The Washington times., 1902-09-21
TRADE WITH JAPAN
IS FALLING OFF

Japanese are making constant efforts
to extend the domestic production.
The United States has almost mo-
nopoly of the sale of bicycles and tri-
cycles. and these machines are yer,
freely Used by the Japanese in the
treaty ports and along the lines of for
eign travel the imports last year
amounting to $270,000.
The wheels Iaost readily sold cost
from SIG to $25, and the retail dealers
make profit of from Is to 20 per cent
on wheels of late pattern. Automobiles
are being shown, but thrre is as yet no
market for them"
Japanese Exports.
1 AS to the Japanese exports Mr.. Bel
lows says in part:
.Tea-The amount Of tea exported
from Japan remains almost constant.
having been slightly more in 1901 than
in 1900, but less than in 1899 The United
States takes more than three -fourths of
the entire quantity. and the removal of
the American duty has been the source
of much satisfaction to tea growers.
Almost every civilized country in the
world buys rice from Japan, and the ex-
ports last year were double those of
1900, although less than in 1899. The
value of the rice exported last year was
about four-fifths that Of the tea, these
two being the principal unmanaufactured
vegetable products exported from Japan.
"Other vegetable exports are barley,
ginseng, groundnuts, gallnrts. oranges,
mushrooms. camphor and potatoes, the
| Philippine Islands being the heaviest
purchaser of the last named, while the
United States ranked third in the amount
OF rice taken. The cold weather of the
first week of May affected the young rice
shoots, and the crop for this year is
somewhat doubtful.
Last year was an especially favorable
one for the export of silk. the value of
which constituted three -sevenths of the
entire exports OF the country; and it is
noticeable that the increase was mostly
in silk tissues, although the death OF
Queen Victoria in January and the as
sassination OF President Mckinley in
September, by causing widespread de-
mand for mourning goods, was very TN
favorable to the market for Japanese
silk textiles.
The United States was the heaviest
purchaser OF raw silk and took 1873 tons
in excess of the highest quantity pre-
viously bought in any year.
Trade With the Philippines.
Both the imports from and the exports
to the Philippine Islands were greater
than in either 1899 or 1900. The total
exports to these islands were valued at |
s1.2s5,179.SO and the imports from !
them at 81 .iS4, ,553.6S.
THE total exports to Hawaii amount
ed to s941 .J49.57, this being an increase
of nearly 100000 over 1899. the highest
previous year. 10 imports from Hawaii
are found
Regarding shipbuilding, the report
says.
THE government is planning regular
and systematic additions to the strength
means for the encouragement of ship
building. High ship subsidies have long
been paid and any plan which promises
to promote the establishment of iron
manufa cturing plants and other indus
tries necessary to shipbuilding receives
careful consideration.
''In 1892, about one-thirteenth of the
exports and one-eiehth of the imports
of Japan were carried in Japanese YES
sells; in 1901. its shipping had increased
so much that three -eighths of the ex-
ports and one third of the imports, or
a tonnage considerably in excess of the
tOtdi iiupoIl anu eSpul lS VI lo'S, were
conveyed In native vessels.
The Merchant Marine.
THE tonnage of Japanese merchant
steamers entering Japanese ports in 100!
amounted to 1861. $50. and this was sur
passed only by the British ships. with &
tonnage Of 4,0S0,5S9. Germany and Rus
sia both exceeded the United States.
rom which country 175 ships, with d
onnage of 404 ,724, entered Japanese ,
ports. 1
''One of the largest steamship compa- I
lies in Japan is the Nippon Yusen Kai-
,ha. (Japan Steam Mail Company,
which has lines of boats making regular
rips TO ports in Europe, America, Aus 4
ralia, British India. China and Korea.
1t recent general meeting of the com,
amy. 1t was proposed to assist in the
of new route by The !
iunan Company of China. the object be- :
ng TO secure feeders for the steamers q:
he Shanghai terminus. J
Healthy Growth of Exports.
THE total exports of the country show :
gain of % per cent, as compared with I
he preceding year. and gain of II pc:
ent, as compared with the highest year (
reviously known. This gain is not due =
, exceptionally favorable circumstances :
! one OF few industries, but is dis
'ibuted along all lines. very few having !
lllen at all below former standards, \
nd the greater number having shown !
ecided advances. THIS seems to indi- 7
lte healthy growth, which it may be 7
oped Will be permanent"
The figures for the total trade of Japan :
ld for the commerce with the chic. :
follow: 7
'tnl imports .....................sl2 sl2T sos Gsg )
tal exports Observation-Disclosures. 1850 0I2
Country. Exports. Imports.
litct states ......... $50. 10000 SCI. 300 176 I
eat Britain ............ 5,1,.2sd 25 ISi, 742 l
'na --...........,.... 2l3l6,g3s 1898 go (
'ngkong ............... 20s0D. T5u j54s Gl0 I
rnany ................. 2.6i5, D33 a. 1G 40 a
anoe ................... l3.5s2,23i l,s6s. .g1s .
itsh India ............ 4,Sg,is2 2l,3oi 392 !
Marine Band Concert. 7
A large crowd. attended the Marine 2
md concert at the White House