The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1906-02-11

planted in rows. which are either
straight or curved, never crooked, and
we have scarcely seen a weed. Fer
tilizer is extensively used, being kept in
stone or cement watts protected from
the weather by a StraW-cOVered shed.
Most travellers land at Yokohama and
depart at Kobe, or land at Kobe and
depart at Yokohama, these being the
two principal ports. AS these are about
300 miles apart, one has chance to see
much of the farming land from the rail-
road. The side trips from Toxic to
NikkO, from Yokohama to MiyanOshita
and from KyOtO to Nara, give addition
al opportunities for seeing the farmer
at work, but the ride from Kobe west
to ShimonOseki surpasses any of these
IN interest and in beauty of scenery
As this route leads along the sea coast.
as we'll as through densely populated
valleys, there is greater variety Now
one skirts the Inland sea, with its nu-
merOus Islands, its transparent waters.
its little harbors and its fleets of fishing
DOatS; now be winds his way along a
stream with falls and rapids spanned
by fra1 foot bridges, or by stone wagon
bridges. On the one side he sees a
bamboo grove and on the other a tinv
graveyard or a little hill dedicated to a
ShIntO shrine-stOne steps ascending
along a shaded path from the sacred
gate, which invariably marks the en-
trance to holy ground. In passing over
TINS railroad route one gathers a large
amount Of Information concerning the
Industries of the sea coast. as well as
those of the inland, and besides can
visit the ShimOnCseki strait, which is Of
historic interest to Americans. The
Sanyo railroad, which connects Kobe
and ShimOnOSeki, is we'll equipped and
well managed, and has built an excel
lent MOTEL, the SanyO, at Shimonoseki
for the accOmn OdatiOn of its patrons
From this point q steamer runs to Flu
san, the nearest Korean port, where di-
rect connection is made for Seoul, the
Korean capital. From Moi, just across
the strait from ShimonOseki, one can
take train to Nagasaki, the western
seaport Of Japan. At Shimonoseki one
is shown the house in which MARQUIS
Ito and Ii Hung Chang drafted the
JaDanese-Chinese treaty in 1894
Mining is an industry of cOnsidera bile
Importance here Gold, silver and cop
per are found in paying quantities
More than s6,000,000 worth of copper
was exported last year One of the
gold fields on the island OF KVushu.
near KogOshima, gives promise of con-
siderable richness. Coal is found in
such abundance that the exports of this
commodity have amounted to nearly
= -
quality Of smOkeless coal has recently
been discovered I'm western japan
The islands also produce number of
varieties of valuable woods. The cam
phOr tree grows to an enormous size, a
gigantic statue of the Goddess of Mercy
in one of the temples at Kamakura. be-
ing carved from single camphor log
The value of the camphor exported
from Japan last year exceeded 81, 500, 900.
Among the hard woods suitable for
carving, cherry seems to be the most
popular
OF all the trees, however, the bamboo
IS the most useful. Just at this time.
when the returning soldiers are being
welcomed, it is present everywhere in
the form Of flag poles, and there is
nothing that equals It for this purpose:
long, slender, light and strong, it is
just the thing for flags and banners.
and when a little plume of leaves is
left at the top it is still more beauti-
full The bamboo is used for water
pipes and for fences, for furniture and
picture tubes, for dippers, baskets, fish
ing poles, flower vases, candlesticks,
wicker work. etc.
In wood carving the Japanese have
long been skilled. Specimens of work
done hundreds of years ago and testi-
flying to their taste no less than to
Lnelr 0eICneSS or hand may be seen in
the ancient palaces and temples.
Stone cutting is also an ancient in
dustry here. There is an abundance
of stone and granite, and the lanterns,
Korean lions and sacred gates have
furnished subjects for many a chisel.
Osaka seems to be the center of the
stone cutting industry.
The iron industry is represented by
an increasing number of establish
ments. In many instances workn1en
have been brought from abroad and
employed until Japanese artisans were
sufficiently trained to take their place.
Much of the iron work is still done i'm
little shops and by hand, although ma
chinery is being imported in large
quantities.
l visited tannery at Kogoshima and
found that the proprietor had spent
seven years in America learning the
business and that on his return he had
taught native help each branch Of the
business. He is now turning out an
excellent product.
One of the most promising industries
in japan is cotton spinning. There are
a number of factories already in opera
ton and new ones are building. I Wis