The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-10-22
PROGRESS OF JAPAN.
why IL Will BE Able to Beat the
World in Manufacturing.
pradstraet,a

Some interesting information regarding
economic conditions in Japan has recently
been given in . report to the British for
eign office on the trade of Hiogo and
Osaka. According to the statements con-
tanned in this report, based on local stat
istIcs. there were in Japan at tie date Of
the report l,006 joint stock companies
with an aggregate capital of sl0l, 762, $40.
l3i national banks with SIS. 4l6 100 capital
and sundry railroad companies with q
total capital of $73. l24, 900. Fourteen new
life insurance companies were started in
the empire during 1893.
There were eleven electric light compe-
MES with paid up aggregate amount Of
si.674. 7i3 out of nominal capital repre-
senting 81. 477,25o. With the avowed pur-
pose of making Japan self-supplying in the
matter of sugar, and SO put an end to the
import of that staple, some wealthy mer-
chants of Osaka and Tokyo, availing them
selves of a recent general meeting of cotton
spinners in Osaka, have started scheme
for getting large refinery on suitable
site some here between Osaka and Kobe.
1t is currently reported that the opinion of
the managing committee Is strongly in
favor OF erecting the factory at Hiogo,
where it seems that labor and the price of
coal are cheap as compared with other
places The capital with which the COM
pany is to start, said to be fixed at s., o00-
900, is to be raised in Tokyo, Osaka and
Kobe, in shares of $50 each. IL seems TO
be regarded as more feasible to import the
raw material than to encourage the pro-
duction of sugar in the country, the cost of
production being very much against IL.
appears that the total mileage OF all
railways In operation on March 81, 1898
was 1877 miles .05 chains. OF this 557
miles were government lines, averaging a
cost of sec, OCT per mile. The most costly
portion WAS the Tokyo okohama section.
begun in April 1870, and completed In
September. 1872. its length being eighteen
miles and the average cost per mile
sl63. 457. The cheapest was the Otsu-
Nagahama section, begun February,
1858. and completed July. 1889. its
length being forty-eight miles and the
average cost $34o0S per mile. Private
railways were commenced in 1883. much
attention being devoted TO them till 1892,
when, owing TO financial reasons. the
ardor temporarily cooled of. Towards
the end OF 1898, however, some sixty-two
applications were under consideration by
the railway council who. according TO
japanese journals, are somewhat per-
picked how to deal with these numerous
schemes. The total mileage is some 1. 400
miles, representing capital of $50 200, eco.
The report contains some remarks upon
the prospects for cotton manufacturing in
Japan. IL says:
Success in the manufacture OF the finer
counts of yarn depends very much on
climatic influences. India appears 10 be
adversely affected by them, and such Is
also said to be the case with Japan.
This country has, however immense
advantages of the best and
latest kind, and plentiful supply OF cheap
fuel. no factory regulations such as those
meeting the English manufacturer on all
sides OF hand chooses and is able TO
work twelve to fourteen hours there Is no.
body to say nayl
There is. moreover little fear of serious
strikes. though this kind Of forcible argu-
meut 10 becoming part OF the new state OF
things; the extremely reprehenslble phase
of strikes. interference with those DESTROYS
of working. is thus far unknown here"
Some reference Is made to the advantage
which competitors enjoy. owing TO their
use OF the decimal aud metric systems,
and these conditions apply with much
force 10 the Japan trade.
Regarding the two ports specially re-
ported upon, IL is said that while Yoko-
hama retains its predominsnce in the
matter of exports. its imports are exceeded
by those coming into Hiogo and Oska.
The growth OF those two cities also is
characterized As steady, and IL APP
pears that their trade increased from
only % per cent. OF the total
trade OF Japan In ISIS 20 ~ PER cent.
of the total trade OF the country last year.
SO the tonnage entered there last year vas
"a per cent. OF the total, whereas 10 vas
oalv q PER cent IN isS3. IL will he seen.
therefore. that these cities are making q
nosesortby progress, notably OSAKA.
" hich is the larger and more important OF
the two. The report menttoBs that while
il was being written 10 was ramored that
some Of the spinning mill o~neTs
Of Osaka eontemp plated starting
spinning bsnk-that IS. one d@vossa solely
10 the cotton spinning interesis-Eith
capital 81 81. Coz. Co, and that stes. works
we're 20 be esiab ,sAed very shortly So
>ASal, = rising town close 70 OSAKA. and
noted for ats cutlery ware Osaka - the
second city OF Japan IN point Of population,
and bad Ia lses9 s75 SO inhabitants Tokyo.
the largest city, Was credited with ]. gss. bs4
inhabitants in the same rear. Yokohama,
ST the same cate. had iS7. SO population.