The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-03-13
JAPANESE SPEND
 ENTIRE DAY HERE Consul-General and Banker
 Visit Steel Plant AMAZED AT THE Bl5 PLANT Took Lunch With Robert Jemson, Jr., at the Southern Club and Made a
 Visit to EnsIey In Pri-
 vate Car.
AMAZED AT THE BI1 PLANT

K Mdzuna, Japans consul-general New York. and K Fukui, representing Mitsui & Co.,, Japans greatest banking concern, and for two and a half years resident in New York, spent yesterday in Birmingham. They are travelling to- gether through the south on a tour of observation, and brought letters to of ficials of the Tennessee company and Robert Jemison, Jr. The letter to MT. Jemison was from the president of the General Electric company, and in 1t he said that during the past 20 years he had had large business transactions in Japan and that he had never lost dollar there. He paid high tribute to the two gentlemen whom he was in- troducing and to the Japanese people in general.
 Consul general Midzuna and MT. Fukui were the guests of MT. Jemison at luncheon at the Southern club at 1:30 o'clock, and at 8 o'clock they pro- ceeded to Ensley in the Tennessee com pany's private car, accompanied by MT. Jemison, Ross c. Smith, John l.. Raul, F. A. Burr and others.
 Each of sthe visitors made a fine i'm pression on those citizens who met them. The consul general appears to be between 30 and 35 years of age, and MT. Fukui between 25 and 30. Both young men gave evidence of ripe cul- ture and quick penetration. They spoke the best of English and with very little foreign accent. The con sul-general has been in this country only a year, but he proved himself to be thoroughly conversant with Ameri- can institutions, political, commercial and social.
 "The people. of Japan, said MT. Midzuna, "have great esteem for Mr. Roosevelt. And as for President Taft we feel that he is the right man in the right place. His visits to Japan have brought him in close touch with us and every one has the utmost confidence in his sincerity and the highest regard for his ability. He should make a most excellent President. The better Ja- panese and Americans know each other the closer will be the bonds of friend- ship. We know we have great na- tion and we have unbounded admiration for the United States.
 America has exceptional advantages in Japanese trade. American made goods give our people the highest sat isfaction and they reach us more promptly than do our imports from oth- CT countries
 In speaking of the Tennessee com panys steel plant both of the visitors expressed themselves as amazed at the magnitude of the operations at Ensley and at the modern appearance of every thing connected with the steel making industry there.
 Birmingham may well be called the 'Pittsburg of the south,'" said MT. Fukui. "We have visited Pittsburg and seen the great iron and steel plants in the Pittsburg district.
 Tn Pittsburg steel making is on a vast scale; but considering the newness of Birmingham wonderful strides have been made here and 1t Is only ques- tion of time when this district will overtake the older iron and steel cen- ter
 I've Japanese are deeply interested in both the steel industry and the cot ton industry of this country for we are large buyers, and will be still larger buyers, of American steel products and of the output of American cotton mills. The improvement in your manufactur- ing economies means better bargains for us."
 MT. Midzuna and MT. F'ukui came to Birmingham from Jacksonville, Fla, 11ft Toe ,frhf fAr l. From Memphis they will proceed to St. Louis and from there they will go to Texas, ending their southern tour in New Orleans.