The Washington herald., 1908-06-21
JAPANESE INDUSTRY GROWS
New Factories Established and 9th
er Enterprises Rapidly Multiply.
Manufacture Covers n Wide Field,
Though Much Attention Is Paid
TO Making Little Things.

Newspapers published In Yokohama,
Japan. are full OF references 70 the great
Industrial progress Of the nation. Ex-
tracts from them sent 70 the Bureau OF
Commerce and Labor contain the follow
ing statements:
Among the important new companies
projected in the Kwansai district are two
celluloid companies. one at sakai and
the other at Aboshi. near HimejL The
Oriental Colonization Company project
ed by the government. and the First
Hotel Company. with capital OF $30o0-
60. in cooperation between japanese add
Americans. are other important enter
prises.
There is to be an attempt at locomo-
tive construction in Japan. The Imperial
Railway Bureau has decided 10 make
the experiment OF building a-e engines
at the Hyogo Railway Works. One cn-
gine was recently completed, and is row
being used for shunting, with. II is stat
ed. satisfactory results. After the trial
Of the five engines now being built. the
question whether al the engines required
in Japan shall be built in the country
will be decided.
The Kanegafuchi Spinning Company Is
about 20 construct a new mill at Sumoto
Avail The Kanegafuchi have already
one mill on the island near Sumoto. The
new mill is 10 be devoted 10 the produc-
ton OF fine yarn and shirtings. Il Will
be fitted with 2oOo0 spindles and 800 looms.
and is expected TO be completed in eight
months.
There are at present in Japan 90 time
piece factories-1 in Tokyo. In Osaka.
and p in Nagoya. The annual output Is
2oq.792 standing clocks, Al. 755 hanging
clocks. and $3.50 watches, representing
a value OF SS4sdo.
A law was passed in March for the re-
endorsement Of the tax paid on sugar
used for condensed milk manufactured
In Japan. The industry OF condensed
milk is little developed. the demand be-
ing almost entirely supplied from abroad.
Statistics show that the total imports Of
condensed milk during 1906 amounted to
over 60. 40 dozen, valued at S754 000 gold
In Japan there are only a few factories
for preparing condensed milk. the most
important being one at the HOkkaido
Agricultural College. while there are two
or three factories IN ShizGoka prefecture
and IN the vicinity OF Tokyo and Yoko-
hama The supply OF milk is very small
in Japan. the number Of milch COWS al
present being only $3.50. Condensed milk
imported into Japan now pays a tax OF
10 yen per 100 kin (S49S per l32 pounds).
The manufacture Of shell buttons was
introduced into Japan by a German about
twenty years ago. and factories have
since been started In Osaka. Hyogo.
Wakayama, and other PLACES. Raw ma
terial Is imported from India and the
South Sea Islands. The principal destina-
ton Of the buttons is Germany and
France. whence they are re-eXported 10
other countries. II is stated that lately
orders have been received by manufac-
turers direct from Europe
At present Osaka Is the center OF the
shell-button industry there being in the
city over 60 factories. while there are u
or Is in Hyogo and Wakayama. 8 OF I in
Mie, and each in Ishikawa and Oita.
There Is one factory In Okayema which
IS devoted to the manufacture OF buttons
from the mOther-of-pearl. The value OF
buttons exported last year amounted 10
$272. 500, against sl69, 800 in 1906 and S74SOO
in 19lS