The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-12-13

f-es, ~ srsan5 Along Ehe side Of the
railroad I noticed a strip OF land not more
thar taree feee wide. huE several hundred
va-az u length. i was not more space
-, --a~w - American farmer would
49, zIkoves ss a decent rnarg.a for his
f1rsgae asrch. or turned % waste along MS
800 -aruarz- Bass there was 10 waste
ab1,rs SIS thrifty Iatie border EVERY,
49, ~ s vas doing duty, and / have sell
.sor1 seen a preggter crop o. cabbage tAAh
Il bore.
TIE largest single item in Japaas LIST
81 sxnn-rs = six. +he total value OF when
- - vax "a ~ 40 ven. or 81 -. -. This
Il a large Increase ever 1receaAnS years.
r-nA s.gfal value % silk exported n 1924
zss 81 szsg75 and in Isss Sis,3sS.sls. The
sarwast rsart OF these totals - made up Of
raw silk Which last year anouuIs1 alone
"a "a Sells Other items which come IN
der the same head are Natures, Fe-Feels.
s,anks coeoors. waste six. AID nanatac-
turef six. especially haadkeTchiefs. IL
,,ssv sunrise Won 70 know tTs4t the United
states bougnt OF Japan last year no less
.4sn sssTse dozen six 5snGkercAisfs.
7-hesa II placed with their diagonal cor
rerz touching, would reach from foso-
narua % Seattle. Three years ago the To-
al Vas even larger, amounting 70 i.lss.9I
slozau. bur the price was then lower, SO
than IN 1885, the totals being respectively.
81 So AID sl.2fS.557.
SIX Is produced chiefly IN the central
and northern provinces Of the man Island,
VIZ: Musnashl. Kal. Shinanc, A-no, Ech.-
20. Kozake. Shlmotsuke, H.da. Ecaizen.
Etchu Iwashlro. Iwak., Izen, RikGzen,
rgo and Rikuchu. though Il is grown 10
some extent ali over Japan except n the
island Of Yezo. TIE best varieties come
from Shinano. kOzuke. Kai and Iwasniro.
one great drawback 70 the success Of Jap
anese silks IN foreign markets mas been
the irregularities growing out OF house,
hold manufacture, which have made Z al
most impossible 10 secure uniformity or
filatures Even where improved machln-
cry has been introduced. and Il : now IND
ing is way into the heart OF Japan. this
d,fticuIty has continued TO exist. Through
the efforts OF merchants and shippers q
remedy has been provided in the estab-
Hshment at Yokohama or SILK condl-
tioning house" IL was founded by the
government for the purpose OF inspecting
and classifying raw ard waste SILK before
export. and was formally opened last All
gust In the new building erected for the
purpose opposite the Yokohama postofiice.
in the presence OF a large number of
guests. which included government Off
Gals members OF the local Chamber OF
Commerce and guilds, besides some % or
more foreign merchants and others inter-
ested in this most important INDUSTRY.
Speeches were delivered IN the large hall
on the ground floor OF the building by
Vlscounr Enomoto, minister for agricul-
ture and commerce: Gov. Nakano. of KAN
sgawaKen; Col. McIvor. consul-general
for the United States. Mr.. James Walter
and others. Niscount Enomoto, IN the
course of his opening address, explained
the necessity which had been shown-oy
the careless manufacture and deter soEailon
OF the silk industry-of such an institution.
which would examine, CLASSIFY and affix
what amounts 10 a hall mark upon the va
rious grades of the article. The govern
ment desired TO do ali in its power to slim
ulate and improve the development OF this
great industry. and 1t was believed that
the new institution would do much in this
respect. Col McIvor, in the course OF his
speech, congratulated the government on
the wisdom OF the step taken and eN-
pressed the friendly interest felt in Amer
!ca in the development of the trade be-
tween the two countries Mr.. waiter
traced the history of the silk trade of ia
pan from 1867 when the total export OF the
year was 800 bales. valued at $7.J9o,00o.
TIL last year. when il amounted 10 5s,9oS
bales of the value of 81 ,5Q9.0c0, o-nting
out that such trade was wei worthy OF
the best efforts OF the government 10 de-
object of the silk conditioning house was
TO facilitate trade and prevent fraud in an
article OF great commercial value. In the
early days OF the trade such extraneous
matters as sand. nails, chopped up UNI
brella frames. cement, lead and copper
cash had been found concealed in the
ske.ns OK silk 10 Increase their weight.
and though such receptions were rare now
there were still grievances 10 contend
with, such as uneyenncsS IN SIZE and loss
Of weight owing 10 excessive moisture,
etc After the conclusion Of the speeches
the visitors were conducted over the prem
Uses, and shown the appliances whereby
the silk is testsi for tAe purpose of ascer-
tanning its net and condition weight. re-
reelsng. size, hairiness, tenacity and elias
ucIty.
A similar establishment. on a smaller
scale. was opened az Kobe last summer.
Tntn last year the silk export trade has
been confined almost entirely to Yoko-
hama. but for the year Just closed 5he
amount OF raw silk exported from Kobe
was So, ass pounds valued at Sss,967 yen.
The Shinelsha, a silk exporting company
az Kobe, has increased It's capital. and n
new company with the jaw-breaking name
Of Nippon Kl.to B0ek Kabush.k Kaisha,
Is TO be established IN the same city, with
a capital OF 500, 600 yen.