New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-01-26
INDUSTRIAL JAPAN.

An interesting sketch Of the commercal eA-
pansion of Japan IS given by recent writer III
THE Contemporary Review. II shows cieari!
that the people of that island Empire are ap-
plving TO peaceful Industries and commerce 'he
same intelligence. enterprise. energy ana auap-
liability that have already made them so FOR
midable in war Vast sums. as the world
knows have been lavshed upon the army ana
navy of the Mkado. No less a sum than ''"o'-
coo 600 ven. the Chinese war indemnity. is now
being devoted 10 such purposes but such eX-
nenditures are small compared with the cap
i,o, that in the same time i being invested
in manufactures and commerce. Between Jan
nary. 1885 and April. 1896. new enterprises
were started with IA gross capital or 6ff'>'o'-
700 ven. of which "A little more than onc-half
was invested in railroads The list OF en-
tarnrises includes railroads banks. insurance
companies. foundries. paper mills dock!aru>'
steamship lines cotton. wool. hemp and SIR
mills. breworics. mines bicycle companies and
oil r.fnerlcs There are now fftythree railroad
companies in Japan. with charters Tor -
miles Of which 1867 are in full operation and
most Of them are So profitable that their stocks
are quoted at from 100 To 100 per cent above par.
Nor do ocean transportation lines lag behind
The Japan Mail steamship Company which has
lust added 12.Uo.OO yen 10 its capital. now mas
the largest fleet in the world II is running lines
regularly TO Europe the United states. AUS
1rala. China Corea and siberia. and : planning
TO Increase vastly is present service. Inc III
crease in Japanese foreign trade mas been steady
and enormous In 1865 imports AMI exports to-
cether aggregated. in round numbers. 26VW-
900 ven: in ISL JO.Vo.0oo: in 1873. IS."".V"p:
in 1855 13l 600; in 1894. 25OV"oop ana III
1897 cG4 900 600 an increase Of 1000 per cent
IN tventy-seven years. Imports and exports. aS
a rule. have pretty nearly balanced Al ms
rate Japap may not become the commercial lead
or of the world bu, she VIII bec0mc-indeed she
already is-an important factor in il. which must
me seriously taken into account. and 10y no ma
ton more seriously then by the United states
The writer quoted points out. however fact
too often ignored. which is really the key or the
whole situation That Is. that Japan is steadily
and inevitably losing the great advantage over
other nations which cheap living and low wages
have hitherto given her. and Is coming to the
same standard rs that of her rivals. The cost or
living is increasing In Japan in a marked degree,
e MT commensurately with the increase OF IN
dustrv and trade. In 1879 lower mldde-cla>s
family Of FIVE could live on 20 yen year. but in
1893 ii required $50 yen. In rent food. fuel etc.
there was from 1873 TO 1894 an average rise.
among all classes. Of % per cent, and since 1871
there has been a further rise Of at least 10 per
cent. Wages have also rsen but at only about
! half that rate The result IS much suffering ana
dscontent which will, the writer thinks inevi-
tably lead either 10 a social revolution or TO a
very considerable increase Of wages; the latter,
let liz believe being the more probable
II. then. wages rise 10 the European standard.
Japan's one great advantage VIII disappear.
Her machinery and raw materials viii cost at
least as much "a in other countries, and 50 the
products OF her workshops will have 10 be tick
eted with as high prices as those Of Germany
and England The only advantage left her Will
he the genius OF her people. their quck-wl'ed-
ness their energy. their skill. Bur that Will not
be sufficient 10 make any perceplble difference
in her favor She will be contending with her
elder rivals on practically equal terms. and while
she will doubtless hold her own. she VIII not be
q menace 10 the prosperity OF other lands.