Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1877-10-02
Commerce In Japan.

tneir feelngs Oh shocked uecency, but desire Tor
gain, that led the foreigners to make the fuss
which ended in clothing the people. Propriety
and commerce have gone hand in hand, and the
clothing OF the natives has led to large importa
ton OF foreign goods out of which garments are
made. Cotton drills and L cloths are an impor-
tant item of trade here and the British merchant
has derived handsome profit from the business.
Blue drills are the staple of the coolie Dress they
come mainly from England, from America by
way OF Liverpool or London. OF late years the
English makers have furnished inferior article
and the Japanese complain that it does not wear
well. 1t is made of American and Indian cottons
mixed and lightly woven; then the fabric Is heav-
lily sized and stiened with terra alba, so as to give
IT weight and apparent frmness. The first wash
ing reduces the weight onehalf, or even more,
and sometimes the fabric is so poor that second
or third, and possibly first, washing destroys 1t
completely. To get over this trouble the British
merchants have atterly imported American drills
with English labels, on account of the superior
quality of our produc ton. have made consider
able inquiry into this matter, and am OF opinion
that judicious effort on the part OF American
merchants would turn this branch of trade almost
entirely into our own hands. one American house
has recently sent agent here, and the japanese
would we come others. Cotton goods OF all ordin
AIRY kinds suited TO this market and there is an
trade IN cotton yarns and threads for use
in native looms. In single year 81, DOC, 600 worth
of cotton yarn imported. The English OBJ
tanned nearly all this trade, which might easily
have gone to America If the business had been
should not be misled into supposng that the above
quantity can be sold every year. This immense
importation was caused by partial failure of the
cotton crop, and was considerably in excess OF
what is likely to be the ordinary demand
Wooden goods and also cotton and wooden
mixed. have fair sale here, and am told the
market Is increasing year by year The Japanese
not producers OF wool TO any extent, and will
rely upon other countries for their supply of this
article for long time to come. They have recent
ly imported sheep from America in considerable
Lumbers, and are looking for a good result from
their speculation. ! am told that the sheep on
their experimental farm, about 40 miles from \ o.
kohama doing well, and that tue live stock OF
Japan bids fair TO be improved. The native horses
that have thus far are not much to boast OF
the best turnout of the foreign residents OF
Yokohama would bear comparison with these
of any American city. They capable of fast
driving for short distance, but sustained effort
of this sort is out of the question. Down to the
advent of foreigners there was no occasion Tor last
horses, it was not considered the proper thing
to move beyond a digniiied pace, and nobody ever
had occasion to hurry. Centuries of solemn Pc
destrianism on the part of the native steeds
had their effect, just training for speed has
borne its result in other lands. Mingled with
American blood, the native horse will improve, |
and in coming years the Japanese cavalry can
have far better mount than it boasts at present
With more and better horses, the Japanese will
be likely to improve their roads, and when it be-
fashionable for the Mkado to take an after
will speedily adopt the custom. There is nothing
like having the head of the country take the lead
One article of American manufacture appears
to have gained strong foolhold, or rather wall
hold. | refer to the American clock, and if 1t
teaches the people the value of time as 1t has
taught our people in the region where the clock
grows and rpens, the effect will be excellent.
find clock in many Japanese house, and
the demand is so great that numerous native deal
ers keep them in stock. You see them not only
on the main street of Toxic, where they may pos
sibly be kept to attract foreign eyes, but on the
side streets and in the villages miles and miles
from the capital. Two of the great companies
engaged in clock-making have their
agencies in Japan. and am told that their trade
with China is very large. The Japanese have I'M
dertaken to make clocks; they succeed very well
but they work by hand, they find, even with the
low price of labor here that it is better by far TO
purchase the imported article. Their experience
in this matter is repetition Of that with weighing
apparatus. I am told that they sent to America
for \ quantity of Fairbanks scales, which they
made the standard of their Postal and Customs
Departments. They bought double supply, in
tending to use half the lot as models for their
workmen. They tried the experiment for whole
year, and turned out scale excellent in all re-
spects except the single element of ability to
weigh. They could not secure the delicate adj
justment Of the machine made article, and having
weighed their balances and found them wanting,
they abandoned the experiment, ss they have done
in the clock business, and relied upon America for
their supply Of scales. Japanese shop-keepers
have adopted them, and while keeping time with
American clocks weigh their commodities with
American balances.
But in copying our agricultural implements and
other heavy work they have been more successful.
During and after the Philadelphia Exhibition the
japanese Commission bought large quantity OF
agricultural implements, and so anxious were the
dealers TO open trade with Japan that they sold
these sample articles at less than wholesale figures
In due of time the things arrived here and
ahaY,, ayal,, rhoptn taf tn
them. They are now making cast iron plows Just
as cheaply as we can make them in America, and
at less price than il would cost to deliver them
here. Harrows, cultivators, seed-sowers, and sim
liar simple implements they are copying to per-
lection; they may buy few now and then in
America but it will be solely that they may use
them as models With reapers mowers, and sim
liar intricate constructions they have not sue
cceded as yet, but confident of doing so in
time, and in any event, the character OF the coun
try and its agriculture, and the low prices of labor,
will prevent large demand for this sort OF labor
saying machinery. Hoes, shoves, and other hand
tools they have not attempted 70 any great extent,
and thus far they have not been able to get the
peculiar strength and Hexbity which is the boast
of the American maker. The Japanese laborer
is q conservative being, and will not readily sur
render the implements Of his ancestors. Doubt
less he may do in time, and when he does he will
purchase our productions, provided, in the mean
while a home made article OF equal excel
lepce does not come to light. There are no Pa
tent laws in Japan, and the inventor has no pro-
lection if the native mechanics can succeed IN
copying what he has created. A young American
came here recently with fond hopes OF making
fortune out Of refrigerator, the invention Of an
enterprising countryman. But he found in the
first place that the Japanese made no use Of the
article he brought, and secondly, they could copy
1t TO any extent in case 1T was worth while
to do so. lie went away sorrowng and left nu
m N In kew