The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-07-10


cial capacity, consulting only his own Judgment
as 10 the propriety OF doing so. / believe that no
WORD mas been sad ssainss we etaractss or qua
chievous tendency or she method he is encouraged
TO pursue that Is cOmpiained OF. IL ha pens that,
50 lar as he Is concerned no special harm Is likely
TO be done. for his voice ceased 10 have weight IN
the councils OF this Empire rom the time when
she eauseeEsness Of his Injurious interference in
the Formosa mar was thoroughly demonstrated;
and MS suggestions, upon whatever subject, re-
gret 80 say, do not now carry lorce with Issm.
AGRICULTURAL NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. SCIENCE AND
ENTERPRISE.
An important engagement Of American assist
ance IN the Developments OF q great industry has
lust been effected toy the government withSut the
cooperation and irrespective OF the designs OF
sequences 1t will be OF greater value TO Japanese
ma eria progress than any enterprise bhat has
been seriously undertaken since tho establish
ment OF foreign Intercourse. ! say It's probable
consequences, because nobody can positively lore
tell results OF labors that are to extend over
period OF many years, although the immediate
prospect Is undoubtedly IN tne highest degree
promising. For long time the subject OF sheep
raising and wool growing has engaged the atten.
ZION OF all who have the forests OF The country
sincerely at heart Friendly advisers rom ABROAD
have been IN frequent consultation with the Min
listers OF the government, but serious dnculues
have INSTRUCTED the prosecution OF the WORK. THO
Japanese were, OF course, quito Ignorant ol the
real possibilities Of their land In this respect and
they nave been persistently discouraged by The
most emphatic assurances that sheep could never
OF raising suitable grasses for their food These
assurances have been gwen on high scientific au-
virtually aoa1doIed by the government. But the
vast adyanLag,s Of planting an industry
with articles which she Is already importing &C
heavy cost nom Europe were SO obvious that the
wen-wisaers OF the nation were reluctant to see
1t too hastily rejected. was by means easy
TO bring forward favorable evidence 70 counterfeit
the hostile testimony OF the supposed experts;
and IL was Only after the arrival or an amateur
plorer, himself successful sheep farmer IN Cali
lorna, thai practical reiutation OF the verdict
could be obtained. Ihs gentleman, Mr.. ID. w. AID
Jones, made extensive journeys In the interior IN
1873, and was go struck by the opportunities he
discovered that he N de proposals TO introduces,
ct his own expense, an enormous mock, ana to
produce within a certain period number OF stock
sufficient to set the underLaklnG III lair progress
In every available part or the Empire looking 10
ultimate results lor his remuneration. IL may be
that an oneS so liberal at lrst excited suspicion,
or, which is more likely, the frequent disappolnt-
menss to WHOA the authorities had oeen subjected
MAJ have inspired an excessive caution In llsten-
ing 10 ans prompsngs o. Dr' Mr sohes
his toars of observation, he prepared series OF
eopious ana suggestive reports pointing cut the
extent OF tne unimproved resources OF the coun-
try not only as resar rus the particular object In
view, but also in connection with other elements
OF prosperity.
PERSEVERANCE, TACT AND PROGRESS -.
This work appears to have been done Win
great earnestness and sincerity, and 1t is certain
tnat tne leading official minds were Thoroughly
Impressed by II; but still IL was an arduous task
TO persuade Sue Goverament to take action in the
matter. In point OF fact they sad been SO often
and 80 bitterly deceived IN similar circumstances
that they were, presumably. apprehensive Of
tunately for all concerned, the subject was
brought to the notice OF one OF the very Few foreign
adence. General LIE Gsndre, VINO, at TIE sno Of
ls73, presented 1t TO the proper members OF the
administration In manner tnat lsd to its az
presently the incidents OF the saga rebellion and
tho Formosa expedition interviewed, and the pro-
ject was necessarily set aside until the nna set
Element OF all troubles VITA China and the return
to Jeddo OF the MinisteT-0kubo Iasimiti-
in February, ISIS, Mr. Jones' proposition
was formally rscefvod. Twas. to bring. without
IDLY as possibly, the authorities 70 purchase &c
specified periods one-hah the produce, paying 81
q head Tor ewes and 81 for wethsrs ana taking
over the wool at current prices, and the entire
stock TO be transferred to the government at o.
fair valuation at the expiration OF ten years. In
full Sue loss TO be borne by the protector. Foe
reasons Of State peicy this plan could not be ac-
haps dangerous, In view Of tno attitude held by
the foreign Ministers, to allow stranger to bring
capital OF his own into the country for the devel-
as precedent that could not he acknowledged at
present with safety. Bat q counter proposition
being entirely satisfactory to that gentleman. was
secided upon last week. BY the terms OF this
OF tbe interior Department, superlntends the
rearing o. stock from 10000 ewes and 200 rams,
which are 30 De imported at government cost as
soon a. d arm shall have been suitably prepared
30 receive tien, and undertakes the training OF
ntsy persons In sheep ,preeaing Tor a
eiQnteen months he is pledged to have
1,50o acres OF pasturage in fun growth, to wAlcn
1900 additional acres are 10 De AIDED annually,
until total OF 1900 shall have been covered. Al
soon az the number or ewes shan have increased
20 600 the excess will be sold each year for dis
tributiOn in various provinces. ~ the expiration
or the specified eight years and half n general
sale Win axe place. OF the net proceeds Of which
he will receive thirty per cent. The minor details
OF the contract which it Is net necessary to
specify, are marked Dy lioerallty and confidence
on the part oil the government which agreeaoly
correspond with tBe hearty gooo Will ana faith
displayed by Mr.. Jones throughout the negotia-
tions. IL should be known that hs lators Will not
be exclusively confined to the production OF stock,
but mat agricultural Developments on q compre-
hensive scale come also within the scope Of his
endeaVOrs-
| have been particular in describing the sue
cesslve stages OF tnls transaction for the reason
that 1t is the only one OF the kind In which Japan
has venured TO engage, and Is the first step that
she has taken toward the development OF the yet
INFESTED capabilities she Is believed to possess.
she Is now lairy launched on the career OF self
protection in one great branch OF industry. Her
progress Will be full Of interest TO observers, ana
II she should attain success 1t viii be matter OF
warm congratulation to the Americans WAC have
assisted Ia the foundation OF she enterprise.