Los Angeles herald., 1909-09-10
JAPANESE PARTY
VISITS PORTLAND
COMMISSIONERS ENTERTAINED
BY 0REG0NIANS
BUSINESS MEN OF CITY SHOW
GUESTS GOOD TIME
Lumber, Flour and Salmon Industries
Greatly Interest the Nipponese.
Water Power Amazes
Orientals
fRy Associated Press. ]

IBy Associated Press
PORTLAND, Ore, Sept 9.-The hon
orary commercial commissioners from
Japan, who are in this country return
ing the visit of a similar body of
American trade representatives who
visited Japan year ago, arrived IN
Portland today, after spending five
days on Puget sound.
The visitors were made welcome by
a delegation from the chamber of COM
merce and by a large representation
of the Japanese residents of this city.
After breakfast the visitors were
taken on a sightseeing trip about the
city and this afternoon divided into
sixteen committees they were placed
temporarily in the hands of the busi-
ness men of the city and made ac-
quainted with the manufacturing and
other commercial institutions which go
to make UP the commerce of this port
They were especially interested in
the lumber, flour and salmon indus
tries and the development of the water
power of this section.
Express Amazement
Amazement was expressed by the
water power experts when it was ex-
planned to them that with 35,000,OO0
horsepower available in oregon but liz
tie more than one-tenth of the water
power of the state had been harnessed
and is producing power for commercial
purposes.
Baron Shibusawa delivered an ad-
dress today to the japanese residents
of the city.
The chamber of commerce will en-
tertain the visitors at a banquet to-
night.
Reviewing the growth of trade be-
tween the United States and Japan
and China, especially the development
of the wheat and flour business, IN
which he has been an important factor
for more than twenty years, Mr.. WI
cox said that in 1887 the value OF the
flour exported to Japan amounted to
but $4,000, while two years ago that
country imported 100000 barrels Of
-four, valued at over SS,000,00O.
Mr.. Wilcox referred to the increasing
activity of the Japanese in the cultl-
walton of wheat and the manufacture
of -four, and said that Japan is now
importing the raw product to some de-
gree from this country and manufac-
lures it in her own grist mills.
Greatest Drawback
"But the greatest drawback to our
Oriental flour trade" said the speaker,
has been the exceedingly high prices
necessary to meet the competition of
the worlds markets for our wheat.
1.-THE trade was established with
flour at $3.50 and SO a barrel, and now
is 81 and over, although the purchas-
ing power of the Orient has not ad-
vanced sufficiently to keep pace ana
maintain the increase.
"There is little prospect of American
wheat ever being cheap again. Win
the increase in our population and the
apparent standstill to which our pro-
duction of wheat has come, 1t Is not
probable that an eXportable surplus
of the United States will long continue
available for the 'orient, and eventually
the cereal foods of both China and
Japan must come from Manchurla'
from the great valley of the Sungarl,
where with improved methods of culti-
walton, harvesting and transportation,
China and Japan must look for their
supply of foodstuffs
Limit Approaches
UNLESS our wheat production in
creases more rapidly than our increas-
ing population may require, the limit
of our ability to feed the orient will
soon be reached. Meanwhile the fact
remains that the development of the
oriental -four trade has taken approx
mately one-third to one-half of the
surplus wheat of the Pacific coast, at
prices above a European basis at
prices which have advanced the value
acre to $50 and even to 500.
Ten years ago If fifty cents per
bushel could be had for wheat the far
mers considered themselves prosperous
while today the production has In
creased from 20000,000 bushels to So
900, 600 bushels, and the price advanced
to eighty and ninety cents per bushel.
at is not a great matter in bushels or
dollars compared with the millions of
Atlantic and gulf exports, but it has
been enough to bring progress and
prosperity to the farmers of the
northwest"
Referring to China, the speaker de-
cleared her development and commerce
lies today the prize of the worlds en-
deavor.
mot for the acquisition of her terri
tory, but for the opportunity for fore
ing upon her the blessings of modern
life-the privilege of there creating q
want which we may later satisfy"
Have Busy Day
The commissioners were busily occu-
pied with the varied program which
had been arranged for their entertain
ment. Sandwiched between breakfasts,
Iuncheons and dinners were automobile
and car rides about the city.
Personally conducted visits to several
of the great industrial plants of the
city gave the visitors an opportunity 10
obtain first hand information regarding
the various lines of trade which go to
make up the city's industrial independ-
ence and prosperity.
Tonight the visitors were the guests
of the chamber of commerce at BAN
ouet, covers being laid for 200.
In welcoming the visitors as bearers
of a message of peace and good will,
President William B. McMaster of the
chamber of commerce, who acted as
postmaster, expressed the belief that
their visit would tend further to in
crease and cement the highest esteem
and friendship existing between the
two nations.