The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-11-26
lotto IN JAPAs.
Assuming Enormous Proportion
Skilled Labor Cheap.


From Report By coasnl GsneFal Aeisor, az
kanagawH
l Inclose copy OF memorial, prepared
By the Yokohama chamher OF commercs
for transmission TO the London chamber
OF commerce, taken from the Japan Ga
sene Of June o. 1894. l forward
tubs copy, not for il bearing on
che financial question referred TO
Ia its title. but TO furnish the
statistics therein given in asemi-offieial
way as to the cotton spinning industry IN
Japan, which the department. may wish TO
communicate to those Of our citizens
whose business gives them an especial in
terest in the export of raw cotton.
Let me supplement- the information fur
nished by these statistics by saying that,
when they attracted my attention ! sought
further facts from one or two reliable and
responsible firms here, who are, la CONF
rnercial way, we'll acquainted with the
Japanese trade.
arm informed by one company. which
has unusually good and reliable sources OF
information. that the number of cotton
spindles In operation In the mills OF Japan
before the end of this year will nndoubt-
eddy be between 800. 900 and l.o0D. co. THIS
estimate IL based on private statement
made to this company by the firm which
has imported aud sold almost all of the
spinning machinery In use in Japan.
The manufacture OF cotton fabric is one
OF the largest industries, OF Japan, and. 1
believe. Is growing more than any other.
Let me, a. an evidence Of the truth of this
assumption, call attention to the fact that,
though the last session of the imperial diet
national lsgislaturs) was very short, this
cotton fabric industry was considered OF
such Importance THAI the Import duty
which the imperial government collects
on raw cotton was RENTED. After July i,
1894, raw cotton will be admitted free OF
duty. and this In the face OF the fact that,
under the treaties in force, the govern
msnt II prohibited from collecting more
than per cent duty on any article. and
its revenues from import taxes are con-
sequsntly extremely limited.
Raw cotton, other than American, Is
bought for manufacturing purposes In
Egypt, India and China. In the manu-
facturs of the fabric. i am informed,
certain proportion of the raw cotton,
varying according 10 the grade OF goods
TO DO turned out from 30 TO IS per cent.
must be iong-siaple cotton.
The Indian and Chinese cottons are
shors staple. Ths Egyptian is a very
long stAp!e~too long 10 DO used in the
ordinaryspinning machinery without prep
aration In another and a special machins.
The production OF Egyptian cotton Is
limited. and the Wholesale price is from Is
TO 20 per cent. higher than that Of our cot
ton.
japanese manufacturers are each year
improving the grade of their cotton fab
RIGS. aud are thus demanding larger pro-
portion of our cotton. which Is the only
long staple cotton that can be used in
their machines economically: yes l am
informed that by far the greater proper
ton of this large supply OF American cot
ton is purchased in Liverpool and London,
but small portion of IL being imported
direct from eur ports.
The supposed explanation of this Pc
eulsaT condition Is that ocean freighss from
England ~ Japan are much less than the
onlblned railway and ocean freights from
an inland American point 90 japan. II
these statements are true. our people are
losing the selling commission or profit. the
maritime Insurance. and the tfesghtage on
product which ~ dlssinetively an Ameri-
can staple. aud one nscessary 70 the fac
tories here.
that the makst here IL not one that Is 20
be opened up ard devslopad, hnt IN
already mSde. and tia. the demand
for the American product Is not
oniy great. bat increasIg. st might
b possible for eur great cotton interests.
acting in harmony With our transconti-
nentai railway lines, 80 establish direct
freight rate. swell the prohts Of the rail-
WAYS and greatly increase the general
proats arising from American foreign
tEade Wa mixht thus, If success
ful. rnia direct coakFoi OF =
trade which would not only turn
Legitimate profits into American channels.
but much broader and more far-Fesehing
advantage would % gAsnsd by giving us
an independent market thns msfarially
weakening and ultimately destroying the
right. which today Liverpool rs supposed
20 exercise. OF nxing she price Of our cot
ton IN oar own market on the theory that
sne controls the only market tor our prod
ucL
Fer climatic reasons Asia 10 the
ereas market Tor cctton fabrics. and
under the impulse IA favor Of locA! manu-
featuring which is spEtng3ng ue. especially
IA fapan, "a Is 9 great market Tor the rzw
cotton. Ia 10 apparent thai the fear Of
iosinx shis trade WAS the nrlnrlral
thought IN shs minds OF she trainers Of ths
iaelesea memorial. most OF them hssuS
knssisA merchants snd importers 81 EaE-
Msh yaFra
The yApsass. are favorable to Is, and
psrfectiy wiling 80 deal wssa Is ia az
lines q trade. hat. OF course. are forcs8 ~
basinsss pruGeues - kay IA the cheapest
market have srveral times Tried 10
secuTs tie placing Of orders tor manu-
featured articles in the Unsse1 States
hat hswe ezea tine bsvn tod shas
cur cost e pFoAuettsn was so
great tsss We oeaid nos bring
car priers do~n % the lsveg Ga which
they stecd IN Eag.sna ard Germany
kvsa Il thts 5 tFae. Il seems THAI new
tslt IS open 20 es-
Wlkhsa very rvcsat wears Japan. rvAliz-
Tag that ahs has popEi astoa EsaeA soy
tie requirements ct skid "A ahe
tegsnical mAnaiaesaFlnS arts. and thss
SAGA lsaer car e@ oea&laed here as
teser vsscs tAAa ia aav o4asr eoaEtrv
hAa evidenced her DISCRIMINATION 10 nasHa-