Akron daily Democrat. [volume] (Akron, Ohio) 1892-1902, 1899-09-16

A. ID. bUIl.hh.
ed the machinery and supplies to the
land of the mikado. Speaking of man.
ufacturing in the far east, Mr.. Butler
told of the success of the watch in
dustry in Japan.
"When our American watch factory
was moved to Japan" said he, I'VE
took y workmen. One was a superin-
tendent, seven were foremen and the
remaining four were skilled workmen.
In less than a year all of these men
had returned to the United States.
Their services were no longer needed,
as the japanese workmen had learned
the trade so thoroughly that they were
able to run the factory without any
outside assistance. This single case
shows the ability of this initiative race
to learn in a short time what it has
taken us years to acquire.
'The product turned out by this fac
tory is equal in nearly every way to
our ordinary grade of watches, and the
Japs have not as yet attempted to
make any of the superior lines of
watches for which our nation is ia
nous.
"As shipper of cotton to China and
Japan l am much interested In the
progress of the textile industries in
those countries. It seems to me that
these eastern markets offer the only
relief in sight for our impoverished
cotton growers. When cotton sells as
low as it has for the past few years, it
is great problem how the planters Of
the south can subsist. Now, If the
awakened peoples of China and Japan
can be induced to draw on us for their
increasingly large demand for raw cot
ton. it seems to me that for time at
least our country cannot but be very
materially benefited.
Both China and Japan are now
manufacturing cotton cloth. In 1894
Japan had about 100000 spindles. Then
the war broke out with China, and a
great manufacturing impulse followed
its termination. Since that year the
number of spindles has increased so
that now they have 100000. While
there has been an overproduction of
cotton mills the industry is on a stable
basis. Some of these mills merely pro-
duce cotton yarn, which is exported to
China. where it is woven by cheap la
Dor into the lower grades of cloth.
China is somewhat behind her Japa-
nese neighbor and appears to make
slower progress. Yet China has be-
tween 10000 and 100000 spindles.
She, too, makes only the lower grades
I A
factories, and has augmented. that
number TO %. The merchants of this
country | have always found honor
able and progressive.
There is fierce war going on be-
tween the sugar magnateS of the Pa
ciffc coast. On the one side are the
Spreckels interests, with their i'm
mense estates on the Hawaiian Is
lands On tie other side are the
Brandensteins. They import their sug
ar from China. Their raw sugar is
grown on the island of Java and in the
Philippine group. This product is ship
ped to China. where in Hongkong there
are two refineries. The refined sugar
is then exported 10 the United States,
huH bIleI colDluS tlldJ lOlls ulStduCe Is
cble to compete with the Hawaiian
product. This is mentioned to show
what cheap Asiatic labor car accom-
plsh.
Living as l dc in this part of the
country, am much interested iE the
welfare. progress and future of the
Pacific coast states. We are bound to
increase our manufacturing.
"In regard to the competition Of
China and Japan against civilized
countries. do not entertain any fears
for the present. They will for many
years to come be a good market for
our raw materials. The opening of the
Nicaragua canal will be good thing
for the whole country. But for such
cities as New Orleans and Houston the
completion of this great enterprise will
be godsend. 1t will enable cotton
bales to be shipped from gulf ports di.
rect to China and Japan. The ships
carrying these cargoes will have to
stop Mt San Diego and San Francisco
on their way across the sea. Thus we
will all be the gamers"
WILLIAM r. BRITroN.