Iron and Steel Trade in China.
24.—In examining the position in China of particular industries, attention must first be directed to the iron, steel, and hardware trade.
The standard work (Williams' "Middle Kingdom") says:—"Handicraftsmen of every name are content with coarse-looking tools compared with those turned out at Sheffield; but the work produced by some of them is far from contemptible. The bench of the carpenter is a low, narrow, inclined frame, on which he sits to plane, groove, and work his boards, using his feet and toes to steady them. His augers, bits, and gimlets are worked with a bow; but most of the edge-tools employed by him and the blacksmith are similar in shape, but less convenient than our own. They are sharpened with bows, on grindstones, and also with a cold steel like a spokeshave, with which the edge is scraped thin.
"Steel is everywhere manufactured in a rude way, but the foreign importation is gradually supplying a better article."
Importation of Metals.
25.—This is illustrated by the importation, in 1890, of 242,000 taels (60,500l.) worth of steel, besides 800,000 taels worth of iron sheets, plates, bars, hoops, nail rod, pig and old iron, and 500,000 taels worth of copper bars, nails, wire, &c.,—a purchase exceeding 400,000l.,—the greater part of which was from the United Kingdom.
The Statistical Secretary of the Imperial Maritime Customs states that "iron of all kinds maintained, in 1890, a steady consumption of 1,100,000 piculs (each picul equals 133-1/2 lbs.), and steel rose from 39,000 to 56,000 piculs,—an increase of 43 per cent.,—although it is noticeable that the import is very variable from year to year."
The Commissioner at Newchwang states that "importations of metals advanced to the enormous extent of 113 per cent. over 1889—the most conspicuous being nail rod;" while his colleague at Tientsin speaks of "the increasing demand for manufactured iron nails, which are cheaper and better than those made by native blacksmiths;" and Chin-kiang states, from the Central Provinces—"For iron of all kinds, 1890 totals have not been equalled."
Sheffield Enterprise.
26.—The enterprise of Sheffield has not been behindhand. In 1843, after the Northern ports had been opened, a Times correspondent reported "that an eminent Sheffield firm sent out a large consignment of knives and forks, and declared themselves prepared to supply all China with cutlery. The Chinamen, who knew not the use of knives and forks (or, as they say, abandoned the use of them when they became civilized), but toss the rice into their mouths with chopsticks, would not look at these best balanced knives. They were sold at prices which scarcely realized their freight, and shops were for years afterwards adorned with them, formed into devices, like guns in an armoury."