Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1893-10-13

GALLERY.
Edwin Arnold's title. 1t is not that
Chris tianity is o supplant ShintoiSm
or buddhism, although this will be the
result of TIE conflict of Japanese
creeds, or European art that of the
native schools, but rather that mod
cru thought and reas n, of universal
application, because true, has replaced
sy stems of logic not universally APP
plica BILE. If the modern civilization of
Japan stands, the ban of ignorance
will be removed from Asia and the
cradle of humanity will become
worthy of its children, the races of
civilized man.
At present in Chicago something
more than two hundred citizens of
Japan are busted with the work of ac-
quainting the western world with the
wonders Of their home. Under the
leadership of Hon. 5. Tegima, the inn
perial Japanese commissioner, the at
taches of the Office spre d the pro "a
ganda of Japan's Importance in the
material and intellectuai world. Lit.
era lure in English, covering govern
mental activities, such as education,
scientific research and commerce and
industry, has been prepared for distri-
button. OF the high order of the
work of the japanese, reference to
the re ort Of earthquake observations
in japan furnish proof. This work,
prepared bg the officials # the Central
Meteorological observatory of Toxic,
is worthy of comparison with any
publication of its class The study
enhances the usefu ness of the fine
display of instruments of earthquake
observation in the Electricity build
ing.
The bureau of commerce and indus
try has published work on these sub
jects which is of high value. 1t is
provided with maps and statistical
ables of much interest to the student.
1t is shown that the greater islands of
the archipelago, with those of lesser
size, cover an area of about ~, 900
square miles. The total of the coast
line equals Is. 800 nautical miles, the
total population is 40, 453, 461, and the
average per square mile is 1850 The
extent of the empire from northeast
to sou Invest is about 1880 miles,
while the breadth varies from seventy
five to $50 miles. The country is
mountainous, thus preventing the
numerous rivers from being of great
commercial Importance. The are
many fine harbors on which are
situated the principal cities Of these,
in the empire are six of population
over 100, 900, eleven of more than 50,-
900. seventeen over 80, 900, l07 over TO-
900, total of l41.
In 1870 the first railway line was
laid in Japan Now a number of pri-
vate companies and the government
operate l, $50 miles of track, with 1l6
miles of road now in course of con-
struction, 452 miles for which surveys
have been completed and 25i miles
now being surveyed. The total, when
completed, will amount to 2,6S1 miles,
with many greater extensions in sight.
Since 1871 Japan has enjoyed good
postal facilities, reaching throughout
the empire to the remote settlements.
The money order and savings bank
and parcel post systems are in use,
and the country is membe of the In
ternational Postal union. In other
departments the government is thor
ough in it's methods. The principal
industries of Japan are ceramics,
lacquer works, manufactures of PAL er,
metal, leather, wood and bamboo OF
products, raw or manufactured, are
vegetable wax, salt, sugar, sake and
say-brewed beverages-tobacco, indi-
go, raw silk and tea. These are the
original industries of Japan. Recent
industries, brought over from Europe
or America, include processes for the
manufacture or utilization of glass,
brick, wine, drugs and chemicals,
matches, paper and soap. Machinery
is made and ships are built In this
work, water and steam power is ap-
piled.
To quote from the authority from
which these facts and figures have
been taken: 1.-THE recent opening of
trade and commerce with Europe and
America has changed the condition of
commerce abruptly, and at present
the trade with foreign countries seems
to grow more extensive year by year,
and the maxim, In commerce there is
no state boundary is now realized.
The projects formed by the people and
the encouragement given by the
government during these twenty years
gradually begin to show their effects