Harbin, Oct. 2.
Notwithstanding the fact the prices for the main product of the Ma churian Empire, namely, soya beans, maintained about the same level on the Europesn markets, during the first half' of September, there was but little business doing' in beans in the local market during the said period. The lack of business may be [partly ascribed to exporters waiting for some definite figures as to the size of the new crop and its quality, Met caring to risk making purchases fon their own account, and preferring to work on orders only.
There Is, however, some demand for maize, kaoliang and millet on the part of America for the feeding of feaitle, though it seems rather dovbt-{ful a5 to whether there will be any lof these cereals exported to America, even though Inquiries as to prices and freight have been made.
The decrease in demand for soya beans from Manchuria on the part of European markets has been reflected in the freight returns of the Chinese Eastern Railway. as the total quality of goods carried by this railway, during the first halt September was 4,412 carloads, against 4807 carloads for the former year during the same period. Of the total number of carloads, 514 went south, 162 east and the romainder, 2.736 in local trame only, the figures for the former yet respectively, being 1.068, 5 and 3,736 The total decrease is, therefore, 395 carloads of grain and other goods, Dut the decrease southwards is 51 while eastwards there Is actually an increase of 157 carloads. These Aqures are most extraordinary as it appears that, notwithstanding all the bandits and trouble on the eastern section of the railway. the number of fear loads. of goods actually increased Jduring the fest halt of September.
Generally speaking. this being ead time of the year as regards exports, it may be considered that the goods trame of the railway is hhormal, and if taking' the passenger trate into consideration us well, it may be said that business has. been fairly brisk.
There were apparently few questions to be discussed during this period as there was not_a single meeting of the Advisory Committee hela, The market still Ix dull and, therefore, "it is not expected that there will be heavy shipments of
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.