the British total instead of to ours. American trade has, moreover,
rapidly increased since 1900. We now sell more cotton
goods to China than to all other countries combined, the exports
having increased from $5,195,845 in 1898 to $27,000,000
in 1905.[28] In the year 1904, 63,529,623 gallons of kerosene
oil valued at $7,202,110 were shipped from the United States
to China. The development of the flour trade has been extraordinary,
the sales having risen from $89,305 in 1898 to
$5,360,139 in 1904.


[28] Year ending June, 1905.


In Hongkong, I found American flour controlling the
market. I learned on inquiry that years before, a firm in
Portland, Oregon, had sent an agent to introduce its flour.
The rice-eating Chinese did not want it, but the agent stayed,
gave away samples, explained its use and pushed his goods so
energetically and persistently that after years of labour and the
expenditure of tens of thousands of dollars a market was created.
Now that firm sells in such enormous quantities that its
numerous mills must run day and night to supply the demand,
and the annual profits run into six figures. That city of Portland
alone exported to Asia, chiefly China, in 1903:--
849,360 barrels flour $2,974,620
522,887 bushels wheat 413,901
46,847,975 feet lumber 647,355
Miscellaneous merchandise 352,879
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