Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-08-19

Il am sanguine enough to believe that
the imports will continue to grow instead
of falling off, but our milers should study
the conditions and requirements of the
market and comply with them as closely as
possible, for British Columbia is seeking
the trade During the Osaka exposition of
last year agents OF the Canadian millers
were actively and Systematically engaged
in calling public attention to their -four and
used very clever methods to make it popu
lar. This activity has already borne fruit.
You can see the results of it in the in
creased imports of Canadian flour, while
unfortunately no American millers were
represented at the exposition. If our peO-
pie want this trade they must come after
1t. Fortunately the competition of Russia
for the present has been removed, but as
you know, Siberia Is being rapidly devel-
oped and is becoming vast wheat field
cultivated with modern labor saving ma
chinery. This war will not last forever,
and when peace is restored you may expect
to see the Siberian millers over here with
samples Of their flour. The government OF
Russia will do everything possible to help
them, not only on general principles, but
in order to furnish traffic for the great
Siberian railroad"
Japanese Competition,
There will be some local competition here
in Japan, but do not think it will be seri-
Gus. The climate and soil of northern
Japan are suitable for raising wheat, and
a considerable area is already planted with
that staple. One mill produces 10000, 600
pounds Of flour year, and there are in
Vulnerable small mills throughout the coun-
try, but the farmers do not raise sufficient
wheat to keep them busy. Last year the
imports of wheat were valued at 1,721 1888
yen "a yen is % cents IN our money!. while
the value of -four imported was 1921 455
yen. l believe that there Is no danger OF
serious competition from the local millers
in the -four market because 1t costs Just as
much to raise wheat here in Japan as in
Minnesota Dakota Oregon I,ahor fS
cheaper, but the difference is more than
made up by the labor-saving machinery
used on our wheat FARMS where one man
can do as much work as ten or twenty
Japanese coolies. Furthermore, the Japa-
nese millers are at a disadvantage In hay
Ing no market for the byproducts. At
-four is worth less than the four bushels
and a half of wheat from which It is made.
If 1t were not for the shorts and other by
products the milers could not sell it at
present rates, and even then the margin
Is so small that -four must be produced In
very large quantities In order to make the
business pay. We have horses and cattle
to consume the shorts and other by-prod-
ucts, but they do not exist In Japan hence
the Japanese cannot complete with our
millers.
attention to the condition of the cotton
market. The total imports Of cotton. raw
and manufactured goods. into Japan dur
Ing the year 1903 were valued at 81 81, 23O
imported from the United States, leaving
nearly 7OOOO,O 600 yen or $35 600 600 worth Of
manufactured cotton goods which were fur
nished almost exclusively by the European
cottons from the United States during the
year were valued at only $4,000.
Demand for Cotton Goods.
For example, Great Britain furnishes
Japan every year about 10000 900 pounds
of cotton yarn, while last year the name
Of the United States appeared for the first
time In the list of countries furnishing that
item of import, and is credited with 6.s44
pounds England sells, an average OF $50
600 pounds of cotton thread to Japan every
year, while we sell none There are eishty-
one cotton spinning mills in Japan. with
!. ISL 76o spindles representing an invest
ment of 1921 ,aO2 There are seventy
two weaving mills, which last year had an
outpu. valued at $30,54O,53S. AS / have al
ready said. these mills are supplied with
raw cotton from the United States, but
they get large part OF their yarn from
Great Britain.
demand for cotton goods, and a large ouan-
tity, nearly one-half Of the fabrics pro-
duce at the domestic mills, were shipped
to foreign countries. The cheapest grades
went to Korea, but enormous quantities of
fine cotton crepe found a profitable market
in Europe and America. The trade is very
much like that of rice. The Japanese sell
their best rice and their best cotton goods
to foreigners and import cheaper fabrics
and food for their own use.
Last wear more than thirteen million
square yards Of cotton prints were imported,
of which 90 per cent came from Great Brit
ain, and not single yard from the United
States. No prints have been imported into
Japan from our country since 1899 The
annual imports of cotton fannels are about
two million yards and the most Of them