Statement showing the imports and exports between Tien-Tsin and the United States for the year 1882. Statement showing the navigation at the port of Tien-Tsin for the year ending December British American. German French Danish 31, 1882. `Statement showing the imports at Wenchow, &c.—Continued. Statement showing the exports from Wenchow for the year ending June 30, 1882. Statement showing the navigation at the port of Wenchow, &c.—Continued. Statement showing the navigation at the port of Wenchow for the year ending June 30, 1882. Report by Consul-General Halderman, of Bangkok, on the commerce and industries of Siam for the year 1882. I have the honor to transmit herewith tabulated statements of imports, exports, and shipping for the Kingdom of Siam, as declared by his Siamese majesty's commissioner of customs for the year ending December 31, 1882. Within the year there has been but little to chronicle in the course of trade. The paralysis which existed at the opening, in the staple product of the country has gradually extended, until the whole commerce of the kingdom has been brought to a very unsatisfactory condition. The rice crops in Burmah and Cochin-China have been abundant, and the general want of employment for the large amount of steam tonnage in eastean waters has so far lowered these ports to place their grain in the Straits, Java, and China, at prices, with which competition on the part of Siam would be futile. Combinations of paddy holders to maintain the high price of the raw material, have closed nearly all the foreign mills, and those which still keep at work are doing so, as many believe, at serious loss. I see no prospect of an early improvement in this branch of trade. American and British dealers have been driven out by the Germans, and the latter are now yield ng inch, by inch, to the Chinese. The demand for teak lumber still continues in excess of the supply from the upper country, and the rafts of logs brought to this market are readily placed. The limits for purchasing for foreign markets are, however, so near the prices demanded for the rough logs that but a narrow margin is left for sawing and shipping. The lack of other opportunities for profitable employment of capital has forced so many into this business that the margin has been greatly narrowed by resulting competition. In spite of all the disadvantages, teak may be delivered on board at this port at smaller prices than at Burman ports, and if the obstacles to the passage from the forests to the ocean could be removed or modified a large and lucrative industry might be developed. The imports into Siam from the United States are chiefly petroleum, flour, canned goods, salt provisions. In some cases they are imported direct, but far the greater part comes through Hong Kong and the Straits settlements. The consumption of petroleum is large and increasing. In a great measure it has superseded the native oils used for illuluminating purposes, and is in general use from the palace to the hovel. The flour used in baking is brought by the Pacific steamers to HongKong, and thence to Siam by the steamers plying regularly between the two. The quantity consumed is, however, inconsiderable, the bulk of the population living largely on rice. About 18,000 bags, amounting to $21,000 in value, cover the importation. An increasing demand for the canned provisions of Amercia has been manifest, and orders have been sent to Europe largely in excess of previous years. The absence of direct communication and the difficulty of regulating exchange between this and the United States preclude the probability of a largely increased commerce in the near future. The bulk of American goods must reach us here through Europe. American arms have of late attracted attention. It is now proposed to equip the Siamese army therewith. American carriages are occasionally met with, and, if a style of build better adapted to the small horses of the country could be devised, they would command a ready sale. Other articles of our manufacture may occasionally be seen, but the aggregate is scarcely of enough importance to command attention. In spite of the fact shown by an examination of the accompanying ab stracts, that the exports from Siam exceed the imports by over two millions during the past twelve months, exchange on the rice marts commands a higher price than it has for several years past, fetching readily 6 and 7 per cent. premium. The Siamese tical, of the nominal value of 60 cents, is now worth only about 54 cents or less. London is the center of exchanges, and does the banking business of Asia. The Mexican silver dollar is the currency of the countries bordering the China seas, and it is not to our credit that it is so. Why should not our standard silver dollar hold this place? Give to it more of intrinsic value than that possessed by the Mexican, and there is no rea |