The San Francisco call., 1904-02-20
PACIFIC TRADE
is ITS THEME
Commercial Museum Supplies
Facts Of Live Interest Con-
cerning Countries Now at War
MANUFACTURES OF JAPAN
Demand of Siberia for Foreign
Goods Is Considered With
Details of Local Value

The Pacific Commercial Museum has
inaugurated a new plan TO convey to
its membership information relative to
the latest happenings concerning for
eign trade movements in the countries
bordering on the Pacific Ocean. A
monthly review Of the trade is TO be
given in a bulletin, which is really an
eight-page periodical. 1t is compiled
and edited by Eugene Goodwin, dtrec-
tor Of the museum. The first number
OF the bulletin is just out
A share of the contents Of the ini-
tial number is devoted 10 facts con-
cerning industrial enterprises in Japan.
The information is timely. as il throws
light on the progress of the sturdy lit
tie brown men who are now facing
the Russians. One statement is that
one-third of the total imports into
Manchuria is composed of cotton cloth
made in Japan. The hemp industry in
Japan has received especial attention
and orders were recently executed for
a supply Of fishing nets for Alaska
to cost $50. .00o. There are four hemp
spinning companies IN Japan, besides
which spinning is carried on as a
household industry in the northern
provinces, and these sources supply
fully the domestic demand for all
grades, except bleached hemp yarn,
which japanese manufacturers have
not the means for producing. Flax is
freely raised in Japan, but the impor-
tation of fax. hemp. jute and China
grass during the first six months of
1908 amounted to 1921 tons. about 2000
tons in excess Of the amount imported
; in the corresponding period in the pre-
ceding year.
The japanese Government has a
scheme for subsidizing a company to
train wOrkmen to manufacture plate
glass. The plan calls for the appro-
priatiOn Of s249. 600 10 be expended dur
ing the next four years. 1t is pur-
posed TO choose a foreign expert and
TO construct two furnaces of the latest
style under his supervision. each with
a capacity Of at least 10000 square
feet Of plate glass q month; also to en-
plOy thirty foreigners as trainers of
japanese workmen. and to train fifty
wOrkmen for the Government service.
An Osaka firm of sugar dealers is
preparing 10 establish a sugar refining
plant, and e company is reported TO
have dispatched representatives to the
United States and TO Europe to pur-
chase machinery. A company of ma
tives Of YezzO also purposes to import
American machinery TO manufacture
condensed milk.
Some valuable information is also
supplied Dy the bulletin relative TO the
foreign trade Of Siberia. which may
largely concern San Francisco as an
exporting point. The following para
graphs are illustrative:
The extensive territory lying east Of Lake
BslkaI contains o.o00.0 GO inhabitants. who are
making progress in civilization and whose
wants the increase. The introduction
cf European manufactures is managed through
native houses All the cities OF Importance or
Eastern Siberia have for years had large com
mercisl houses Germany has already gained
a nrm fOothold IN these markets and has a
lish exports TO Eastern Siberia consist prn-
cipauy of coal timed sheet iron FOR roofing.
nails and other metal goods On account OF
the discOntinuance o. the free harbor al Nlad-
iNostok and the new Russian customs tariff
or 1902 the English imports OF fancy. and
textile goods. a. well as of preserved food
articles sa7dlnes, milk. etc. which were
specislties Of English trade, have greatly de-
creased
The best opportunity for the operations OF
American manufacturers IS in the introduction
Of machinery and implements Tor mining. The
principal demand Al present IS for machine ~
for coal mines. Coal mining in Siberia is vet
in its infancy, but as the supply OF wood for
fuel is diminishing mining OF coal viii become
a necessity. and with the development of the
industry will come a demand fer boring and
hosting machinery. boilers. light railroad ma
terial- etc Carpenters and blacksmiths tools
are sold In large quantities This trad. Is IN
the hands OF the Germans As metal goods
are dutiable on the weight the lghtest kind
Of such wares form the principal imports
Manufacturers of the United States nave al
keep large stocks OF their goods in the coua-