The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1896-01-17
JAPAN'S LOW WAGES.
A Menace to the Manufacturers
Eof This Country.
THE IMPORTS ALREADY LARGE.
Skilled workmen in Japan Get One
Tenth the Wages of Those In
the United States.
New York Sun.


We guess that those of our business men
and manufacturers who strive to throw
discred;t upon that report recently sent
from Japan by the United Press about the
new efforts of the Japanese to enlarge
their exports to this country, have not
taken the trouble to observe the growth
of Japans commercial enterprise within
the past few years, which was checked
temporarily by the war with China. They
may not have noticed how Japan is reach
ing out for foreign markets In all the
countries Of Asia, and also in America,
and even in Europe. They probably have
not taken account of the rapid extension
of railroad communication in Japan, or of
the establishment there of foundries and
machine shops, mills, cotton factories,
shipyards, and all kinds of manufacturing
institutions. They may not have thought
of the enlargement of Japan's commercial
marine, or Of her substituting efforts to eX-
tend the measure of her steamship COM
munication with American ports, or Of the
numerous native products for which she is
seeking markets. They may not have OBJ
served how great are already Japan's ex-
ports to this country, as compared with
her imports from it; or how small are her
exports to England as compared with her
imports from it. We doubt whether if
they took these things into consideration,
they would ridicule the dispatch about
United States.
At this moment we may indicate a few
lines for thought.
First-The Japanese workmen engaged
in manufacturing industries are exceed
ingly ingenious, expert, nimble and dill
gent, hardly to be equaied in these re-
spects by those Of any other country in
the world.
Second-They work for wages which, as
compared with those prevalent in this
country, are light indeed. An intelligent
Japanese, Mr.. Fusataro Takano, has re-
Gently published some exact figures about
the wages of skilled and unskilled work
men in Japan, those who are employed
there under the modern system of in
dustry, as well as those under the rative
system. We may say that the wages of
skilled operatives in Japan are about ones
seventh or one-tenth as large as in the
United States.
Third-There seems to be in Japan a
sufficient amount of capital ready for in
vestment in manufacturing and CONNER
cial enterprises of all kinds that promise
profit. Moreover. European capital is Oh
tainable upon advantageous terms.
Fourth-The manufactured goods and ar
ticles of many varieties produced in Japan
are far beyond the wants Of that country,
so that they can be exported in vast guam
titles to any market, and could speedily
be increased by machinery to any desired
extent. Their cheapness is one Of their
main attractions to all buyers.
Japan's best market for her manufac-
tured products, over 100 of which have been
classified by Tokyo commission house. is
the United States, and the japanese have
started out to make provision for volu-
minous expansion of their exports to this
country. Besides the bronze articles silk
goods, carpets and other manufactures
which they already furnish to us, they can
send us, at low prices, metal and wooden
wares, cigars, lager beer lucifer matches
and plenty of other things, both useful and
ornamental.
The Japanese get money for the greater
part of what they send US. They import
but little from us. They buy in England,
they sell in the United States.
The matter is one of gravity.