Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1907-11-21
The Industrial Spirit of Japan
By Thomas F. Willard.

The national spirit engendered by
the war with Russia has been already
shiIted by Ja"anese statesmen into
the pursuits of peace, where it is dl-
rected by the same firm hand that
controlled and carried to success the
military and naval operations. Persons
In all walks of life are joining with
remarkable enthusiasm in the move
ment to lift the nation into CONNIE.
cial and industrial supremacy in the
Pacific.
Since the end of the war with Rus
STA there have been capitalized. either
as new enterprises Or increase OF old
capitalizations, 314 undertakings, with
an aggregate capital of SI97,I51.514
gold. This is nearly one-third the to-
tai capitalized industry of the coun.
Try previous to the war, which means
an increase within a few months of
IS per cent. These figures are some
what startling.
The enterprises represented in this
enormous capitalization cover a wide
field, but they nearly all belong in
category of what may be termed mod.
ern Industries In the sense applied in
Japan. For instance, there are fifty
one new electrical companies, with an
aggregate capital of $4,000, 900; ten
new navigation and dock companies
with total capital of $4,000. 200;
five new insurance companies with a
total capital OF 100000 five new
insurance companies with a total cap
ital of s7.500,000. New banking con.
Germs aggregate a capital of s11, 600.
600. There are eleven new steam rail
way companies with s6,500,000. while
old corporations have increased their
capital SS4.0o0,000. A great majority
of these corporations are conferred in
Toxic, Osaka and Kobe but they ex.
tend assistance to all parts of the EN-.
pire. To many of them direct govern.
ment assistance Is extended, while
nearly all of them had or hope to Sc.
cure stimulation through the govern.
ment by indirect methods.
The greatest enterprise of all has
not yet taken tangible shape. This is
the national corporation. with a pro-
posed capital of 100000, 900, for the
purpose of pushing Japanese com.
merce and interests In Korea ana
Manchuria. This great company, in so
tar as its components have become
public. is TO include the government.
with all the associated interests It
can marshal, and Is to be thrown open
to popular subscription. Wit, a view
20 Inducing the common people and
middle classes to invest. thus enlist
ing their sympathy and direct pecuni
airy interest In the success OF the
scheme. Ii is not possible 10 decide
at present whether this company will
be successfully launched. for il de-
pends upon contingencies not entirely
within the control Of its promoters or
the government
Persons who see. as any one may
by study of the japanese budget,
that the government is deeply In debt.
that II Is at its wits end to devise
means 10 secure enough revenue to
meet administrative expenses and in.
terest charges. that its pro rata taxa
ton is faT higher than in any other
large nation. and that its people are
the poorest, that the extraordinary
war taxes have been extended for
thirty years with no certainty OF being
able 10 remove them even then. may
wen be puzzled as 10 how all these