Los Angeles herald., 1905-07-24
JAPANESE COLONY
PLANNED FOR TEXAS
SELECT NINE THOUSAND ACRES
FoH AGRICULTURE
One Thousand Farmers to Pc la-
ported for Trses That Promises
Large Returns to the Patient orl-
entail Husbandman

From the New York Tribune.
An interesting description Of the agrl-
cultural possibilities Of this country,
and especially Of Texas, has been sent
to the state department Al Warrington
by United states Consul Fisher, at
Tamsui, Formosa, Translatins and
! quoting literally from the japanese
press, Mr. Fisher relates that Kinsa-
buro Gada, who Is engaged in asri-
culture on the coast of Formosa, has
selected nearly nine thousand acres OF
agricultural land in Texas and expects
to bring approximately one thousand
Japanese farmers to this country to oc-
cupy the tract.
Mr.. Fisher sends the following trans
lation of an interview with Mr.. Gada,
which appeared in local paper:
Farming is the only enterprise that
| It seems can be probably UNDER
taken in America by the japanese. In
the manufacturing industries the
Americans are using large capital and
extensive machinery and are making
every effort to reduce the cost Of pro-
duction. Progress in the economical
use Of machinery Is very conspicuous,
but in agriculture they are unable to
employ these methods, and therefore do
not question the comparatively high
prices for vegetables and grains they
consume. The reason seems to be their
absolute devotion to the manufacturing
industries, which leaves them no time
to consider other enterprises 1t Ii
therefore in agriculture that the Japa-
| nese in America are most likely to meet
with success.
| The total area of the uncultivated
regions in Texas, where have under
taken the farming scheme, ID larger
than Japan. Until few years ago 1t
was used for grazing, but 1t has gradu-
ally come to be considered a district
for cultivation, and the prospects for
its future are very promising. The agri-
cultural productions can be sent to the
market at New York in two days, to
Chicago in one and one-half days. ana
to San Francisco in four and one-halt
days The area / intend to cultivate
consists Of about 10000 cho bu $4,000
acres), and the price Of the land is but
l5 yen (s2.50) per tan (0.245 acre.. This
region having been grazing land up to
the present time, there will be little
difficulty or expense in preparing the
ground for cultivation. and the soil
is very rich, so that there will be no
necessity for using fertilizers for at
least ten years. Before returning to
Japan / made arrangements with the
railway company owning the land to
purchase it at any time.
The total number OF Japanese in
Hawaii is about $4,000, all of whom
consume rice exported from Japan. The
price of Japanese rice In Hawaii Is
about 80 yen ($1So per koku (4.se
bhshels). The price is enhanced from
| the original cost of IA yen (s7) or 15
yen t$7.5o) per koku t4.es bushels) by
the addition of about yen (S4) import
duty, yen (s250) freight and the COM
| missions and profit of the importer and
retail dealer. Besides rice the other
articles of daily diet are SO expensive
| that a Japanese earning q monthly
wage of go yen (sa0) has scarcely any
thing left from his income after the
| cost OF living is deductedi but in
America, in contrast, by engaging in
| farming he could supply the larger
part Of his daily diet, such as veg-
etables and rice, from his own produce
tions, so that the cost Of the other
articles Of living should not exceed 80
sen (15 cents) a day; thus, from a
wage OF 80 yen (s15) month iaborer
should be able to save 20 yen (s1o). In
classes of work where nimbleness OF
the fingers is necessary the Japanese
are more sixilifui than the Americans
In gathering grapes In the vineyards
| they are able to earn ven (s8) q day
| 1t is therefore quite evident that there
Is an advantage OF employing Japanese
for cultivation on a large scale.
My scherae is to invest 100000 or so0,-
900 ven (sS5o,ooo or 100000 during the
first year In the purchase of land and
other expenses. It 10 estimated that at
the END Of the four years q profit Of
100000 yen Csi,0Oo,ooO) will be realized
OF tha different agricultural pursuits.
that Of growing Vegetables Is the most
| profitable. A. the cultivation OF forty
eho bu lninety-eisht acresl requires
but two men and three horses, the
PROFITS ana the expenses can be easily
estimated. No procedure 10 required to
secure market, az the trust makes
contracts with the farmers and Ad-
vanees money for their produce before
the time FOR marketing. The prices are
hxed on the basis Of the price at which
the produce is supplied to the con-
sumers. which allows propoFtionate
profits to both the trust and the
farmers; and as the trust" would not
attempt to make o reduction, this
method OF marketing viii be convenient
for japanese who engage In agrlenl-
ture in America.