The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-08-09
JAPANS INDUSTRIAL GROWTH.
The Empire Continues to Import
Iron Manufactures Largely.

run Anuts2Ft ares Largely
Following his recent report 70 the State
Department concerning the trade Of ia
pan. r c. Bellows. the United States
| Consul General at Yokohama. has for
ward@d TO the department an interesting
statement about the Industrial develop
meut Of Japan. Mr.. Bellows says.
Although the japanese have for sew
CraI centuries been engaged in mining
operations and have exported large guam
titles Of copper and other metals the iron
mines Of the country have remained undo
Ftloped. while each year the imports of
pig iron and of manufactured iron and
steel goods have been very large. The
following table shows the amounts i'm
ported, with values, for the past three
years.
In 1898. $o2.24o tons; value. S9.706.66S-5L
In l>S5. 1888 tons: value. S7,105.9JI-50. In
1870. 3i29H tons; value, SI5,7G9 I07-5D.
The above does not include the ex-
penditures Of the Government for war
vessels and arms, which in 1900 amounted
{" $S.3l5Sg3.l0 and during the past ten
years has aggregated Sos. IS7. 772-21-
During lSgS, the output or iron from all
the mines in JaDan amounted 10 25g54
tons. this being little less than for each
Of the three preceding years. but more
IMAM Tor any year previous to 1895 The
figures for 1893 and 1900 are not available.
1t is believed that there are rich de
posits Of iron ore in northern Japan. DIT
Moro having estimated that there are de
posts Of iron ore in northern Japan, DIT.
dius OF sixty miles from Ofunato. The
orc is found i'm beds and veins. and con-
tains very large percentage Of iron. The
same district contains considerable
amounts of sulphur and copper and some
lead The reasons assigned for the nom
development Of these mines are: CD Want
OF mining and engineering experience. q
failure Of the work started by the Gov
eminent in 1876 lowing to insufficient fuel
for charcoal Pig. which discouraged 9TH
tfs from undertaking il; C) the general
economic depression row prevailing in
this county.
'NiscoUnt EnOmoto. retired Rear Ad-
mlral OF the Imperial japanese Navy, and
Mr. AmenOmiya have recently started a
company known as the Ofunato Railway
Harhor Improvement and Iron Works
Company. Limited, having for its object
the development Of these mines Their
project includes the improvement OF Ofu-
nato Harbor (Which is said to possess ex-
@~llent natural conditions and is on the
eastern coast a little more than half way
from S'olyo Bay 10 the northern extrcmi-
~ Of the island), the construction OF sixty
miles Of railroad TO connect the harbor
with the main line Of the Nippon Rail-
way the purchase and development of
mines. and the building Of an iron and
steel foundyr machine shops. etc.
For this work they wish to raise a
capital Of S5g7G.OjO. 20 be used AS fol-
lows For construction Of the harbor.
$4,000; for construction of the railway.
$-.s'N, oooi for iron and steel works. 81 49,
O00
They are anxious to secure the aid OF
foreigners In carrying on the enterprise.
anI 10 this end are willing 10 give aliens
the opportunity Of becoming stockhOId-
tTs, showing i'm this respect a more lib
tTdl spirit than the Japanese are usually
credited with.
At present Yokohama is the most
nortlerly harbOr on the eastern coast Of
the principal islands of the Empire. and
the promoters are convinced that Ofuu-
alto HaTpoT, with good railroad CDnuec-
t"nS-such as their plan provides for
would become the centre Of an extensive
commerce, which could not fail 10 yield
a fair profit independently of the iron
industry. and II sufficient capital can Dee
NrocuIeG they believe the iron Industry
can now De successfully underta ken the
other hudTaucCs 90 its success having
disappeared. Coal well suited for this
work can now De obtained abuuGautIy
within easy reach Of the proposed plant.
The investment Of foreign capital in
such enterprises has hitherto been greatly
discouraged by the Japanese laws. which
made 70 impossible for foreigners TO own
land and placed restrictions on their bust
ness operations that greatly Increased the
risks and decreased the profits Of their
investments The mining laws have lately
been amended So as To be much more IA
NOrab bic TO foreign investors. and the hope
is held out that within a few months the
right 10 own land may be conferred an
aliens A writer in the Japan Times" of
April . is authority Tor the statement
that by ind1rectiOn aliens may even now
become landowners