The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1899-05-15

of 100 feet This power supplies Kioto
with two-thirds of the electric light,
works the electric trans, the pumping
for the water works, and no less than
sixty different industries in or near the
town. AN the machinery, which IS ex-
cellent, is American. The entire plant
cost 100000. This sum was found by
the municipal council, who are solely
responsible for the scheme and its sue
cessful carrying out. This system OF
electric batteries is. I think, one of the
most remarkable examples of munich
pal progress, energy and enterprise to
be seen in Japan, or perhaps in any
country.
Another further interesting example
of municipal enterprise is illustrated
by the following:
There is a great trade and passen-
ger traffic from Kioto to Lake Biwa,
and through the lake to the surrounding
country Boats used to come up the
river from the sea to Kioto and there
discharge their passengers or cargo. A
mile had then to be traversed to reach
the lake, where passengers and cargo
again embarked for distribution. This
interruption has been done away with
by the following ingenious device. On
arrival at Kioto the boats are now
fioated into cradle and Nauled up the
mile, the incline of which is 100 feet, by
a steel Wire hawser worked by an cleo
trio motor. BY this means the same
boats perform the whole distance of
sixty miles from the sea to the farther
end of the lake This electric tramway
there being always boats waiting to
take their turn. The municipality Only
charges a small carriage of 80 cents on
each boat hauled up the incline The
invention and the whole plant is Amer
lean.
1t appears that while the percentage
of the foreign trade. carried on by the
United States in China and Japan is
at present less than that OF England
that within recent years the increase of
the proportion carried on by Americans
has been very much larger than that
of Great Britain, showing that our in
dustries and our products are being in
troduced into the Chinese Empire with
much greater vigor. Some of the rail-
roads Of China are entirely composed
| both in laid and rolling stock of Amer
lean products
In the chapter on the United States
Lord Beresford publishes two very i'm
portant letters from the Massachusetts,
State Board of Trade and from the
Philadelphia Commercial Museum, both
of which are worth republishing here
| as examples of the vital interest taken
by American business men in this
special mission to China, which was I'M
dertaken by the author, and in the
question of THE Open Door" in China.
'Massa chusetts State Board of Trade
Lowell, Mass, March 81, 1S99-Rear
Admiral Lord Charles Beresford, r. N,
| representing the Association of Cham
bers of Commerce of the United King
dom, London, England-Dear Sir: The
| members of the Massa chusetts State
Board of Trade, composed of forty-two
mercantile organizations representing
the commercial and industrial inter
ests of the State, beg to acknowledge re-
| ceipt of your favor of the 21st ultimo
| and also express their regrets that your
| limited time in this country would not
permit an acceptance of the invitation
to visit our commonwealth.
1.-The mission in which you have been
recently engaged, under the auspices OF
| the Associated Chambers of Com
merce, to ascertain the best methods fol
promoting trade and commerce in China
| is one of more than ordinary import
ance to the American people, and the
result of your investigation, as EN-
bodied in a report, will be read with