The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-09-25

l .. S1tEemeIy Intense, InoIpu6h tssui, ui, and that they raise two anu m m ee crops on the same land in one yea a,i - - attend the farm does require 'le whole years time. The men undertake olher work at certain seasons, and tne "olnen and children make themseis,,v,s ,,,5 aselui by raising silk worms, reellng s,,N - uoing other such work, thus suppie | ziuhg the Income very greatly l.
 Tn some of the districts serViculture ID pfedominant, in others tea demahue most attention, while still others hase susar or other products as the seapi0 Iarm produce.
 me fact that the old time Japanese were led by religious prejudices to esenem aHiinai food has caused stock ralslhs ~ De as yet quite backward, though 'ne rearing of live stock for tillage or uraught work Is now carried on to ho small extent in some districts.
 Tas Exemptions.
 Certain kinds of lands are exempt from taxation in Japan, towit, newly opened iand, waste land, buddy felds upland ilelds. land on which there are dwelhnss' salt fields, plains and pastures and mn eral springs; also schools, cemeterles' railroad tracks, protection forests, wa ter works routes, sewerways, etc.
 Irrigation and drainage receive special attention. Fertilizers are extensively manufactured and used in Japan.
 The farming population of Japan Is about 2s.00OO00 or about 60 per cent Of the entire population.
 Japan produces rice, barley, wheat, rye, | puekwheat, rape, beans, indigo tobacco and cotton. While farm wages are very low, they are now annually advancing Aa.kL.I.
 Japan has her agricultural experiment stations conducted under modern scien- tific rules, and these the government en- courages and sustains most literally. She has her imperial cattle breeding farms and horse studs and depots. Dairy 1arming and meat preserving are now re- leeiving great attention and are conducted Tn most successful way.
 The United States buys GO per cent of the entire export of silk from Japan. In mating the United States is also Japan's best customer.
 Mining and MetaIurey. In mining and metallurgy Japan is making rapid strides In 1871 she estab- lished schools for diffusing a knowledge of these sciences with remarkably fine results Coal mining Is receiving in- cASe'oNo ditCIlllOils He COillcIy nOlh made striking development in 1889, and then Japanese coal began to go abroad. It may be stated that twenty eight years ago Japan had only one colliery employ ing steam engines and that her output of coal was only about 100000 tons per annum; today engines aggregating over 36,7O0 horsepower are at work, and the output reaching over 10,0OO,000 tons China consumes the export coal of Japan The petroleum industry is another mining business that has lately sprung into great importance. What was known in olden times in Japan as "burning wa ter was not turned into commercial use until 1890, and this was done by tap ping the subterranian reservoirs with l drilling machines of American style Eleven years ago the output of crude l oil did not exceed S0,000 barrels with conducting iron pipes extending less than three miles, today the figures stand al 100000 barrels and 1S6 miles of conduct ing pipe.
 Gold and copper mines are also ex. tensively operated
 The total number of mine workers em. ployed in Japanese mines is about 15t,. 900.
 Many Other Industries.
 There are many other branches of in. dustry in Japan giving employment tc her people. In the fishing industry alone there are over three million individuals employed, while modern manufacturing concerns give employment to millions more.
 In general a days work in Japan con. sists of eleven dD hours and the scale of wages Is quite low
 Tariff System.
 l tenn which was promulgated in 1S99 The system divides imports into three mair classes, dutiable goods. non-dutiabls goods and prohibited goods. The tariff for dutiable goods range from to 40 per cent ad valorum and is divided into 16 grades The exports of Japar in 1902 exceeded her imports by 13, 42S 19 yen. In 1890 the imports exceeded he, exports by 25 125,075 yen.
 For the purpose of encouraging trad, with the United States and other for eign countries the people of Japan hay, established active commercial clubs anC other industrial bodies throughout tn, l Empire. These organizations are unde the auspices of the government, and tn, membership Is limited to Japanese sub jects. They are doing a wonderful work
 Currency System.
 The existing currency system of Japal Is the gold standard. Subsidiary silve and copper pieces are also in use Tn | Japanese express contentment at tn smooth operation of their commercial transactions and boast an excellent bank ing system safe and sane. They clain that now the market prices of commod ities are not influenced by the fluctua tions of the prices of silver. Let 1t b | remembered in this connection that la pan possesses immense deposits of slve l ore.
 Strong In War and in Peace.
 Japan is strong in war as she is fl peace. Fighting proclivties are heredi tary and come down from the forefather of 2000 years ago. Japan has her stand ing army and navy, well disciplined ant ever ready for service. In 1901 her nal inhabitants liable to conscrk,tlve ser vice numbered 5S9,2s2. The empire make liberal appropriations for schools ant colleges for military and naval trainine teaching the art of warfare by mos modern methods. Subjoined to her arn | and ammunition office are the arsenal which manufacture and repair all sort | Of arms and ammunition required in tn | army and ravy In 1901 the operative employed at the Tokio arsenal mum | bered 2O64, iS0 men and 96, 325 women |, all 2,1G0S05 and in the same year Osak, arsenal employed 1,499557 people.
 These figures show something of tn magnitude of Japan's war service.
 Communication.
 Tn 1871 the postal system, modelled af ter our American mail service was adopt ! ed by Japan: but as early as A. D. o09 l Em press JingO tahlished an a,,,hr,,o...