as such been dutiable 
at 1 per cent, per pound and 25 per cent, ad valorem. The new 
ruling, if it prevails, will increase the duty by 10 per cent., and, 
in the opinion of local packers, will seriously injure their 
business. The shipping and canning season covers the three 
months of May, June and July. 
Miners and Mining in China. — The United States Consul 
at Tien-tsin says that the only mines in the country worked on 
modern methods are the coal mines at Tong-shan and Ling-si, 
belonging to the Chinese Engineering and Mining Company. 
About two-thirds of the work is done by contract, the company 
paying so much a ton. The contractor employs the miners by 
the day, and pays them from qd. to 6d. for eight hours' work. 
Besides their wages, the miners obtain a certain part of the net 
profits of the contractor. In addition to men doing contract 
work the company employs a large staff of miners, coolies, 
masons, carpenters, overseers and deputies, besides about 100 
boys, who look after the ventilating doors. In the Tong-shan 
mines about 1,000 men are engaged daily in three shifts of eight 
hours each, while 2,000 men are employed by the contractors in 
mining coal and doing stonework. The contract rates for 
mining are 6d. a ton for dust coal and is. 3d. for lump. In 
the other mines in the interior the primitive Chinese methods of 
mining are employed, and generally the miners are paid by a 
share. The usual rate is about one-third of the product to the 
miners and the remaining two-thirds to the owners of the mines. 
An entirely different system of paying the miners was adopted 
by the Mo-ho Gold Mining Company, which had extensive 
mining rights between Mongolia and Asiatic Russia, embracing 
hundreds of square miles of rich alluvial and placer deposits. 
For the successful exploiting of this vast mineral wealth it was 
necessary to overcome the obstacles arising from distance, 
severity of climate, and total want of labour. To meet the 
latter difficulty the company offered a complete outfit to every 
able-bodied man from North China, besides advancing a sub- 
stantial sum for the expenses of the journey from Tien-tsin or 
Cbi-fu to Mo-ho. Upon arrival each miner was assigned a large 
area for his exclusive exploitation. Stations were established at 
different points throughout the whole region, guarded by the 
military police furnished by the Government. The miner had 
to sell all his dust to the company, at a price fi xed by the latter, 
and obtain all supplies from the company's stores. By this 
arrangement the company is able to recoup the original outlay, 
which was very heavy, and the miner was given an incentive to 
work. Many of the miners after the first two years became rich, 
while on the various occasions the company declared an annual 
dividend of 150 per cent. Up to the Boxer uprising of 1900, 
the company was the most profitable mining enterprise in 
China. Since the Russians have acquired control of this 
territory, all mining operations have ceased. 
The Consul at Niu-chwang says that an experienced mining 
engineer has just returned from a journey into the country 
at the head-waters of the Yalu, where he went to inspect several 
gold-mining properties as the representative of an American 
syndicate. His route was to Mukden by train, and thence 
200 miles east by cart and chair. The natives informed him 
that only one white man had ever before visited that region. 
He found the country extremely rich in agricultural products, 
which find their way down the Yalu river to various parts of 
China. Timber is one of the most important resources. He 
saw many logs 4 ft. in diameter, from 40 ft. to So ft. long, and 
of very fine quality, floating down the Yalu ; they are then 
loaded on junks for various ports in China, large numbers going 
to Tien-tsin. Quantities of coal, both anthracite and bituminous, 
are mined and used by the natives. Coke of excellent quality 
is one of the important exports from the Yalu river. All 
Southern Manchuria seems to be remarkably well supplied with 
coal. Cold placers have been worked on the Yalu and its 
tributaries for ages, and many placer claims are still producing 
well, although worked in the crudest way. Sluice boxes are 
only 6 ft. long, and are without any arrangements for saving the 
fine gold ; only the coarse is collected. There are man}' 
evidences of quartz reefs. Ledges worked by the natives 
indicate considerable value ; but as the people know absolutely 
nothing of how to work quartz mines, and have no tools, not 
even hand drills, very little can yet be determined as to them. 
The expense of reaching the country and the introduction of 
mining machinery would not be great. The cost of labour and 
fuel would be as cheap as anywhere in the world. 
The Import Trade of Mesopotamia. —The Russian Consul 
at Basra throws some welcome light on the economic conditions 
of a region which, says The Times, is steadily acquiring increased 
international interest. A gradual change has taken place in the 
direction of import trade in Mesopotamia since the opening of 
the Suez Canal. Basra, with its purely Arab population, is now 
the chief emporium of the district for foreign imports. These 
reach Basra by way of the Shatt el Arab and the Tigris, and 
from that centre they are forwarded to Baghdad and more 
distant parts of the interior. River navigation is provided by 
four Turkish steamers, two steamers belonging to the British 
firm of Lynch Brothers, and by native sailing vessels. From a 
comprehensive analysis of the commerce of the region, it is 
apparent that the steamers engaged in this trade are far from 
being sufficient for its requirements. This is all the more note- 
worthy as the traffic is represented to be very remunerative, and 
several proposals have lately been made to found a new steam- 
ship company to develop the inland navigation. It is to be 
hoped that these hints will not be lost on British merchants 
interested in the trade of this region, and that they will not 
allow their Russian and German rivals to get ahead of them in a 
quarter of the globe which promises to be of very special import- 
ance at no distant date. British trade has the great initial 
advantage of cheap access by water to the principal emporium. 

CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE REPORTS. 
UNITED KINGDOM. 
Liverpool. — Cotton-growing in West Africa. — 
Presiding at a meeting of the African trade section of the 
Liverpool Chamber of Commerce, Sir Alfred Jones asked that 
a resolution shoiild be adopted thanking the West African 
Government and the Colonial Office for the interest they are 
manifesting in cotton-growing in West .Africa. Such resolution 
was passed. Sir Alfred said he had forwarded to the West 
African colonies 100 tons of cotton seed for planting purposes, 
and the reports on the growth were highly satisfactory. A letter 
was read from the New Cotton Fields (Limited), of London, 
intimating that they would gladly forward particulars of its 
plans, etc. Sir Alfred Jones referred to the Cotton-growing 
Association started at Oldham and Manchester, and said there 
was no doubt cotton-growing on a large scale would eventually 
take place in West Africa. Sir Ralph Moor had asked for two 
mules for ploughing cotton, and these with complete harness 
had been forwarded to him as a present. Sir Alfred submitted 
a sample of cotton grown in Sierra Leone in three months after 
the seed was sown. This sample had been sent by Dr. Blvden, 
from whom a letter was read stating that the sample, which was 
not the best procurable, was grown at Mabang, three hours' rail 
journey from Freetown, The doctor continued: — “The seed 
was planted rather early in the year. The best time for planting 
cotton in this part of Africa is the first week in September. The 
soil was worked with the ordinary native implements, which only 
scratch the earth. A large portion of the seed was in an un- 
healthy slate. What are needed, Dr. Abayami Cole, who grew 
the cotton, says, for producing the best results, are ploughing 
the soil with the help of a mule, and a cotton gin. Nowhere in 
Africa have these helps been employed by the natives in the pro- 
duction of cotlon. The samples usually seen, and from which 
the natives obtain the millions of country cloths, are cultivated 
with these ordinary tools, or grow wild and are prepared for 
market with the hand. Their cotton cannot, therefore, be com- 
pared to cotton produced In America under the most favourable 
conditions. Who can tell the agricultural possibilities of Africa 
under the agencies and manipulation of civilised knowledge? 
If with Dr. Cole's limited means he has produced an acre" of 
cotton in three months, why may not 1,000 or 10,000 acres be 
produced in the same time with adequate capital. Liverpool, 
with the capital she can command, ought to be able to put on 
the market by next September at least 1,000 tons of cotton, and 
go on doubling the production until she shall be largely 
independent of America." 
COLONIES. 
Cape Colony (Port Elizabeth). — At the last annual 
general meeting of this Chamber, held on 7th April, the 
President, Mr. W. Macintosh, said, in moving the adoption ot 
the report, that for the third year in succession he had to call 
attention to the fact that the past had been a year of war. Rut 
this year they had to report something more 'than tlxat. They 
had to report the fact that martial law had been proclaimed in 
this district, they had to report upon the peculiar state of Parlia- 
ment, and, in fact, upon the peculiar condition of the whole 
colony, which was crying out, above all things, for peace. But 
he would reiterate what he had said in previous years, that they 
did not mean that they wanted peace at any price. They 
wanted peace on terms which should ensure them having 
permanent peace in this country. 
The annual report, in some" ways, was got up in a new style, 
which would be generally approved of. They had included "the 
figures of Natal in the Trade Returns, so as to give the figures 
of the trade of the whole of South Africa. In turning to the 
statements dealing with the imports, they would see that there 
had been a large increase in imports ; in fact, as the report 
stated, it was the greatest year the country had ever had, tire 
value of the imports coming up to nearly twenty millions sterling. 
Unfortunately they could not look upon that as indicative of the 
general prosperity of the country. It simply meant that there 
had been prosperity for certain districts and for certain persons ; 
but they knew that the increase in the imports was largely due 
to the fact of there having been a large military expenditure in 
the country. The most notable thing about the imports was 
the large amount of importations into Cape Town. The importa- 
tions into Cape Town amounted, for the past year to nine and a 
quarter millions, or about double what they were for the year 
prior to the war. Port Elizabeth had last year to go back to 
the figures for 1898, some six millions odd. Of course, the large 
increase in the importations for Cape Town were due to the 
large extra population of that place during the } T ear, and also to 
