The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-07-19
TEE FINANCIAL AND ECONOMIC
CONDITION or JAPAN.
1.-THE Ssvernment's Own Figure.

1.-THE Governments Own Figures.
The Seventh Financial and Economic
Annual OF Japan CIeon appears in the form
Of q volume Of 22S pages. 10 tells In figures
the story Of Jaran's remarkable develop
ment. u Ia a record of industrial, COM
mercial and financial growth and . state
ment Of present conditions in q land which
has leaped within only q few years from
isolation and obscurity into the forefront
OF the affairs Of the world.
From this source is compiled the follow.
ing summary OF the expansion Of the eco-
nomic life OF Japan since 1885 . shown
by this Official record. While there has
been an important gain in population the
increase in production and in trade has been
entirely out Of proportion to the increase
In population. The record shows 81. sos. e4a
people in Japan 10 1885 nj gives $500 .0i0.
exclusive Of Formosa and Sakhalin, for
the present year. The area Of Japan APP
proximates that Of California, but its density
Of population Is more than thirty times that
OF our big Western State. California has
n5 people 10 the square mile. while Japan
has more than 300. a density exceeded in
this country only by the District Of Column
bia. Rhode Island and Massachusetts. just
what California would be with a popula-
ton equal TO that of tho Japan OF to-day
one dares not even guess. A Japan with
CALIFORNIA; present number would greatly
simplify some Of the questions which are
now puZzling the world.
Using so cents as the gold value Of the
Japanese yen. which In sufficiently close
for all general purposes. il appears from
these statistics that the revenues Of the
country have increased from a little more
than $3i .oO0. 900 in 1885 TO a little more than
ssOs 900, 600 for the current year. A very
large part Of this lis Of course due 10 the
war with Russia. The revenues for the
years Immediately preceding that struggle
were in the neighborhood Of $50, 900, 900.
The expenditures for 1885 and 1907 are
within a few dollars OF the receipts. While
this shows an enormous increase in taxation
per capita the weight Of the burden il I'M
doubtedly offset to a large extent by an
increased ability 10 bear il. due 70 the i'm
provement in general conditions. For In
stance, We .es have practically doubled
since 1894.
In 1885 Japan's exports were valued at
SIS, 500, 900. and her imports at Sl4. eOO. 900,
respectively 40 cents and 80 cents per capita.
In 1905 they reached; Exports. s2ii SIS. 900.
and imports. 5000. 400. 900. or s4.34 and s4.2s
per capita. From 1899 to 1905 inclusive
imports exceeded exports. In 1905 exports
exceeded imports by about 81. 500. 900.
Theoretically the war period should have
increased imports, and as a consequence
of the military draft on the producing
class. should have decreased exports. This
theory was not borne out. There vas a
large increase in imports and a smaller,
though still considerable, gain in exports.
The average of imports for the years 1900
to 1903. inclusive. was about $4,000 900.
The year Of the war shows a Jump to
SPA, $50 900. The next year. 1905. shows
a decline 20 5000. 400. 900. The average Of
exports for the same four wear period was
SIPS. 0O0. 900. This increased during the war
year TO $40, 900 900. and to SPA. 900. 900 during
1905. The presumption is that there will be
continued increase in both currents. with
the larger gains on the export side.
The railway systems, both State and
private, show a total Of only 1854 miles
in 1885, as compared with 4,77p miles in
1905, which is just about t~hree-quarters OF
CALIFORNIA; mileage OF the same year.
The bank reports begin with the year 1897.
showing for that year 1911 concerns with
an authorized capital Of $3.50, 900, 900, a paid
up capital of sos, $50, 900. a deposit total
Of s., $50, go. 100, and balances Of sIsl. 400, 900.
The report for 1905 shows 2,22o banks with
authorized capital, s2e5 .OoO, 900; paid up cap
ital, si9s, 900. 900, and balances, s777, 900 900.
Deposits for 1909 are not given. but they
appear as in excess Of $4,000, 900. 600 for
1905. The average dividend rates for the
ten years are about 9.5 per cent. The Bank
- Ta..1 ~. -nsl ~ - A--s g.. th. I..S
eight years and the average of the Yokohama
Specie Rank is a little above that rate.
Development. progress. n expansion
are the war cries Of the Japan OF to-day.
Her activities will make new trade in old
fields. will open new markets. They will
also force some OF the older trading nations
to play the commercial game with greater
energy and intelligence. under penalty Of
being crowded out Of it unless new policies
and new methods are adopted.