The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1905-09-09
BIG BOOM IN PEACE FOR
j. s. IN THE FAR EAST

than Offset by the demands for
works of peace. Of railway sup
plies an enormous amount will be
needed at once. Siberian railroad
will have to be almost entirely re-
constructed, and already hundreds
i of thousands of tons of American
rails are under contract for laying
down in Manchuria.
Active construction is being
pushed-and, with the war ended,
will be pushed more vigorously-on
the extension of the Peking- Hankau
| railway also on the Canton-M Macao
railway, a 100000 concern back
ed by Portuguese and Chinese cap
ital; the Picking Syndicate railway
from Tsecheu to Taokau; the
France & Southern railway in the
Yunnan province; not to mention
other railroad extensions and i'm
prOvementS.
Korea is to become a field for
commercial exploitation under the
auspices of Japan. Our commerce
with Korea before the outbreak of
the war had grown from 100000
Or 100000 in 1890 to SIS ,O0O, 900.
Japan will be the strongest bid
der and most active competitor of
the United States for a foothold in
the markets of Korea-as probably
also in China in some lines of
goods. Reports come now from
| there that the canned goods and
woven fabrics of the Japanese are
beginning to drive out the Ameri-
can and English articles. Just what
rights of commerce the United
States will have in the markets
of Korea, or just what special ad-
| vantages the new treaty may guar
antee Japan as against the outside
| world, have not yet developed.
Our friendly relations with Japan
are reflected in the trade figures.
All the notable increases in Japan's
purchases have been in the markets
of the United States and Great
Britain, her ally. Germany has not
| shared in the expansion of the Jap
| anese commerce to any large eX-
tCuIt iol pltC. oul ohal
was largest, amounting to SO per
cent over the previous year, but
Great Britain came in a close sec
ond.
Rice is coming to be great ex-
port from the United States to
Japan. In the past six months we
sent that nation $19,000,000 worth
of that commodity.
1t is unolficially reported that the
mikado is little alarmed at the
| great increase of rice as an article
| of diet by the Japanese, and the
government authorities are taking
steps to encourage the importation
the belief that it is more sanitary
and adapted to the physical needs
of the people.
| The Japanese navy and army are
at maximum of size and efficiency
and there is no need for any heavy
expenditures along that line. No
! doubt there will be new Japanese
loan to refund the bonds which
were taken by Japanese merchants,
at a lower interest, and in order to
release those funds for commercial
purposes. The United States banks
will take a good portion of these
new peace bonds" regarding the
investments as perfectly safe.
Then will follow the exploitation
and commercial development of the
new Manchurian territory and of
the island of Saghalien. In China,
| also, commercial ventures which
have hesitated in the face of doubt
as to whether Russia or Japan
would be the dominating power of
| the future in that field will take
new life.
AS to Russia, the rebuilding of
her navy will keep every American
| shipyard busy for long time.