New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1873-01-30
Progress In Japan.

Progress Tn Japan.
The following extract from letter from
one Of the American Commission, now Gnu
ployed by the Japanese Government 10 III
vestieate and dovelopo the natural resources
Of that country, particularly the island Of
Yczo, shows what progress has already been
made:
The American Commission has had Il very
satisfactory campaign, the last -gU.m,r,
among the iinO.. in the island Of Yezn. ar.i
as taa rcSl.; a our lHLags in part. E2tgor>
have been improved, docS- and piers erected
reads through various parts 90. the island ln-
r.'s@ end constructed, ia an extent hardly g.
III. . 80 .n..i wiih uur Ideas 81 The state I'D CIV
;}:Eation i" this country. Last spring there
was not a wH"c!ed vehicle upon the island. ar
a mile Of road over W hrh one could be driven.
yet, on the first day OF this month, the write.
rode out with Governor karedl thirty-twa
miles on the newroad to Sa~pevo from iIakc-
DAFT, in splendid California coach. drawn
by four \ American horses, at the rate Of seven
ana a half miles per hour. This road is one
Of the best located and thoroughly con-
atructel cCat~ ever saw in any country, and
IS completed Is far aS Nalcano. On the
other side of the bay. which is crossed by
ferry, the road is graded to within Il short
distance of SaSpcrO, one hundred and sixty
miles from IIakcdati, and the bridges will tie
erected early next season, so that by The
first Of July one may have as pleasant
drive into the very heart of the island as can
well he imagined, passing over the mountain
ranges, and skirtin@ the bases of the sofia
taras-Ot which there are scycral-with a
grade 80 gradual as scarcely to impede the
al horses 'ihgrn l.
already constructed leading out from SaS-
pcro, n that leading to Otaroni, on the Gulf
OF StragenOti. and to the Iscari river. mouth
Of the Shancra. Sc. Also, Il small canal.
twelve miles long. which now furnishes Il
channel through which Ill produce is brought
up from the lscari river tn SaSpcro in small
boats.
At S8,lcrn one splendid steam saw-mil
has been erected and is in full operation
which has sawed ont one thousand feet of
lumber in one hour, to the great amCzcmcnt
of the japanese and Amos there is also
being erected at this point q large building,
nearly completed, which will contain 4 va
ricty Of machinery, part Of which is now on
the spot ana the balance on the way frcm
America, consisting OF planning machines,
&c; also Il Touring and grist mill for con-
verting the wheat and other grains now being
introduced into the island into -four All
this viii be driven by a powerful turbine
wheel ALREADY iii its place. This will hc of
great Importance in working out the difficult
problem for the development and settlement
OF this island. II it is ever expected that it
shall have a fixed and permanent population
food must be prepared for them upon The
island itself, without depending on Nippon
for rice for food, ~ is now the case Other
wise, should our cntcrprising ncighbor across
the sea desire TO possess himselfOf this much
coveted island, the valGc Of which il is
thought he understands better than do the
japanese themselves, lie would have nothing
more to do than to send few Of his power
fu ships into the straits of1'sudcr, cut oil the
supply, audit would fall ripe pear into his
hands.
Independent OF this, however, there il an
immense wealth in this island in It's timber,
which only awaits the application Of these
mechanical appliances to be converted int
an active and much-nccdcd capital. Piers
and warehouses have been erected at the dit
ferent ports Of IIakcdati, on the straits o.
Tsu,ier Otasoni, Oh the Gulf OF ~trc.cnoG, on
tho west. and at MDsorau, &c.
Farms have been opened up. and Nurseries
established upon the stand, which las been
fUnnd to be favorable irr the growth OF all
the food products of our own country, even
lessor AHtiScli, in bis report, gave as his
opinion wcul! not mature upon this island,
and placed IT. climate in the suD-lgigii zone,
from which | differed and so reported. and
the experience OF the past summer In, fJlly
sustained NV opinion. Vegetables Of all
kinds thrive well, many Of them rivaIing al
most the wonderful California productions
and Indian corn (maiZC) llas been grown, and
four varieties, embracing the Southern White.
(Which Is longer in maturing than any other.
have ripcncl well and been harvested fifteen
days before any appearance If frost, thus set
ting at rest the much -m1oted question as To
the climate of .his island.
| have returned to thi, place to meet y
most cordial reception from al the officers oil
this Department, and to find the farms, nur.
series. and gardens which projected last fall
and winter in Il most tlourishing condition,
and grown into magnificent proportions the
fruit stocks promising, and the horses, cattle
sheep and hogs doing well and exciting .ycal
attention and interest; aud hy the next
steamer for America will 20 OUT other orders
.Ur stock AMI machinery, the fruits Of this
york
Thoroughga.c~ through these hcnigltcd re-
gions, whether for animal or steam bower
with the telegraph and other mechanical APP
pliances, will do and are doing for this coun
try what they lave done fer all cDuutric,
wherever they have been introduced through.
out the world, I" 40 more. no less. but 80
No sooner does the short line Of railroad con
Meeting Yokohama with rokei ;in. ont it,
summons AMI announce It's hour uI starting
THAI, presto the change begins. and in a few
short months the Traveller over this line may
easily imagine himself transported to a highly
civilized country. The steam whistle no
/ sooner rings out its signal aud awakens the
! eChoc. in the wilderness Of IczD than tn,
japanese and the Amos rush to see the mon
ster. which. sclzin. with its iron teeth III,
/ ponderous log, III few moments converts &
/ into any desirable share. A work that Ia the
( primitive way il took DAYS and even weeks {,
I sacolnlIsh. In his establishment the Japa
nese Eneels 60 and alAD-. seems b. worsl.,
/ tie being who could pat into motion thu
voEder:G! mechanism. No sooner were thc.'
maeh.ae. started than hundreds upon hun
/ ti-c&, Of their rriaiatiyr saws drou,ci IRON
/ tine hands Of the wr.,siei coolies. who wer,
laboring 10 their seemingly neyer-eulin
tasks, and the oyer-,axcl human muscles res
from their Labor.
No story of heather mythology, Gays
! writer in 4ypi.oa's Journal, } which tell. o
the transformation Of human or celestial be
in.s into plants or treas, is 50 beautiful a
that one ia which the North American Indi