The daily silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1903-1907, 1906-02-21
JAPANESE COAL KING OF The
FAR EAST.

Fears OF japanese commercial supie"
acy in the far east have received a
uraa. ;mpetus in the recent discovery
that Japanese coal is expelling English
coal from China. the West Indies ana
India and competing with Australian
coal throughout the Pacific, says the
New York Public Opinion. A great many
of the fears expressed for the future
for far eastern trade may be fanciful
but the one of the present day that is
real. Commercial supremacy depends to
a certain extent on the coal supply OF
a country Manchuria and China have
immense coal beds and a recent article
in the Tour du Monde of Paris shows
that her infant coal trade is already be-
ginning to justify the fears expressed
by a large part of the commercial world.
Before 1890 the total amount of coal
mined in Japan varied between 100000
n 100000 tons a year:
p6t Sh0dchiy
was given this industry and the coal
mines followed the immense strides
made by the japanese trade and COM
merce in general. The mines were fit
ted out with new machinery. connec-
tions were made with the railroads. and
In 1902 the total amount of coal mined
was $500, 900 tons. At first fifty per cent
of this total was consumed in the home
country and the rest exported, and tie
1887 Japan exported coal to the value OF
81, 800, 600. in 1880 the exp ,rLation Vas
s., 400, 900, an din 1892 japanese cal had
s~upplanted English coal in most eastern
markets from the north Of China to
Singapore, although England had pre-
viously been the only country which
furnished coal to this section. At Hong
Kong. where 100000 tons are consumed
annually. only Australian coal and that
of Tcnkinr can compete with the Jap
anese article. and the same is true for
Singapore, where Japanese coa costs
only 1926 a ton as compared with IS for
English.
Toward the east Japanese coal goes
as far as San Francisco competing with
Australian coal. In 1893 the Japanese
took advantage of the great mining
strike In England to strengthen them
selves in India, where Japanese coal
coasts half as much as English coal.
and since hat time the Japanese coal
trade has constantly increased. The ex-
p~ortation Of coal In 1887 was IS. 300, oO), in
1901 10000 900. in 1904 the amount, $780,
900. was small because of the war; he
Japanese, now have control of the mar
kets In the Philippines. Hawaii, Indo-
China. China. Korea. Siberia and per-
tons Of the western coast of America.
The price of japanese coal. however
has increased, Of late. In 1896 It was
possible to obtain good coal at g a
ton, but, since that time the price has
gone up as high ~ s.:
The islands in which Japanes. coal
fields are found are Kyushu the most
southern of Japan) with twelve coal
fields. Nippon (the central island and the
largest Of ali) with Ave beds. and Yezo
tthe most %northern) with four coal cen.
ters. In the Kyushu mines the coal is
very fat n has great heating power
the best known coal coming from thu
Mike mine; this mine has a capacity Of
1900 tons a month. and is situated In
the west of the island. There are also
found on the island OF Kyushu mines Of
anthracite. but not in large quantities
This island. however. furnishes three
fourthsn Of Japanese coal. and conser
quently the coal ports are the most i'm
portant in Japan. The Ave mining dis
tricts OF the island Of Nippon all produe
anthracite, the islsnd Of Yexo only bi
tuui1ous. nut 81 . v~sys lard SasGsey.