Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1896-09-01
MEN WHO DO HORSES WORK.
A Million Japanese Are Engaged In Pull
ing Jinrikishas.

Ing
One of the greatest obstacles in
the way of the industrial progress
of Japan IS the fact that upward Of
1000, 900 of the most muscular OF its
population are engaged as beasts of
burden. In this calculation do not
include those occupations in which
the day laborers of ali civilized
countries are engaged. The state
ment is simply based on the fact
that over LOCO, 600 of the vigorous
manhood are engaged in the trans
portation of people and commodities
from place IN ,rl2ccc, roiiUAnlng the
work which in Europe and America
is done By animals, by steam, by
electricity and other modern meth
DDS of conveyance. So tremendous
is this drain upon the population OF
the empire that much OF the other
hard labor, such as loading coal on
vessels, handling heavy freight on
railways, the driving and loading Of
pack horses, heavy farm work and
the like, is performed by women,
who, dressed in tight blue cotton
trousers and tunics, are compelled
to do for Japan what the longshore-
men, yardmen and farm laborers do
in the United States.
The estimate that over 1000, coo
men are engaged in the mikado's
empire in these degrading occupa-
ucns is based upon the fact that the
returns OF 1895 show s total Of
199, AL jinrikishas and Ga. $50 hand
carts. AS all these carriages and
carts are licensed, the returns are
probably correct In the case OF the
jinrikishas the number Of pullers
and pushers is greatly in excess Of
the number Of vehicles. This comes
from the fact that some Of the vehi-
c!es have two men and because in
large cities the same vehicle is rent
ed out during the 81 hours to two
different men.
1t is safe to assume that nearly
250, 900 coolies are directly and indl-
rectly engaged as pulIers and push
ers Of these conveyances. AS foI
carts, the same holds true. They are
propelled with enormous loads,
sometimes by two bent and wrin-
kled old men, sometimes by one
strong and hearty young man OF
low intelligence and sometimes by
mere boys from 10 to Is years Of
age. One million, therefore, would
seem to be within the mark. This
gives US total OF 1880, 600 human
horses.
To the ordinary observer these
jinrikishas seem novel and delight
ful experience. They combine al the
joys of human horse. They help
you into the carriage, hand you
your parasol or I'm brella, tuck the
rug around you and land you at the
door of the shop or house. Moreover,
they take care of yeur parcels. In
rainy weather they pull up the hood
and fasten the oilcloth in front, so
that nothing but a peephole IS left,
and you are safe from the vet and
mud. All you sec is the bare legs Of
the hedgehog looking creature who,
covered with peculiar hat and coat
of reedy grass, is rushing onward
through slush and snow and sleet
and rain. This is well enough for
the passenger within, but what are
the effects of the occupation upon
the man without: WHAT'S the effect
of the employment Of 1856, 900 of
the robust men Of japan in this way
and in the hauling of carts upon the
rest of the population: These are
questions that must be carefully
weighed in any estimate of the fu-
ture industrial importance of Japan.
Cleveland World.