The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-10-12
Opportunities Neglected, however
and England and Germany Are
Ahead OF Us.
SOME SIGNIFICANT FIGURES
UNITED STATES BUYS MORE FROM
JAPAN THAN ANY OTHER COUNTRY.
Chance for Effective Work by Ameri-
can observation-disclosures spir-
IT Easily Reused.


even in the Philippines, does an American
feel close to home, except in Japan. AL
most everywhere else in Eastern lands
'home" means Europe, while here Ii Is the
United States. Cordially of political rela-
ton has it's counterpart in the friendliness
OF the people. alike at the settlements and
away from them. In travel the foreign
faces met are mainly those Of Americans.
They abound at the hotels, and in the
streets, smiles welcoming them everywhere.
On an American holiday the flag blossoms
at the old treaty ports, and a gala spirit
rules as heartily as If the soil had been
really shifted across the sea, a distance
which anticipation so lessons, when the
Pacific steamers sail. that the voyage
seems from this end little more than the
proverbial two looks and a glance. Ameri-
can money pours out here as does that OF
no other people, buying impartiaHy the
gfmcracks which compose the outward
show OF the cheap shopmen, and the art
treasures reserved for the inspection of the
few. Could the amount OF such purchases
be estimated II would add materially to
the trade returns which already show the
United States to be Japan's best customer.
In view OF these conditions, one might
expect evidence that the Japanese favored
the American market In their purchases.
Since figures do not bear out such an ex-
pectarion, responsibility for them may,
perhaps. be traced less to natural tenden-
cies In any other direction than to the neg
lect Of Americans to improve their oppor
tunities OF course the tourists who come
TO Japan are out mainly for recreation, but
1t can hardly have escaped the observation
OF business men among them that the ma
5ority OF the American signs displayed in
the ports advertise the engagement Of firms
in the work OF buying native products for
the home market. and not in that of finding
customers here. 1t may be unimportant
that in 1853 when the Mikado regained
power. and japan started on its present
career, trade reached only 26,000000 yen
(yen value, about so cents gold), for there
had to be a beginning and it could hardly
be other than modest; but by 1880 trade
amounted to 65.O00.OO0: by 1890. 1t was 1885,,
100000; In 1900. 1t was 100000, and last
year, sos. 900 900. Only seven years in thirty
four did not show advances over every
preceding year. In 1898 the forward leap
exceeded 100000. 1t was 56.OOOoOo in 1900.
AMERICAN OPPORTUNITY.
Yet IN the morning of international prog
ress Japan has so adjusted its trade that
exports and imports have come nearly to
a level With advancing growth the de-
mand for imports must increase, notably
In lines in which the United States seeks
an expanding market. Scarcely one of these
lines has been diligently cultivated against
competition. In pig iron, the United States,
once the leader. yielded first to Great Brit
ain. then TO Germany. and 1t has now
fallen so low as to be quite out of the race.
If II be urged that there may be better
profit I'm this commodity by converting it at
home into greater value than could be OBJ
tanned for IL abroad. the point remains
good that in iron and steel products the
United States does not hold its own, that
IT Is behind in machinery and railway sup
piles. and that it leads in few important
lines except those that Japan cannot buy
elsewhere. On the other hand, 1t takes more
than any other country Of the exports
which underlie the present prosperity of
Japan, buying nearly all the tea that Japan
has to sell. and more literally of raw silk,
silk tissues, silk handkerchiefs, straw
mats and porcelains than any other i'm
porter.
While Japanese trade is distributed over
the world, the only rivals of the United
States to be considered are Great Britain
and Germany. English shipping and Eng
lish houses had first place in early years.
aud they have not at any time been dis
lodged. Almost exclusive occupancy of the
field brought original successes, establish
ms relations that yet control: but the Eng
lish now find here, as elsewhere in the
East, that nothing Is secure against the
attack. of an element in trade which will
work nights and Sundays. and which gives
itself no time for afternoon sport Hence
probably at least twenty millions of sup
plies for which. previously, orders would
have fallen the English way. as a matter
of course, now go to the Germans, and the
German flag flies over the largest and best
ships that enter these waters. In such ar
ticles as nails. and bar and rod iron, the
Germans have eaten deep into English
trade. These two items constitute how
ever, scarcely more than per cent. of Ger
man sales TO Japan, the remaining sales
ramifying in every possible direction. Ii is
catch-all policy. and cheap prices and
long credits seem always at German dis
posal for the widest variety of native
wants. They have made a better market
than have the Americans in cotton yarn.
prints and cotton satins. In iron plates and
sheetiron. in betting. in electric light lamps,
in Geographic wire and they are nibbling
busily at various lines in which American
merchants might easily have had the call
Germany has captured the market for
small machinery OF all kinds, sales exceed
ing 100000 yen. and for chemicals, and it
sells In large quantities the lower grades OF
refined sugar. imports last year from that
quarter exceeding 100000 yen
GENERAL TRADE MOVEMENT.
The trade movement OF the country may
be gathered from tables prepared to Illus
trate the commanding Importance of the
United States, Great Britain and Germany,
and their relations TO each other in respect
TO leading lines Of import and export. From
1897 to 1900 they contributed as follows to
the trade OF Japan:
Imports
United states. Ct Britain. Germany.
IMPORTS fyen-) tyen-D (yen)
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