The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-12-27

million inhabitants, and the country be-
tween them has one hundred millions.
The distance IL about as great as from
New York to Chicago, and 1t Is estimated
that the road can be built for $3oo0o.ooo.
An extension Of this line, owned by the
Belgians. is projected from Hankow to
Pekin. This is partially built.
There are number of other roads
planned or in course OF construction. so
that the demand for steel rails and all
sorts Of railway materials will be great
Millions Of ties are needed and en- enor-
nous number of bridges. as much of the
country Is cut un by canals. The ties and
bridge timber could be furnished by the
Philippine Islands.
JAPANESE AMONG
OUR BEST CUSTOMERS.
The Japanese are now among our best
customers.
generation ago. but they now buy and sell
to the extent Of half billion dollars a
year.
Their purchases OF foreign goods amount
to two hundred and eighty millions. and
one-seventh Of them come from the United
States.
British India sells Japan as much as we
do. and Great Britain moro. Germany
and China rank about even. but both are
far behind the United States.
During visit to Tokyo some years ago
talked with the Premier, Count Ito,
about the chances for American enter
prises there.
He said that the trade with the United
states would increase and suggested that
Americans should establish factories In
Japan to supply the Chinese market
He said that property would be safer
there than In China and that the labor
could be handled much better. As an evil
dence Of the growth Of manufacturing, he
said that twenty years ago the japanese
spinning was all done on old-fashioned
wheels and by hand.
It IN now performed with tho best OF
modern machinery.
Japan has now sixty cotton mills, IN
which 1000 hands are employed.
There are more than $4,000 women at
work in the factories. A large number
of machine shops have been established
and all sorts Of work Is done In iron and
steel.
The japanese mako their own war ma
terials. They have their own navy yards
and railroad shops. They buy our pneu-
matte tools and electrical materials.
They are grinding wheat In their -four
mills. which are equipped with American
machinery. They are also using type
writer's, bicycles and other small machines
Of our make.
The japanese are growing rich. They
have banks everywhere. with heavy de-
posits.
One Of their statisticians estimates the
present wealth of the country at about
s. 900, 900, 900, which Is an enormous sum
for an Asiatic land of that size.
NEW STEAMERS OPERATED
BETWEEN CALIFORNIA AND JAPAN.
Our connections with Japan and China
are steadily improving.
When / first crossed the Pacific. about
fourteen years ago. there were only two
steamship lines. There are now about five
times that many, and two Of the lines be-
long to the Japanese
You can get ships from San Francisco,
Portland, Tacoma and Vancouver for Yo-
kohama, Shanghai and Hong-Kong. and
there are also steamers from San Diego,
CAL, sailing at irregular intervals to the
same ports.
Two of the biggest ships of the world
are Just about ready to make their first
voyages across the Pacific These are the
Minnesota and Dakota, built by the Great
Northern Railroad to accommodate its
transpacifc trade. They have each a dis
placement of $500 tons, and can carry
900 barrels Of flour.
The Dakota Is 1900 tons bigger than the
Great Eastern and 16.0o0 tons bigger than
the Kaiser Wilhelm der Crosse.
The ships are $50 feet long, 70 feet wide
and IS feet deep. Each has accommodate
tons for 1900 passengers. including the
crew.
They will travel to Asia by the shortest
route, which is that from Puget Sound to
Japan, and will make the best time across
the Pacific.
We ought to sell more goods in Farther
India and Hindoostan.