Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1888-12-14
TRADING WITH JAPAN.
Some Figures Showing How Much of 1t
We Do-Imports and Exports.

Some Figures Showing How Much of It
We Do-Imports and Exports.
Governor Hubbard tells me that we
buy more from Japan than any other
foreign nation. Last year. said he,
''our imports from this country
amounted to 21,000,0 japanese dol
lars, or about 16, 900, 600 American dol
lars. We bought 81, 900, 600 worth of
her raw silk, and nearly $1,000, 900
worth of her teas. The fair checks of
our ladies were cooled last year with
S97, 900 worth of Japanese fans, and
our noses were wiped with 1916, 900
worth of Japanese silk handkerchiefs.
We buy nearly $500, 900 worth of
porcelain every year, and our imports
of bamboo ware amount to $102, 600 of
japanese money. We buy more than
twice as much off Japan as any other
country, and our imports are increas-
ing every year. In 1887 we bought
81. 500, 900 more goods than in 1886,
and the United States will probably
continue to be Japan's best customer"
"What are the chief articles of ex
port from the United States to Japan2"
/ asked
kerosene oil leads the list" was
the reply. Half of the japanese ma
ton lights its houses with our coal oil
lamps, and we sold in 1886 over So
600, 600 worth of coal oil to Japan.
There has been falling off this year
in this, but the export is still large.
Then the American clock is popular in
Japan, and you may see thousands of
them in Toxic. The common office
clock, which hangs upon the WALL is
very popular, and one sale of clocks
here amounts to 100000 Japanese dol
lars year Many a japanese baby is
now brought up on American con-
densed milk and $4,000 worth was
sold last year. We sell sole leather,
books, machinery and provisions, and
Japan bought S94, 600 worth of our
flour last year. Their figures are small,
but American foreign trade is in its
infancy, and it has a world yet to con-
quer Here in the east there are 600,-
600. 900 of people who require more or
less of some kinds of goods. which
American brains, push and capital can
furnish at profit, and in Japan there
are SO, 600, 600 of people who are
ready to take from America what she
has to sell that fits her needs, whenever
other nations. We sell to north China
year, and this in the teeth of the
manufacturing nations of Europe.
Japan is much more accessible to us
Why should we not sell to herr"
; How much do we SELF" asked.
"None," replied Governor Hubbard.
THE American cottons do not enter
the japanese markets We do not
make the cheap and light article of
cotton required by the Japanese. A
slight change in the factories, how
; ever, would adapt them to this class OF
( goods, and there is no doubt but that
our American mills can get limited
market here when they are forced tc
look abroad for foreign trade. They
will then have to sell their goods in
close competition with England. We
: are Japan's nearest foreign neighbour
5 We have the cotton at our doors, and
our factories are in operation. Japan
,, raises some cotton, but it is of an in
ferior quality 1t seems to me that
> foreign trade offers the solution OF
many of the labor and capital troubles
r of the United States. When the home
4 markets are glutted and factorie:
closed for want of demand this for
egn trade could eat up some of the
surplus and keep the mills from rest
; ing.
+ Japan buys" Governor Hubbard
f went on, ''$5l. 900, 600 worth of goods
/ year from foreign nations, 1t sell.
: in round $50, 000,O 900 worth of goods
=, abroad, and its imports are thus nearly
S1,000000 less than its exports. The
e needs of the nation will grow with thu
d new civilization. and an increased de
mand for our productions will be tn,
J. result Among the chief things it nov
4 buys are steam engines, clocks
u watches, hats and caps, iron, steel
: window glass, sugar, wooden and cot
l. ton yarns. Its importations of cotton
II yarns last year were 5000, 900, and
It bought $500, GOO worth of wines.
y sells abroad about forty different arti
. Giles, and some of these will be new t.
u you. In camphor there is an expor
II of 81, 900, 900, and in cutie fish lill
y amount. Japan sells 81, 000 900 wOrtl
g of copper year, and it has one of tn
r largest copper mines in the world. l
"a sells 81 ,0O0,O 900 worth of porcelain
- 81 900, 600 worth of silk handkerchiefs
a. nearly all of the Japan tea that goe
lie abroad. The sales of raw silk amour
a to SIS, 900, 600 year. and of cocoon
TO to 5000. 900 a year. 1t sells 800, 90
+, worth of mushrooms, and $4,000, 90
' worth of rice The trade of the countr,
'e is susceptible of increase. and Japan i
by no means at the end of its materia
n development. Frank G. Carpenter
re Letter
'e One Cause of Rain Storms.