The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-01-19
THREE CENTS A DAY
The Wages Of Child Carpet
Weayers in Japan.
INDIA NOT ABLE TO COMPETE,
North America Beginning to Use jap
anese Matches Cotton Umbrellas
on Iron Sticks, $3.50 Dozen.
From a Consular Report.


Hemp was formerly the most important
product used for spinning purposes. To-
day IL IS stiu used for the manufacture OF
cnraage and textiles, but does not cut "A
figure ia the japanese experts. Of late
years hemp has been gradually replaced by
cotton, the culture OF which is of great
Importance in many districts. Textile in
dustries are rapidly developing in Japan.
AT the end OF 1924 forty-seven mills, with
AS 135 spindlss, were in operation The
Manchester Guardian. in its issue OF June
g. 1894. says that manufactures Of cotton
textiles in India can no longer compete
with Japan, as 400 japanese spindIss will
produce the same quantity as 10000 Indian.
Around the industrial center OF Osaka
there are cotton mills in almost every VIII
lage. and exports OF Japanese fabrics were
first made from that city. There being no
protection to foreign machinery against
patent arrangements. the Japanese ini-
tate quickly all European novelties and
Improvements. and hence work under fav-
orable conditions. Labor Is so cheap that
even Europe can no longer compete. Good
cotton undershirts are being sold at 81 10
90 cents per dozen. Cotton umbrellas on
iron sticks-an important export article Of
Osaka-are sold at s. 50 70 s. per dozen, and
the total exports OF umbrellas in 1894 foot
ed up s7is.067- as against 1855. 272 for 1853.
The hemp and cotton carpet industry is
Osaka These carpets, called by foreigners
Osaka carpets. are cheap. but not durable
All kinds of patterns imaginable, as well
as every length and width, are manufac-
tured While two years ago the japanese
taste prevailed. today fine limitations OF
Turkish and Egyptian carpets can be found
on the market These carpets are made by
children, and in the low, gloomy rooms OF
the Japanese houses. troops Of little boys
and girls are working at this dusty trade
with the zeal and intelligence OF grown
people The little ones. who can De seen
at work In a tropical heat. almost nude,
seem to be In good health. These children's
pay varies, according TO their efficiency at
from to 10 cents per day. The principal
buyers are Americans who purchased $s27,-
600 worth during 1894. out Of a total export
OF $4,000 pieces, worth sl.l34,0i2, in that
year, against aS.05o pieces, worth 1891. $50
In 1898. and lI2,27s pieces, worth sl77. 445 in
1882
OF late years the manufacture Of Japa-
nese matches has attained large dimen-
sions, owing to the low prices at which they
are sold. Hongkong. British India, China
and Korea are using them almost exclu-
sively. Last years statistics show the sur
prising fact that japanese matches were
exported TO points and in value as fol-
lows: To Australia. SIS. i07; Austria, s.. 345;
North America. 1900. The total value OF
these matches was s3,7s5,ss4 in 1894, 1885,
ga In 1893 and 50 eo2. Oh IN 1892.
In addition to the Osaka Watch Com
pany, there are about dozen other watch
factories In Japan. located at Tokyo. KOBE.
Nagoya, etc, which do not only supply
Japan, but Chinese markets as well.
japanese clocks are sold at from 81 to S.
according TO quality.