Omaha daily bee., 1902-03-23

The Japanese have put up telegraph
lines connecting Fusan with all parts Of
the country, and from Fusan there is a
cable to Japan. The big Toxic banks
have branch offices in Seoul and at some
Of the Corean ports, and there are Japa-
nese postofHces at the principal cities.
Japanese money is the currency OF the
country and the Japanese have been
granted concessions for mines and other
things.
Japanese I'm China.
The Japanese have been crowded out Of
Manchuria by Russia, and the powers have
not permitted them to take possession OF
any part Of China. Nevertheless, they are
pushing their trade throughout the Chinese
empire and will have their share of China's
commerce.. There are Japanese steamers
doing a regular carrying trade on some of
the Chinese rivers. You can have your
houseboat towed through the canals of
/, Kiangsu by Japanese launches and can go
, up the Yangtse Kiang or the Peiho on
steamers owned by Japanese.
! The Japanese have concessions at many
= of the open ports. At Shanghai their con-
sulate is in one of the finest buildings, and
d. there is much Japanese money invested in
g the port. IntN nave a concession IOr q
( cotton mill there, but have concluded that
it is cheaper to make cotton cloth at Osaka
and ship 1t to China. Indeed, this is SC
with all sorts Of goods. The people hope
TO make Japan the workshop OF the Orient
In an interview which l had with Marquis
Ito he said that foreign capital should put
up factories in Japan to supply the Chi.
nese markets. He assured me that such
capital would be safe and that Japanes,
labor could be more easily handled thar
Chinese labor.
l do not doubt that this is correct. The
japanese are not so thoroughly organized
into trades unions as the Chinese. Their
labor is good and exceedingly cheap. Bott
women and men work in the factories and
among the most skillful Of the hands are
children. / went through some Of the fines
rug factories Of this empire and had myself
photographed with one Of the employe.
standing in front OF me. This was a little
girl OF ten years. She only reached to my
waist, but she was weaving a rug for tn,
American market when she went out 10 b.
photographed.
The Japanese government is thoroughly
awake to the possibilities Of foreign trade
1t is encouraging manufactures and is ever
now considering the building OF steel work,
at Kure at an initial cost Of more thar
100000 yen. These works will make stee
plates and other shipbui'ding materials.
Japan and Its Colonies.
don't know that one can rightly speal
OF Japan as having colonies. It has. how.
ever two great islands at the opposite end,
OF the empire which are undeveloped anC
which VIII add much to its wealth and 1t.
position In the Pacific. These are Yezo anC
Formosa. Yezo is about as big as Indian,
and Its population is about as great as tina,
OF St Louis. 1t has an excellent Climat,
and its soil raises the finest Of grass. Tn,
government colonization department is trv.
ing to develop the country.
fezo has excellent coal, There are three
large mines now in operation and railroads
connect these with the coast. There are
no large towns except Hakodate, which has
$4,000 people. Of whom only about 100 are