The sun., 1894-10-22
The Startling Industrial Development
of japan.

What dangerous commercial rival Japan
has already become to the Western nations.
Is shown by some significant figures in lie
Genie Ciri. Within the last ten years the
introduction Of machinery and the endeavor
to manufacture articles cheaply and in large
quantities has transformed the native indus
tries. Japanese pottery is no longe" bought
merely for it's artistic qualities II is now
made by patterns and exported in quantities.
In 1884 10000 workmen made 73, 800, 900
pieces: in 1883 some 27,OO0 workmen
made 10000, 900 pieces. The exporta-
ton rose from half million pieces,
valued at sl,2OO,OOo, in the former
year. 10 million and half, worth
81, 4OO, 900, in the latter. In the manufac-
ture of silk goods there is q like development.
Though the Japanese are not yet able to
make dress goods more cheaply than those
of Europe, and though they do not dye their
silks. the exports rose from Sl35,O0O in
1887 to 81 800, 900 in 1891. in which year
too, 81, 800, 900 worth of silk handkerchefs
were sent out. OF which 81 500, 900 worth
went To the United States. The same holds
good of other products peculiar to the coun-
try, OF lacquer, of bronzes, and of paper.
Besides the Japan paper, they now manufac-
ture excellent paper like ours.
But il is in the new manufactures i'm
ported from the West that the progress of
Japan is most surprising That in some OF
these she must shortly drive the Western
nations from the Eastern markets seems in
evitable. After the Paris Exposition of 1873
the japanese Government imported from
Europe the most improved machinery for
cotton spinning, and distributed it i'm GER
tain provinces; in 1854 there were 5000
bobbins; now there are over $50, 900; the
81 ,OOO, 900 pounds of raw cotton imported
in 1880 had become $1,000, 900 in 1891 !;
up TO that year the greater part had come
from China; then suddenly more than half
was taken from British India The country
is steadily diminishing its mportations of
manufactured articles and increasing that
OF raw material. The 1000, 900 pounds
of textiles imported in 1850 had sunk 10
$4,000, 600 In 1901 in ls93 Hong Kong,
a British colony, bought half million
dollars worth of Japanese cotton cloth.
The japanese have already begun 10 sup
ply their own markets with the goods
formerly furnished by Europe. aud have
invaded the centres Of distribution in which
the West has hitherto held monopoly.
With the best machinery of the West at
their command, with their recognized
artistic and inventive skill, with labor paid
l9 cents day for man aud O cents for a
woman, they should be able to undersell any
competition.
Other European manufactures have also
taken root. Japan exported in 1890
matches worth fifteen hundred thousand
dollars, and one firm alone sent so. 900 cases
OF soap 10 China, which also bought half a
million umbrellas and millions of umbrella
frames. The Government is developing the
metal industries for commercial purposes
as well as for war. The japanese have rope
walks, glass works, brick yards, breWeries,
tanneries, In which European processes are
used they make Portland cement, sulphurie
acid; they m1Rufacture shoes, clothes, knit