Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-11-13
NEEDS LOCOMOTIVES
Japan May Soon Place a
Large Order in America.
WHY DR.. HIRAI Is HERE
Making Study of Railroads and of
Railroad Construction.
BUYING AMERICAN BRIDGES
Declared to Be Superior to Those of
England and Germany-Wants
Are Numerous.

That Japan is in the market for large
order of locomotives is evidenced just
now by the presence in the city of DR.. s.
Hirai and party of five distinguished
technical men from the land of the
mikado DR.. Hirai and his suite arrived
Friday night. The party is at the New
Willard.
DR.. Hirai is vice governor of the i'm
perial government railway Of Japan, and
his visit to America is to inspect Ameri-
can railroads and determine on the best
type of locomotive for use in Japan.
The country is in need Of large num-
Der of additional locomotives to keep
pace with the rapid strides being made
in the expansion of Japan's trade" re-
marked one of the party to a reporter.
I'm selecting the type of engine to be
contracted for DR.. Hirai is making ex-
haustive examination of the American
types of locomotives. For some time the
Japanese government has been undecided
as to just what type of locomotive is best
suited for its railway systems How
ever. you may be assured that when an
order is placed for the locomotives. bids
will be asked for. as they are by your
railway corporations
American Bridges Liked.
DR.. Hirai is an advanced worker in the
Japanese Industrial world. Besides max
ing an inspection Of American locomotives.
he is giving close attention to the mat
ter of bridge building. Speaking of bridge
work, Dr. Hirai said: II find that the
American bridge is far superior to both
the English and German construction,
and Japan is now purchasing only the
American style OF bridges. My country
is considering the purchase of a large
number of locomotives to meet the grow
ing needs of the service within the next
year. With a high appreciation of the
American railway bridge, it isNvery nat
ural that we should direct our attention
to your locomotives. However. we have
Japan really needs. but the visit of our
party will 'acQuafnt us with all the char
actertstics Of the American product"
Bids Will Be Invited.
Replying to- the query If the purchases
would be made. as a direct result of his
visit to this country. DR.. Hirai smiled and
said.
well, indirectly. You see our purchas-
ing is never offhand. We examine very
carefully what you Americans make and
what you are using. We use the same
system of purchasing that, is in vogue In
tniS country Japan aoVeTuseS Lor UiuS
and invites all foreign locomotive builders
to compete.
Japan faces the need Of more i'm
proved machinery every year. and loco
motives are only q part of that need.
Our country is advancing very rapidly.
and We are beginning to realize that 1t
takes a great deal of money to keep in
step with all the latest inventions in the
development of both resources and indus
trial improvements"
Baron Yasuga Uchida the Japanese am
bassador, entertained DIR. Hirai and his
party at an informal dinner at the en-
bassy on X street last evening.
The visitors will remain in the city over
Sunday viewing the public buildings and
other attractions.