The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1908-11-19

been undertaken by any other people
we deem any such criticism at this time
improper.
"There is no installing the onward
and upward trend of commerce, manu-,
featuring, and education in Japan. She
has within her the elements of a very
high civilization and her people are not
blind to these factors.
FtThe commerce of Japan has had a
rapidity of growth unequalled by any
other modern nation. The Japanese
build, man and navigate their own ships
and they have built ships which seem
equal to the best that ply the Pacific
Ocean.
"Many of their manufacturing plants
are on large. scale and are in con-
formity with the latest models of either
Germany, England or the United States.
| In one of the cotton spinning factories
which we visited, the sanitary arrange.
ments were nearly perfect. There was
school for the education Of some of
the employees and the children of the
employees, theater, tea house, hospital,
boarding house, sleeping apartments
and such employees as were furnished
food were given it at less than one-half
of its actual cost. We were advised
that there were many other manufaetur-
ing institutions adopting like measures
for the comfort and benefit of their
employees.
"While we found the wages paid in
the factories small as compared with
wages in America, they were sufficient
to enable the employees to accumulate
savings, as the cost of living in japan
is extremely low.
cit is a mistaken idea to believe
that the japanese are an underfed peo-
pie. Their diet, while simple, is whole
some and well prepared. The japanese
people as rule do not wear the heavy
clothes of the Caucasians. They are,
however, gradually adopting the dress
of the Western nations.
''In almost every instance where the
school children met us the boys were
clothed in uniforms of blue with caps to
match, and they all wore shoes and i'm
pressed as by their very orderly appear
ance.
"Years ago Japan borrowed from the
United States our school system, and
education is compulsory. The school
house there has become a sight as com
mon as in America. The eagerness of
the ordinary japanese children to gain
an education is remarkable, and they
seem to learn readily. English is quite
generally taught. Thus far those who
are educated in modern ways seem to
cooperate in the advancement of every
thing that benefits their country to a !
degree surprising to foreigners.
lowing to the country being noun
famous and having heavy rainfall, |
there is an almost incalculable amount |
of water power that can be developed |
Already there are numerous electrical !
plants receiving their power from this
source.
''The mines of coal and copper and
oil fields are being developed. In fact, |
the people seem alive to all the things
which make toward the higher civil
cation of man, and they have the daring !
and the ability to put their thoughts !
into action.
"Their banking system is thoroughly |
organized and is great aid in the sup !
port and development of the industries
of the country. In fact, Japan IS awak-
ening is such and her geographical To-
cation is so favorable to trade and com
meree that it is probable that there is
as little danger of migration from that |
country to other parts of the world as
there is from France or England.
That the japanese are going to be
come great trading nation is appar-
ent. That the material development of
the Empire is going to make great de
mand for all the labor of their people |
is quite evident.
'We were impressed with the idea
that Japan has a great future. The
people of the United States ought to be |
proud of the friends which they have
in the Far East. The cooperation of
Japan and America is essential to the
uplifting of Asia.
Continued or Page Eleven.)