The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1902-07-29
JAPAN BUYING MANY
BICYCLES FROM us
Importation Has Doubled in
Past Two Years.
NEARLY ALL AMERICAN MADE
Cheaper Grade Machines in FavoT-Mi-
kado's Government May Attempt to
Build Up Home Industry by Increase
of Tarif-A Few Automobiles.

Tho Importation of bicycles into ia
pan has more than doubled in the past
two years. accrdlng to a report Just
received ct the State Department from
Consul General Bellows at Yokohama
The value of the imports IN 1901 was
S269,027 over IS per cent OF which cane
from the United States.
The bicycle has not yet penetrated
into The interior Of the islands" says
Mr. Bellows; at Is used chiefly as a
cheap method Of locomotion in the sea
ports and large cities. Being employed
principally for business. rather than
for pleasure. II Is rot subject 10 the
caprice which caused such an extraordi-
nary increase and decline IN its use IN
America
The demand for bicycles in japan IS
likely to grow for some time yet. after
which it may be expected to continue
fairly steady For the first FIVE months
OF this year the imports Of wheels show
an increase o. Is per cene over the cor
responding period of last year A cheap
wheel. costing from So to SIS, finds
most favor
Some bicycles for the troops have
been manufactured at the government
works, anG. as the customs tariff on
bicycles and automobiles Is not con
ventioHal, the government may. II 1t
/ seems desirable. assist hof-e industry
/ BY another schedule unfavcra5Ie 70
foreign makers; but there is no present
indication that This viii be doEe. A few
motor bicycles OF trfCycIes are seen on
the streets, but they are not at all COM
mon.
Automobiles for Business.
According to the most reliable III
I formation am able to obtain, thirteen
automobiles have, 20 this date, been
| shipped TO Japan. but most Of these still
remain in the hands of the importers.
who use lherr chiefly for advertising
purposes Automobiles are not named
in the tariff schedule but those
| brought here have been c1assed as car
riages, which pay q duty of % per cent
There are no regulations for their
| operation and use, except as they come
Under the head Of steam plants. which
can be operated only by licensed en-
gineor. This law has not yet been en-
/ forced against automobiles. but It IS ex-
/ pected that It viii be, should their use
/ become more. general, and especially II
/ there should be any fragrant abuse OF
/ their privileges by the operators
! The japanese are not a wealthy reo~
/ pie. nor are they. even when possessed
/ CT wealth. much given to costly, extraT-
1 ogant. or ostentatiou5 forms OF pleasure.
I and II is improbable that the automobile
Will zver become the toy Of fashion or
! the mere pleasure vehicle that It IS II
I Europe and America Besides this. the
country roads are too poor, and the city
streets too narrow and too crowded with
cbildren-who. IN most cases. have no
ether pIayground-fo7 autoHlobiling 20
be INDUCED IN freely and with pleasure.
For Imperial Nail
"0n the other hand. there is a fair
/ prospect that automobiles may gradually
/ come Into use for purposes OF business
have been told that the postal authoTi-
Ties are now considering the advisability
Of purchasing automobiles for the trans
rortaticn Of the imperial nails at Tokyo
/ The malls are now carried Ia wagons or
carts. each drawn by q single horse.
4 The government must keep several re-
! lays Of these horses. which are a contin-
! ual source Of annoyance and expense.
Should the postal authorities decide
TO buy automobiles, those that are run
I by steam would be considered objection
/ able because Of the real CT fa1Cted dan
: ger Of fire to the im0eTiai mails At
present, gasoIene is exceed nSly expensive
/ here. but plans are IN progress for Its
manufacture in this country. If these
plans prove successful gasolene VIII IN
doubte1ly become as cheap as in Ameri-
ca, and It's use for generating motive
power viii increase rapidly.
There are only few street railways
Is Japan. some Of which are electric
Dnes; the others employ horse cars An
lcnterprisiGg promoter might find it pcs
sible to establish a public automobile
service. which. until additional street
ear lines are built. would meet with no
competition except from jiETikishas'