The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-08-08
STATE OF JAPAN'S TRADE.
tnfaVOrable Commercial COndi-
ti0ns in the Empire in 1900.

/ The United S;ntes Lends in the GUAM
tity of Goods Bought of the Mi
hndO's Subjects and stands Sec
Ond in Regard to Tmrortntion>.
/ In the advance sheets Of consular re-
ports ISSUED by the State Department to-
/ day is a most exhaustive statement of
| Japanese trade in 1900. prepared by f. G..
| Bellows, the United States Consul Cen
| eral at Yokohama. The following ar. the
| figures concerning Japan's trade with the
| principal countries Of the world.
United States, exports 6,17S. 064 imports
S3l. 30, 075i Great Britain exports S5608. g72.
| imports S35.675.s33; China exports Sl5.S72.-
O4i. imports S14.920,4 AS: -Hongkong. exports
Sl9.5l0.372. imports 5,30S 6O7: Germany. ex-
ports S1.00.695. imports S145H.44S: British
India. exports $4334.I50 imports SlI7Il.-
142: France, exports 39.556.9l0 imports 81
03l.7l7
The consul general begins his report
| by saying:
The year 1899 has been very unfavora-
bic TO the commercial and manufacturing
interests of Japan. a variety Of causes
HAVING combined 10 hinder the natural de
yeIopment of trade. and there have been
many loud complaints Of the duIlness of
the market and general stagnation. In
spite of this, statistics show an Increase
in the total Grade Of the Empire over
both 1898 and 1899 and only a small fall
ing of in exports as compared with 1909
While there Is considerable increas. as
compared with 1885 The exports OF 1899
exceeded those Of 1895 by more than $24,
10000. an increase which it could hardly
be expected would be maintained. The
figures for 1909 show a decrease OF less
than 100000 from those of Isy9.~
Continuing Mr.. Bellows says
The total value of the exports from
Japan In 1900 was SlOl. 500 .157, the princi-
pal articles and the vtIue of the total eK-
port Of each being as follows:
Tea, *4.44' 70; rice. SI.7S1. f31-52; cam
phor. 3L5es. ~. o. copper, $6.335. 5I56S; raw
silk. 81 20. 20o.J9; silk tissues $lI E5. go II;
cotton yarn, $lO.253. 49,. 81 cotton tissues,
S3.o27 ,S55.6i; floor mating. Sl6is. 400 3;
straw plaits. S2.Oo4.52 10: porcelain. s.. 23l.-
OcS.3O: lacqucred ware. $5Sl,062 IL
The United States takes each year
three-fourths OF the tea, nearly all the
floor mating, and more than half the
raw silk. besides a large proportion Of
some kinds OF silk tissues. We are the
largest purchaser OF Japanse porcelain.
and only Great Britain takes more of
straw piaits. while in Is09 We, for the first
time. used more Of Japau's rice and cam
phor than any other nation. Great Brit
ain buys most freely. Of -lacquered ware
and many Of the less important exports.
such as screens, manufactures OF ivory
toy, carpets, and lily bulbs. while the
United States leads in purchases Of pa
per lanterns. fans, manufactured brOnZes
tooth brushes. manufactures Of bamboo.
rugs. paper napkins and sulphur.
Japan imports considerable quantities
Of cotton prints, cotton satins, cotton vel
vets, grey. white, aud twilIed shirtings
and cotton hanneIs. the greater part OF
which she might easily manufacture for
herself, If the necessary machinery were
introduced Great Britain has the Hons
share Of this trade in cotton tissues IN all
lines except cotton hannels, in which Ger
many leads. Americas share IS very in
significant, and she is barely holding the
proportion she has secured; but her ex-
ports OF raw cotton hither in 1870 amount
ed To H.lSS tons. being nearly one-haIf the
entire amount imported into Japan. and
ar increase Of more than IS per cent Of
the imports OF this commodity from the
United States In 1883.
America still holds her supremacy in
, y
and leads in electric hight apparatus. min
ing machinery, paper-making machinery.
watch cases. and watch movements. but
is surpassed by Germany in clocks. weav-
ing machinery. and sewing machines: by
Great Britain. in fire engines and pumps.
tools and implements Of farmers and me
chanics, Photographic apparatus. Iocomo-
tive engines. spinning machinery. steam
boilers and engines. betting and hose for
machinery. and turning Iathes, by Bel
GUM, in telephones. and by Switzerland
In watches. In all these. except spinning
and weaving machinery and watches. the
I nited States stands second and a com
parison Of the figures for 1890 and those
or the previous years shows a very credi-
table increase Of her exports 20 this c0un-
try. As the people Of Japan come To &C
cept and act on the doctrine-already be
ing taught by many OF her most thought
iul citizens-that her future prosperity de-
pends largely on the substitution Of ma
chinery for cheap labor, she viii need 10
purchase this line Of goods IA greatly in
creased amounts, and the United States
should be alert to receive her share OF
the growing commerce.
In 1900 Japan paid $685.. SOS q for aIlv-av
passenger and freight cars. more than
three-fourths OF which went 10 Great
Britain; the United States which ranked
second. receiving only $69. 236 81.
Electric street cars are In use in Kyo-
10, and are constantly filed; are. in fact.
so well patroHized by the working class
IS that the weather. people stil employ
the jinrildsha 10 avoid the crowdIng.
In irOn-pig and lngot plate and sheet.
galvanized and COrruEated-iron screws.
wire and small rod iron. steel. other than
mild steel and timed plate OF sheet
England st!u holds the lead. but iu Dig
and ingot iron, Germany is gaining on
her rival. less than half the entire re-
ceipts Of this commodity being credited
To Great Britain. whereas IN Isys and 1855
she had nearly three-f0urths In the 9th
er iron products named. her proportion
continues nearly the same as in former
years. but I'm bar and rod iron. in which
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