The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-04-07
NEW FACTORIES IN JAPAN.
To Make Watches, Timed Beef, Linen
and Beet sugar.
British Trade Journs

British Trade Journal
In spite of the excitement created by
the war there is no falling off in the
manufacturing activity of the japanese
Reports continue to reach us of new en-
terprises almost from day to day. TIE
currency question has doubtless much to
do with the success most OF these ven
lures are meeting with, but In this re-
spect similar advantages are enjoyed by
other Oriental and silver-using countries,
so that we must attribute the excep-
tional state of affairs in Japan TO the
energy and foresight of the people. The
neighborhood OF Osaka and Kyoto, where
an exhibition is shortly TO be opened, is
now the scene OF numerous busy manu-
factories. In the course of a few years
no less than fifty-nine cotton spinning
mills and weaving factories have sprung
into existence there with upward of so, =
COO coo OF native capital. The mills cen
tain nearly 10000 spindles. and in May
last ii was estimated that their annual
output was over 10000 bales of yarn.
valued roughly at 100000. The deyel-
opment of this industry has no doubt af-
fected the exports of yarn and cloth from
Lancashire and India, but on the other
hand, IL has given employment TO thou
sands OF operatives In this country en-
gagged In the construction OF steam en-
gines. machinery, tools and the thou
sand and one accessories required in tex
tile factories. How fiourishing these tex
tile works in Japan are is seen from the
latest consular report, issued by tie for
eign office. on the trade Of Hyogo. The
mills and weaving sheds have made an
average profit of over II per cent, the
lowest being per cent. and the highest
IS per cent. Around the settlements there
have grown up fiourishing towns and
prosperous communities. where In former
times there were only unconsiiered
wastes or squalid hamlets. The japanese
work people as well as the Japanese CAPT
talist and merchant have largely shared
In the result of this prosperity. The
merchant holds a stronger position than
ever. and he has been shrewd enough 10
take into his hands much of the rev
trade which the newly established indus
tries have brought with them.
Among the trades more recently intro
duced is the manufacture of watches, an
industry established by Americans. In
1898 Japan imported more than 1o5 900
watches. as against So, 600 in 1892. Most
OF these were obtained from Switzer-
land. France coming next, Germany third
and the United States fourth. The object
OF the new factory Is to produce watch
of the cheaper kind. and Swiss watch
makers are confident that they have
nothing to fear from the encroachment
seems not unlikely that the new concern
will manufacture a better class of time
keeper II the demand should necessitate
such a step. Another trade recently es-
tablished is that fer supplying the TIME d
beef now in great demand for the troops
in China. According TO a Japanese jour
nal there are four beef-canning factories
In Hiroshima in which about sixty head
Of cattle are slaughtered daily. When
bN ap{,e1aIS EnnEys01nrfnn a HfrO-
shima and Kure are added the number
OF cattle killed daily will be about eigh-
ty. In Tokyo some eighty beasts are
said TO be slaughtered daily. The price
OF beef there Is little less than 80 cents
catty, and in Hiroshima. where the
price is the lowest In Japan, the quota
ton is : cents or cents at the present
time. when the price is nearly double
the ordinary rate. Owing TO the higher
price. the beef Gamers In Tokyo cannot
compete against those in Hiroshima. Yet
another manufacturing center IS that at
Sappora. where there are heef-sugar
manufactures, on the capital OF which
the government guarantees s per cent.
but their development has not kept pace
with that OF the raw produce. One OF the
sugar factories produced over 200 tons in
1853. OF which two-thirds were OF the
first quality. A linen manufacturing
yards Of yarn and is7 oo0 yards OF fabrics.
OF which nearly half was sold.
There are also numerous manufac-
tories which were originally started un-
der government management. but have
now become private institutions. Among
these Is the Sapporo brewery and the
Sapporo wine factory. the Flour Mills
Company. the Indigo Company. and the
sawmills and silk mills In the same dis
10
uen. but their operations at present are
OF minor Importance. In Hakodate there
is A large cement works. producing about
~ 90 barrels per year. and In Is intended
10 turn out not less than 50 GO barrels per
year there being good market for the
article, though the quality is only me-
dunn. One instance of japanese COM
mercial enterprise is reported from Cal
cutta II appears that during the last
few months two merchants. natives OF
Japan. have been in the Indian capital
and In other Indian commercial centers
on business intent. IN Calcutta they at
tended the sales for three weeks and
purchased on their ozn account indigo
10 the value az about 81. go. which they
shipred to Yokohama A small quantity
Of Indian ave has for years past found
It's way 10 Japan through European
agencies. SO that * IS a fresh departure
Tor japanese Del sosa4~tS 20 nuE, ana saAt
not through nasdaiemen, but by sampiEn z
and Kidding themselves az the auctions
in the same manner as the professional
huye- does. The japanese. u is aS@ea
intend 20 acquire a knowledge OF indigo
growing and manufacturing as carried
or in Madras, doubtless with a view 20
develop the indigo trade fl the land %
the chrysant heu1um, where there Is a
good demand for biue-dyet yarns for