, 1888-12-24
A o WITH JAPAN.
some Figures Showing How Much of 1t
We D~o-Imports and Exports.

we Do-imports and Exports
Governor Hubbard tells me that we
buy moro from Japan than any other
foreign nation last year" said he,
''our imports from this country
amounted to 81, 900, 900 Japanese dol
lars, or about 16, 00O, 900 American dol
lars. We bought 81, 000, 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
$500 worth of Japanese fans, and
worth of Japanese silk handkerchiefs.
We buy nearly 800, 900 worth of
porcelain every year, ind our imports
Of bamboo ware amount to $l02, 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, SOC, 900 moro 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 Japan9n
] 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 81
000, 900 worth of coal oil 10 Japan.
There has been a 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
YER popular, and one sale of clocks
here amounts TO 160, 900 Japanese dol
lars a year. Many a Japanese baby is
10Y brought up on American CON
densed milk, and s55, 900 worth was
sold last year. We sell sole leather,
books, machinery and provisions, and
Japan bought $94, 900 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 Co.,
900, 900 of people who require moro or
less of some kinds of goods, which
American brains, push and capital can
furnish at a profit, and in Japan there
are 3s, DOC, 900 of people who are
ready to take from America what she
has to sell that fits her needs, whenever
they can buy it as cheaply of her as of
other nations. We sell to north China
80, 000, 900 worth of cotton sheetings a
year, and this in the teeth of the
LiAhlluSturLhB hdtlOnS Ol Europe.
Japan is much more accessible to us.
Why should we not sell to herr"
How much do we sellY' / asked.
'None," replied Governor Hubbard.
1.-THE American cottons do not enter
the Japanese markets. We do not
mako 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 a limited
market here when they are forced to
look abroad for foreign trade. They
will then have to sell their goods in
close competition with England. We
are Japan's nearest foreign neighbor.
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
of the United States. When the home
markets are glutted and factories
closed for want of demand, this for
eign trade could eat up some of the
surplus and keep the mills from rest
ing. :, :,
went on, "$5i, 0o0, 600 worth of goods
q year from foreign nations. 1t sells
in round $50, 600, 900 worth of goods
abroad, and its imports are thus nearly
81, 000, 900 less than its exports. The
needs of the nation will grow with the
new civilization, and an increased de-
mandfor our productions will be the
result. Among the chief things it now
buys are steam engines, clocks,
watches, hats and caps, iron, steel,
window glass, sugar, wooden and cot
ton yarns. Its importations of cotton
yarns last year were So, 900, 900, and il
bought $500, 600 worth of wines. 1t
sells abroad about forty different arti-
cles, and some of these will be new to
you. In camphor there is an export
of 81, 000, 600, and in cutie fish q like
amount. Japan sells 81, 900, 600 worth
of copper a year, and it has one of the
largest copper mines in the world. 1t
sells 81, DOC, 900 worth of porcelain,
81, 000, 600 worth of silk handkerchiefs,
and $1,000, 900 worth of tea. We buy
nearly all of the Japan tea that goes
abroad The sales Of raw silk amount
to $19, 600, 900 a year, and of
to $500, 900 q year. 1t sells $400, 900
worth of mushrooms, and 81, 900, 900
worth of rice. The trade of the country
is susceptible of increase, and Japan Is
by no means at the end of its material
development Prank G. Carpenters