The New York herald., 1869-06-28
JAP

trance and Appearance-Number Of Resident
Foreigners-Osaka and Its Disadva nta ges-
Appearance Of the City-The Junk Trade-
The Foreign Trade OF Hiogo for 1868.
KOBE May %, 1859.
since the opening OF the ports OF Osaka and
niogo on the lst of January, 1885, those foreigners
who settled at the new ports have been constantly
prophesying OF the time when Hiogo or Osaka, as
the case may be. will supersede Yokohama as
the principal entrepot for Japan. Making all due
allowance for the braggadocio inseparabe from a
commercial rivalry, the trade OF Hiogo and the
number OF vessels clearing from and entering the
poit are sufficient indication that Hiogo or Osaka
will one day occupy position OF considerable i'm
pOrtance In a commercial point OF view. With a
view, therefore, OF spying out land which, accord
ing TO every resident, is flowing with milk ana
honey, plentfuly sprinkled with Ttcniboos, your
correspondent thought it advisable to come here
and look for himself.
This port, Hiogo, is situated about 500 miles in
southwesteriy direction from Yokohama, nearly at
the head of Tsumi or osaka bay. But why am /
speaking of HiogoG The fact Is the place called by
that name Is scarcely OF any interest whatever to
the foreigner. IL may be remembered that when
Japan was first opened the treaty with the foreign
Powers called for the opening OF the port OF Kama
gawa. The Japs, however, after great deal of Op-
position, but with the ultimate consent OF the for
eign ministers, placed the foreign settlement at YO
kohama instead OF Kanagawa, whence all foreign
Official documents are still dated, although the latter
place is good six miles any foreign residence
ana we have no more TO do with that place than
any other In the Interior So instead OF marking
out the foreign settlement at Hogo they placed 1t at
Kobe along a miserable sandy beach, and vessels
have to pass Hiogo to get to the anchorage.
Nevertheless, the entrance to Kobe is extremely
DicturesQue beach--the
behind, below and above the settlement being very
pretty and striking. The anchorage Is good, and
the harbor. somewhat smaller than Yokohama, is a
little better protected though even here the ele-
ments seem to get on spree, and the harbor is ex
tremely weathery at times. The foreign population
will probably number about 250 Besides the SETTLE
ment foreigners have the privilege here, which they
do not possess at Yokohama, Of renting houses In
the native town of Kobe they are not allowed to
live at Hi0g0), and the settlement, usual, being
nxed at the wrong end most OF the mercantile
houses have avalleG themselves OF this privilege
and ignore the concession. Building Is going on
rapidly. however, In all parts, and have no doubt
that Kobe will, at some future time, be q place
Of considerable commercial Importance.
But If the foreign settlers in this portion of Japan
look upon Yokohama as their rival am at loss for
name by which 10 designate the feeling entertained
by the K0betes for Osaka and that OF the lew resi-
dents OF osaka for Kobe. 1t is amusing to hear the
respective settlers discuss this point but 80 far Kobe
has by far the best Of it. Osaka Is the largest
mercial city In Japan, but is situated about four
miles up shallow river, which is guarded by bar
that in my opinion will ever act as barrier TO di
rect commercial. intercourse. l have spoken OF
Osaka as q commercial clty-that Is, In a Japanese
point OF view, for Japanese junks can manage at high
1,50O 900 Inhabitants 1t is the centre rather the
ultimate point OF an immense tea and SILK growing
district. Everything that Is shipped from Kobe
for foreign ports the other p0rts OF Japan,
from OSAKA, and yet, In my opinion, Kobe must
necessarily always be far ahead OF Osaka because
Kobe has deep water. The Japs appreciate the dill
guilty, and are attempting to dredge the river and
bar They are working very sedulousy at present;
but have the opinions Of good engineers that sue.
cess Is very probIematical and that the experiment
VIII cost about S2000,000 The Junk trade OF Osaka
10 and from Hiogo Kobe and the ports on the inland
sea Is something enormous. The river itsef Is
crowded with incoming or outgoing Junks and
every creek and canal that ntersects the city-and
hey are Ho s @ svaepes Of ne sSn %e
business that this junk trade must be the effect OF
In the CITY, The streets have the appearance as
II no business were done. One sees long lines
Of shops without customers immense crowds
In the streets, apparently doing nothing, and 1t Is
rare thing to see goods hauled through the street..
Tet as said before, the business is here, In the
district, and the great drawback to its sgs taning
large foreign settlement Is It's want of navigating
facilities. osaka Is the second city In point OF size
In the empire. Here, under the former government,
the Tycoon resided portion Of the year. II was
here that he lost his power. AT the time when Sat
Huma first unlured the Mikado's flag In opposition
to the Tycoon the latter was residing here and he
surrounded his castle, which, with plenty Of ammu-
hilton and two thousand men, could have been
3nade impregnable. 1t Is now a mass or RUNS.
About twenty miles from Osaka is the sacred city
OF Kioto, the residence OF the Mikados. No longer
sacred. however, as 1t has been desecrated by the
pnholy presence OF the hated foreigner aud no
longer the exclusive residence OF the "Son OF the
Bun," as formerly.
From Oskaa to Hogo 1t is thirteen miles by
water and twenty-hree by land-that is is thirteen
miles from the anchorage, which Is about two miles
from the bar, and the city Is three miles above that
The foreign residents are discussing the question of
s,,idlng a railroad between the two ports As TO
She alv,-cb blity Of such undertaking there be
but one oplnivn-it would Increase the importance
OF both places nu.ared iold Ine question Is
whether such a privilege viii ever be gwen TO
Foreigners by the Japanese government; all tnink
even this viii be ultimately erected, or the Japs
Will build one themselves AS TO either OF the ports
supersedlng Yokohama fail to see the reasons for
any such result. Not that Yokohama mas any very
great attractions or superiority over and above
Kobe; but tney are at least equal 1OAohaina Is just
rs near Europe as Kobe, ana s far more available as
D distributing port for the whole country Ihe fol-
lowing figures VIII give some estimate OF the trade
g'oiai number OF vessels arrived, 100; tonnage,
s160i7. or which number 64 were American, wtn
an aggregate tonnage OF 73, 1885, English, Ill, Win
c9, 1856 tons; other countries, 15
The total value OF imports for the same time
amounted TO $4.7l0,2l4, OF which $S22, 40i came
direct from foreign ports The total value OF ex
ports amounted to 56l, 900, OF which s3osOs6 was
direct TO foreign countries, and large proporcn OF
the rest also went foreign countries, but was nrst
shipped to Yokohama. for Instance, the value ol
the six export aonc-that Is, including skworms
Aitopelher this is a very healthy showing, and,
whether Kobe supersedes Yokohama or not, we may
confidently expect tnat Ter VIII lOOt up III u
eouple OF years to q very considerable amount
A Peoples Observation-Disclosures BY the
nrikndo-The Parliament Housc-Thc Mes.
sage Of the Emperor-Ruies and Resula-
lions of the New observation-disclosures Pro-
gress-Determined Action OF Sir Harry
Pnrlses-The Affair with tho St0ncwaIl-
Tho Yokohama Rnces-Commcrcial Mat.
.tcrs. - 49,
The Mikado arrived at Jeddo on the sth Inst.
Informed you In my former letter that considerable
opposition was shown by some OF the Dalmios TO
this movement and 1t was even reported that force
had been used; but this believe TO be untrue. on
She 18th tho Parliament was convoked-that Is, what
Sould correspond to the lower House In England or
America. The great convocation Of Daimos have
not vet commenced their sessions How the men,