Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1883-05-24

army, which is modelled after the French
military system, is also furnished with
German arms OF modern patterns. The
government has a good equipment of
heavy krupP guns. About the only
American product largely used in Japan,
is kerosene, which is burned all over the
country. Toxic is lighted with gas. and
when Mr.. Frazier left one electric light
had been introduced. A fine telegraph
system is in operation, the operatives
being natives. There is also cable com
munlcatlon with the continent of Asia,
distance of 500 miles. Telephones are
coming in use.
TIRED OF FOREIGNERS.
There is growing disposition in the
empire to get rid of foreigners, and the
natives are gradually filling the places
heretofore occupied by these. Especially
is this true in the educational depart
meDt. As fast as contracts with for
eigners expire natives take their places.
There is tine public school system, and
at Toxic is an excellent university. Prof.
I. c. Mendenhall, formerly and now
again connected with the Ohio State
University at Columbus, was for sever
al years professor of natural philoSho-
ply ano physics in this institution. The
English, French and German languages
are taught in the universities, aud the
arts and sciences and literature flourish.
One of the finest telescopes in the world
is owned by the Toxic University, and
an observatory is to be built after plans
furnished by an American astronomer.
A fine postal system is now in opera
tion, which was organized by Mr.. Sam
uel Bryan, of CadiZ, Ohio, formerly a
clerk in the Postal Department at Wash
ingtOn.
A line of street cars is now running
in Toxic, but the "Ginricasha,' an en-
larged baby buggy, is still the favorite
vehicle. There are good many car
riages in the cities.
THE CLIMATE, ETC.
The climate of Japan is mild and
equable. The thermometer seldom gets
above 80 degrees, and still more rarely
below freezing point. In the past win
ter more rigorous weather was expert
enced than ever before within the
knowledge of the present generation.
Snow fell to the depth of two feet, and
remained on the ground for several days.
Ice was also formed of sufficient strength
to allow skating for few hours un-
der the palace wall.
From the description given, Japan
must be cheerful place to live. Five
or six earthquakes In one day is not an
unusual occurrence. None of these
have been serious in recent years, though
the people tell of one occasion on which
the ground at Toxic opened. aud swal-
lowed up hundreds of thousands of peo-
pie and destroyed thousands of houses.
A more recent occurrence was tidal
wave which stranded vessels in the
main part of the town of Yokohama, a
distance from the sea.
Upon the waters receding the people
rushed down to the shore to view the
destruction. Instead of being spent,
the wave had retired to gather new
force, and it again swept up over the
land, carrying off thousands of people.
THE NEEDS OF JAPAN.
The view is gaining ground that un-
less the government ceases spreading its
revenue abroad, and devetes its energies
to devotes its energies to developing
the mines and making internal i'm
prOvemenis, financial calamity. cannot
be averted. At present Japan only has
a debt of Sl2,000,00O, held in England,
But she is becoming poorer and poorer.
She has valuable coal, gold, silver and
lead mines. One gold mine is operated
by the government, but the others are
not worked. She neeis roads. A. pres
ent there is but one road worthy of the
name in the empire, this leading from
one end of the island of Niphon to the
other. With good roads. and the proper
Development of the mineral wealth of
The country, IA position of afiluence is
open to her.
The Chinese, Mr.. Frazier saws, laugh
at the Japanese for their precipitate
rush for improvements. He thinks the
Chinese.a much misunderstood people
In this country. Intellectually he re-
CARDS them as infinitely superior to the
Japanese, and says that without the
universal Chinese ''cOmprador" business
in Japan would come to standstill.
These men are honest, reliable and CD
Dable, and have become necessity to
,he japanese merchants and foreign bu-
siness houses.
Nm Il