The Washington times., 1902-09-21
Great Britain and British
India Outrank the
United States.
GOVERNMENT MAKES REPORT
This Country Has Almost a Monopoly
of Bicycles and Tricycles-Machines
Freely Used in the Treaty Ports
Consul General Bellows Quoted.

lH- american tTaue With japan anu
the general foreign trade of the empire
during the past year are the subject oi
a bulletin issued by the State Depart
ment containing extracts from the an
| of Yokohama, not yet published. In
nearly all lines the United States ex-
ports to the empire have decreased ma
terially recently. Mr.. Bellows says:
THE annual return of the foreign
| trade of the empire of Japan for 1901
shows healthy growth of commerce.
the exports having been greater in value
than for any previous year in its his
tory, and the imports, which are still
slightly in excess of the exports. being
surpassed only by those of 1898 and 1900.
Since 1895, the imports have continually
exceeded exports, and the decrease in
the excess is very encouraging to TIL.
Japanese.
Although the total value of the i'm.
ports decreased only about II per cent
as compared with 1900. the value of
those purchased from the United States
has decreased more than 81 per cent.
so that we furnished last year only a
little over one-sixth of the whole and
are again outranked by both Great
Britain ard British India.
Imports From United States.
THE principal imports into Japan
from the United States are raw ginned
cotton, kerosene oil-these two together
making UP more than half the value of
the whole-and different kinds of ma
chinery, engines, electrical apparatus,
etc.
In electric light apparatus we are
not holding our own, as compared with
1900, though we still furnish over 60 per
With regard to fire engines and
pumps, implements and tools of farmers
and mechanics, locomotive engines,
crane machinery, weaving machinery,
and steam boilers and engines, the Unit
ed States has made important gains In
the value OF her exports to Japan and.
in all except the last, in the per cent OF |
the total which her share represents.
''Of Photographic instruments and ap-
paratus. sewing machines, watches, con-
1ensed milk, and salted fish, our country |
has slightly increased its exports TO |
Japan, although in each of these the to- |
tai imports have decreased. The value |
Of the telephones imported last year !
vas about half as great as in 1900, and |
Belgium supplied more than half, the |
United States furnishing about q per |
cent of them, while in 1900 her proper
ion was 80 per cent.
Hopes to Grow Her Own Wheat.
1T has been ascertained that the soil
md climate of the northern island OF
he japanese group are well adapted TO
he production of wheat, barley, and
similar grains, and a big -four making
has recently been started IL
hat part of the empire. 1t is estimated
hat some 100000 pounds of flour an
lually are now being turned out, and
he company hopes in time to preven;
he importation OF American flour.
Last year the importations CT flour
rom the United States amounted to
nore than 100000 pounds, which is
nlv about three -fourths as much as in
900 but probably the falling off was !
lie to stocks carried over We have nc
Important competitor in this commodity.
ut Australia sends five-e -eighths of the !
heat shipped here. the total wheat i'm
ort amounting to 11,500,000 pounds.
The importations of iron wire and
mall rods have fallen off more than
and that of telegraph wire
ne-third, while the interest of the
'nited States in these commodities has t
ecreased in still greater proportion. C
Steel Imports. p
"Of materials for bridges and build :,
lgs, the United States in 1900 sent al I,
lost two thirds of the amount received {,
/ Japan; for 1901, she is credited with a
,ss than one-third, while Great Britain u
as advanced TO more than half. h
In steel other than mild Steel steel
ire rope, brass and copper tubes, mer- n
Try, and nickel. Great Britain has the CO
on's share of the trade. and the United Il
tates is losing ground in all except
eel other than mild steel and mer- T.
Try. The imports of lead (pig, ingot Gl
nd slab have steadily increased for ~
yerai years, and the proportion of the ~,
nited suites has grown until last year +,
amounted to five -eighths OF the whole. Br
Nearly all the kerosene oil and much
e larger part OF the lubricating oil
Id parafiln wax imported come from
merica, while Great Britain furnishes
ost of the linseed oil. The importa- b
IN of kerosene oil continues to in gr
ease, although i. is believed that good SC
veins exist in some parts of III
Is and the northern island and fhe "