Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-08-15
TRAVELLING in JAPAN
Troop Transportation Causes
Discomforts.
TOURISTS VERY SCARCE
WAR CAUSES VISITORS TO STAY
AWAY FROM ISLAND.
Curious Spectacle When Train Stops
Half an Hour to Let Every
One Take Bath.
TOURISTS VERY SCARCE
By WILLIAM E. CURTIS.


Snecial Correspo dence of The Evening Star and
Chicago Record Herald.
TOKYO, July 49, 1904.
The war has ruined the tourist season
in Japan There are very few travellers
here this season, the great caravans which
usually come to spend the spring and sum-
mer months and admire the cherry bios
SONS and wisteria having been frightened
away. The mayors Of the seven principal
cities. Tokyo. Kyoto, Osaka, Yokohama,
Kobe Nagasaki and Nogoya, issued a
Joint proclamation, and sent 1t broadcast
over Europe and the United States to be
published in the newspapers, assuring the
travelling public that there is no danger
or Information or excitement, and that
visitors to Japan this year will experience
no more Inconvenience than ever. But it
was too late even If people believed it, and
the only tourists to be seen in Japan this
summer are on their way home from a
winter in India The hotels are empty;
the guides are idle and the curio dealers
are very much depressed, although sew
eral who were wise in foresight and sent
largo ana antilles of goods to the st. Louis
exnosition have prospered beyond all ex-
nectat ton The other day one of the prin-
cinal dealers IN Kyoto showed me tele-
gram from his representative announcing
that he had sold every article of the COL
lection. which he Supposed would last him
through the entire six months, and asking
that new and increased stocks be shipped
to him at once. Similar tidlngs come from
other exhibitors who were wise enough
to carry with them large assortments of
goods.
The only inconvenience ana olscoiniofl
experienced by travellers this season are due
To the oyercrowded trains and the inter-
runtion of regular traffic on the railroad
made necessary by the transportation of
troops There is only one railway east and
west, and all of the men and supplies for
Manchuria are sent over that, to be trans
ferred TO transports at Moi and other
points of rendezvous. and this has called
of the other railways throughout Japan
also have been busy bringing troops TO the
noints or rendezvous, and this has called
for so MANY locomotive and cars that at
least half of the regular trains have been
taken off. and those which have been con-
tinued have been shortened. All dining and
sleeping cars have been taken on the regu-
lar trains and put on the military trains
for the use of officers. which has been the
cause OF the greatest discomfort and incon-
venience, because there are no eating
houses along the japanese railroads, and
nothing Int fruit, rice and other native food
can be obtained.
Trains Internationally Crowded.
The consequence is that the regular trains
have been crowded in the most uncomfort-
able manner Many passengers have to
stand for long distances because there are
no seats for them, and the night trains are
so crowded that sleep is impossible. Usually.
even without sleeping car. night journey
can be made comfortably by rolling up your
overcoat for pillow and stretching out
upon one of the long settees which run on
| both sides of frst-class carriages like the
seirts in our street cars at home. These
settees are divided by arms, which can be
raised and pushed back out of the way, and
| If you have room enough they make COM
| Portable beds But when you are compelled
Ito pass a night in narrow seat with a
: tipsy young man on one side Of you and q