The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1902-09-10
japaN's PIERpONT MORGAN.
Baron Yeuchi shlbuzawa, the Head
or Guiding Spirit in $50
Concerns.
(stanhope Sans, in the American

(Stanhope Sans, in the American
Monthly Reviews Of Reviews.
Baron Shibuzawa devoted much time,
attention and money to extending the
railway system so that it would furn
ish an artery from the capital to every
important city in the main island, Or
Hondo. The development was rapid
in Government and private systems.
In 1880 the Government lines were
551 miles in length and private lines 1886
miles-a total of l, AT miles. In 1900
the Government lines had grown to
l.O1o miles and private lines to 2,9Oo
miles-a total of 3,915.
In 1890 the income of the Government
railway lines was 4,213, S04 yen, the
profits being 2,2l2, 53l yen, while the
private lines had an income OF 4, $780,
47S yen, with profits of 2.793, s01 yen.
In 1900 the Government lines had an
income of Is, 920, 335 yen, with profits
Of $50, 27 yen, while the private
lines had an income Of 81, 059, ,696 yen,
with profits of Is, 6e2, ,243 yen. Baron
Shibuzawa is now president Of four
railway systems.
These are only few of his great
projects that have made or are the his
tory of modern Japan. These enter
prises extend over the thirty-fve years
of Meiji-the Official designation of
the reign Of the present Emperor-and
stretch on into the future, when they
will serve as foundations OF Japan's
commercial empire In Formosa, China
and Corea. For to his Initiative and
tireless persistence is due the construc-
tion of the Seul-C -Chemulpoo and the
Seoul -Fusan railways in Corea and the
organization of banking and industrial
associations in Fofmosa, Corea and
China.
Perhaps no other organizer has ever
been engaged in so many and various
enterprises. The lay mind is confused
and dazzled by such multiplicity of
details. The japanese admirer has
counted and tabulated the organiza-
tions and companies of which the
baron is either the head or the guiding
spirit. They number some one hundred
and fifty concerns, and include every
kind Of business that japanese indus
trial and commercial life has evolved.
every manifestation of civic and nation
al interest in the development of the
country and every form Of charity and
philanthropy.
It is not only in Japan, among the
countries of the modern world, that q
career SO varied as Baron Shibuzawa's
is possible. Born in 1910, in Musashi
Province, the province of Toxic, as a
youth he attached himself to the pow
erful tsclan'' of Lord Hitotsubashi, Of
the great Tokugawa family. In this
service his creative and organizing
genius found splendid field. he es-
tablished a new and effective military
system, and reorgnaiZed the unsettled
finances of the clan. These reforms
led to the advancement of the Hitotsu-
bashi. Lord Keiki became Shogun
and Shibuzawa was made an officer OF
the Government. After a visit to
France in 1s6E68, to study Western
civilization, during which "the resto-
ration'' vas effected at home, he was
appointed tax collector of the financial
department of the new Imperial Gov
ernment.
he rose rapidly, becoming success
sively assistant vice minister, junior
vice minister and vice minister of
finance. Unquestionably the highest
positions in the gift Of the Emperor
were within his grasp. Suddenly he
gave up this brilliant life. It's splendid
prizes no longer lured his ambition.
He saw new light. Not military
glory, but solid prosperity, wealth,
civilization and culture are the real
foundation of a nations greatness.
Though trained to arms and state
craft, he abandoned high career and
began to realize his vision Of new
Japan. He planned, he labored, he
organized. He won the confidence of
all and was acknowledged as leader
in an industrial revolution whose con-
sequences were to be far more import
ant than were those of the "Restora-
tion,'' the most luminous hour in
japanese history. 1t is largely due to
his directing and masterful genius,
which embraces all fields of industry,
that today the industrial and CONNER
cial development Of Japan is the won
der of the world; that highways of
steel are laid between her great cities; (;
that the exquisite products of her
craftsmen are known in every thres-
hold of the West; that her merchant
fleets cover the Pacific and Indian
oceans; and that her people have been
brought abreast Of modern culture and
civilization, and are prosperous and
happy. It was largely due to him
that Japan deliberately set aside dreams
of military glory and chose the sober
triumphs Of peace.
Rock Hill, Sept. 3.-The number
of applications for dormitory accom-