People's voice. [volume] (Wellington, Sumner County, Kansas) 1890-1917, 1896-05-28

well hbO" Al AukN lAAAI NLNc Va ia
auese manufacturers frequently pass
through San Francisco. Some Of
these have freely talked about the
development OF their country, and
have not heSitated to make predic-
tiOnS Of great things to be achieved
In the future. A local merchant re-
lateS that about a year or more ago a
japanese made inquiries regarding a
certain silk fabric manufactured in
New jersey or Massachusetts fac
tories which, up to that time, had not
been produced in Japan. After ascer-
tanning the probable extent of the
demand, he inquired whether he
could fill an order at a much lower
price than the American factorie.
could possibly afford to produce the
fabric. OF course he received the
order. A Few months after a Consign-
ment of the japanese silk, in every
respect equal to the American, was
received, and the prospects are tina
10 the near future, as its manufacture
develops in Japan, this silk will
superSede the product Of United
States or French factories.
1t is also matter of common re-
port that trained japanese mechanics
are studying all Of the Western pro-
cesseS Of manufacture likely to be
easy of adaptation in their country.
Mr. Carpenter has spoken of their eff
forts in the direction of manufacture
ing certain class of rugs which are
now shipped in large quantities to
this cOuntry, but be does not appear
to have learned the fact that the
japanese are contemplating the
manufacture of carpets. They have
had expert men copying American
and English looms. and they will not
hesitate to employ their extraOrdi-
nary initiative abilities in turning
out large quantities of the cheaper
grades Of tapestry and Brussels car
pets at soon as they can get their
machinery made. And it may be as.
sumed as certain that the manufac-
ture OF cheap goods will be speedily
followed by that of higher grade ar
ticleS N this particular liEe. Recent
achievements of the Japanese indi-
cate Enthusiastically that their atten-
ton being once turned to a thing,
they are likely to inqeStigate il
thoroughly and develop it to its full.
est extent.
But 1t is not only JaEanese enter
prise and ingenuity that We are
obliged to consider. The disparity in
wages between Eastern and Western
countries and the fact that they may
be paid in money made of metal
whOSeRalue, measured ia gold terms.
has greatly deprecated, have attract
81 the attention of sbreWd Ameri-
cans, GRglishme1, and 9ther foreign.
ers toJ2pan, and they are preparing
10 take advantage Of the superior
facilities offered by that country tor
the profitable pursuit Of manufacur.
iHg Industries, having for their object
t&t supply of the japanese hone
demand aod for export
~The British Trade Journal of a
recent Gate says: "Ancug the trades
more recently introduced into japan
is the manufacture Of watches. In
1893 Japan imported mere than 1903,
oOe watches from Switzerland, France,
Germany, and the United States.
The object of the new Japanese fac
tory Is to produce a watch of the
cheaper kind. But it seems not uu.
likely that the new concern will
manufacture better class of time
keeper If the demand should necessi-
tate Such step" There is no doubt
about this latter pOiut. reformation
from a1OtherSource than that above
quoted makeSit clear thatishe Amert
can who is at the back Of this new
japanese enterprise is merely paving
the way t0:acFeatiOn OF a great in-
dustry 10 which ne proposes to take
advantage Ofthe undoubted skill OF
the Oriental wOtkingmen; in order to
turn out both Icy and hieR grade
watches which will successfully COM
pete with the best watches made in
the Western World.
In Great Britain where this new
manufacturing development in the
Orient has attracted more attention
than in the United States, a peculiar
attempt to find consolation is noted.
Commenting % o paEer read before
the Royal ColOrial Institute BIZ T. F.
Whitehead, a member of the legisls-
tive council Of HOngEeng, in which
he pointed out the rapid growth OF
Oriental manufacturing industries. q
LOudOa Journal said: @Mr. White
heads paper. it seems to US, leaves
entirely out Of calculation many of
the adV9pt9ppc which mao rasul. 4. =