The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1888-11-30
Progress in Japan.

Japan was opened to the commerce
Of the world by commodore Perry IN
1854. For centuries its ports had been
closed doors its shipping piratical, and
the knowledge that got outside of IT'S
government and social characteristics.
repugnant, treacherous aud bloody.
All is now changed. Your around the
world excursian ticket takes you
through Japan more comfortably than
through Russia, and its people are vast
ly mure pleasant in intercourse than the
average Briton. After Commodore
Perry's visit the fleets of other nations
called on Japan, and there was gen.
eral Interchange of diplomatic courte-
sizes. The japanese soon began TO take
lessons from the previously despised
outside barbarians, and since then they
have been making rapid progress.
4 recent letter TO the London Tunes
tells something of what has been accom-
plished within the past ten years. The
writer says that the foreign trade OF the
country in 1887 amounted to S95.000,-
600. while in 1881 it was only S51, ,OOO,-
O00-an increase of Sc per cent. Ten
years ago the number of foreign vessels
entering Japanese ports was only 200,
with total tonnage of pa ZOO, while
last year the Eumber of VT ssels was 94S,
and their aggregate tonnage was i, ,269,-
42S. During the last year 151 miles OF
railway were built, increasing the total
mileage of the country to 521- The
construction last year was more than
twice as great as in any previous year
The government is constructing roads
with money borrowed at home Tne
cost OF constructing the first railway In
Japan was $40. 900 per mile those last
constructed cost only SIS. .00U per mile.
AZ Yokohama. the principal seaport,
they have modern water works in pro-
cess of construction, and others are pro-
jected in other cities. River and ha--
Dor ir: provements are in progress ana
contemplated. Business and Industrial
enterprises which were unknown 70
years age ucder the feudai system are
now furnishing. In the three cities or
Toxic, Osaka and kioto are III large
companies, Industrial and commercial,
which were organized last year, with an
aggregate capital of S21. 900, ,000- Dur
ing the same time Is banks added SIS,
600. 600 to their capital. In al, shares
in various public undertakings to the
amount of more than ST1. 600 600 were
taken up by the people IN 1887, equal TO
nealy 9 Der head for the entire pOpula-
tion.
Among the organizations of last year
were companies for cotton spinning,
paper making, dyeing, glass blowing,
engineering, agriculture, TIE manufac-
ture of porcelain, Jacques and many
other things. The growth OF cotton
manufacturers has been especially re
msTkable.
The Japanese borrowed their none
tary system from US, and issued large
amount OF paper money-large for
country where the range of prices is very
lnw-and suspension OF specie payments
and great depreciation OF the paper
naturally followed. Indeed. the Japan
ese seemed to have imbIbed for time
the fiat money notions. They were
not slow in following the good example
we set them when We SET our
faces resOlutely toward specie resump-
tion. In 1850 they began the work by
Withdrawing the paper money. At that
time the amount of the fiat stuff stlOat
was I46 600, 900 yen. equal TO about the
same amount of silver dollars. OF this
% 900. 600 had been retired by 1885,
when resumption as announced.
Prices fell, the burden of fixed obliga-
tions was increased. enterprise was
dsadened, and there Was depression OF
industry and trade in every direction, as
there was in this country during the
years Immediately preceding resump-
ton. But as soon as specie payments
had been fairly resumed there was a
wonderful revival of industry and
trade, Just as there was he:e for some
three years after resumption.
Business, industries and public enter
prises are so d1urishing in Japan, that
there are apprehensions of a reaction.
when the boom shall have spent lis
force However that may be. there can
be no doubt whatever that Japan has
made very great and very substantial
progress since it has cast off its protect
i've xclusiveness ara placed Itself will
ingly in contact with tha most enlight-
ened nations of the wOrld.-Putsbitrg
Post.