New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-02-23
JAPANS ONWARD MARCH.
SHE IS RAPIDLY COMING TO THE FRONT
AS A PRODUCING NATION.
HER EXPORTS MORE THAN TREBLED IN TEN
YFARs-GREAT ADVANCES MADE IN MANU-
Observation-Disclosures INGENU-
ITY OF TIE WOEKMEN.
ITY OF THE wORKMEN.
fry TErr GRAPH TO THE rEIBUNE.l

Uaebi,gton Feb 22-An interesting report has
been made 10 the Commissioner OF Labor by Will
lam T. Curtis On the industrial affairs OF japan
The report shows that that country Is rapidly
coming to the front In the ranks OF the "eal'h-
PRODUCING nations Of the world. The powers OF
adaptabiity and imitation possessed by the Japa-
ncsc are great aids to them IN the for supren-
acv IN mechanic arts Mr.. Curtis says that the
Japanese workman can make anything he has
ever seen. His ingenuity Is astonishing Give MIN
n piece Of complicated mechanism-a watch or an
electrical apparatus-and he will reproduce 1t ex-
actly and set It running without Instructions lie
can initiate any process and copy any pattern or
design more accurately and skilfu.ly than any
other race In the world. IT Is that faculty which
has enabled Japan to make such RAPID progress
and will place her among the great manuiac'-
uring nations Of the world. The exports OF Japan
have during the last ten years, Increased from
slS5oo0oO to upward of s5sJo000O or this latter sum
the United States received nearly one-half Of the
manufactured products of Japan sent abroad
The ancient system of household labor is being
rapidly overturned by the Introduction or modern
methods and machinery. and factories being
erected in all parts Of the Empire. Cotton and
iron mills and machine shops are springing up
everywhere. Az yet no foreigner is allowed to en-
gage In manufacturing outside or certain limited
districts In the treaty ports When the new treaties
20 into effect In 1899 II Is certain that mechanical
Industry will receive greater impetus and
the productive power OF the nation will be greater
than now. While the japanese vii! soon be able
to furnish everything they use. wear and eat with
out assistance from foreign nations they will be
compelled to buy machinery and material. par
ticulary cotton and iron. Therefore. American
sales will be practically limited 10 those articles.
The market for machinery will be limited 10 time
The japanese in the next few years Will buy almost
everything In the way OF labor-saving apparatus.
but they are already beginning to make their
machinery, and in few years will be Independent
of foreign nations respect that also. Another
important fact is that they Will buy only OUTFIT
OF certain machinery. which they will copy. and
supply all future demands themselves This Will
20 on until the treaties take effect. when
american patents viii be protected.
Mr. Curtis calls the attention OF shippers TO the
fact that Japan offers excellent market for
cotton and iron II shipped direct from this country
by sailing vessels going around the Horn BY this
route saving OF 81 Il ton could be effected over the
present rate by steamer via England
The highest wages are these paid 10 superior
porcelain artists who earn Y cents per day. and
the lowest 10 cents day. which Is PAID 10 tea
firing women. Blacksmths get 50 cents day;
carpenters % cents: compositofs ~: dyers -.
Ordinary laboTers receive 49, while wood sawyers
earn 20 cents day. Factory labor gets even Tess
than these prices Farm hands receive 81 ~ q
month. There are few men OF large fortunes, ana
there are said be only two millionaires ~ the
country. but there are many men with smaii Tor
tunes, and although wages are low nobody Is ex-
tremcly poor. The remarkable statement is maze