The Wichita daily eagle., 1896-07-17

Royal japanese Commissioners In America
Making an Effort to Establish Closer
Relations Between the Two Govern
ments-A Big Museum Started for the
Exhibit of Foreign Made Goods-It VIII
BE Something Like the Worlds Fair
But VIII be Pernanent-Present Claims
of Their Nation In Interest Of Trade.
Chicago, Ill, July 1.-two japanese
gentlemen are stopping at the Audito-
! rum. They are w. Arak Of Osaka
I and L Okada Of Okayama-
| Mr.. Araki IS a prominent business
man Of his city. and came to this coun-
try in 1894, during the Chinese war, on
| a mission of importance to his govern
ment.
Mr. Araki now comes as the commits
sioner Of the Japanese government on
an errand that is of great interest to
| the merchants and manufacturers of
| the United States and other countries.
When asked to outline the object Of
his visit to this country, Mr.. Arak;
said:
Ny mission is to secure exhibits OF
! all kinds of merchandise for the Osaka
Commercial museum, which is a gov
| ernment institution in the nature of
a permanent industrial exposition. I
also desire to bring your commercial
houses here into closer relations with
the japanese people. The main object
| Of the Osaka Commercial museum, or
| exposition. as you would call Ii, is to
| increase the expectation of japanese
produce and manufactures, and to faci-
iitate the importation Of foreign mer-
chandise.
Our import trade has been growing
with giant strides during the last five
years and Japan offers a great field for
American goods in a. great many lines.
It would certainly prove profitable
venture for American manufacturers to
send samples Of their goods to the Osaka
| museum, and our government will glad
iy receive the samples and pay the
charges Of transportation Through
Japan your people can reach Corea,
/ the Chinese seacoast, and India, with
which countries the japanese have close
trade relations.
Our people have in the past dealt large
ly with English firms, but are coming
to see the superiority Of American man.
ufactures in many lines. For instance,
We have been buying our bicycles from
Birmingham manufacturers heretofore,
paying from $50 to $50 for them, but I
now find that better ones can be bought
in this country for less money. 1t would
be a first-rate idea for American bicy-
Gle firms to send samples to Osaka, as
our bicycle demand is growing rapidly.
In fact, shall probably take back sew
eral workmen with me, and if they
prove satisfactory will start bicycle
factory.
There is also a growing demand for
cameras and similar articles. For in
stance, bought one small pocket cam
era short time ago, and within =
month sold a gross of them to people
who saw the sample.
There is also a great demand for can
ned goods, such as meats, milk and
fruits.
There is fine opening in the business
Of gliding, which is all done by hand
there During the Chinese war there
was an enormous demand for such
articles as Liebig's extract of beef, and
matters in the far east are in such shape
that 1T would pay Americans to antici-
pate another war out there by opening
UP closer trade relations
The great industrial development Of
Japan during the last few years was
given an impetus by the war, which
forced the nation to develop its re-
sources rapidly. Osaka, where the
museum is to be located, is the COM
mercial center of Japan, occupying
much the same relation to Toxic. the
capitol, that Chicago does toward Wash
ington. 1t has many large mills of
various kinds and is a great manufac-
turing city.
The museum will be divided into for
eign and domestic departments The
exhibits of the foreign department will
be classified under the following heads:
Mineral products, marine products.
animal and vegetable products. ma
nureS, timber and wool; cereals and
flowers, beverages and provisions; drugs
medicines and spices; dyes and paints;
raw fibers, yarns, and threads for weav-
ing purposes: textile fabrics glassware
metal ware, india rubber ware paper
and paper ware; works in gold, silver
and precious stones; clocks and watches
furniture and carpets. clothing and ap-
parel, stationery, toys. and miscellane-
Gus articles
/ desire also to secure the catalogues
OF American business houses, which |
will be exhibited in the catalogue de- |
partment Of the museum. These should |
be left with me or addressed to the !
Osaka Commercial Museum. Osaka, |
Japan. Information on any point. or
an allotment of space for exhibition |
purposes, can be obtained from the same |
sources.
In order to aid our export trade I |
have brought with me a few samples of |
;ola nr To, e.
VIII be glad to show to your mer- |
chants
Among the samples which I have |
bought are gold and silver leaf, solid |
inks. silks. mattings. and lawn tennis |
rackets. The latter are competing /
successfully in the English market with |
those of English manufacture. Our ex- !
port trade has been dull OF late. owing !
TO the small demand for silks and mat I
ting, our most important exports.
Another thing that has handicapped /
our export trade is the fact that our |
labor costs much more than II did a |
few years ago. fact which is partly I
due to the large number of men who /
were killed in the war with China We
now have to pay ordinary workman /
so cents day. and a skilled mechanic 4
s. per day
As you doubtless know. our money /
consists Of silver and paper. We find /
this all right for the requirements OF |
our domestic trade, but find ourselves
greatly embarra ssed in dealing with /
other commercial nations whose fran-
cial systems are based on the gold STAN
dard
/ shall be in Chicago about two weeks.
after which / shall visit a number OF /
other large cities IN the interest Of the I
museum From This country shall 90 /
&c England. France. Germany and other