Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1914-01-10
EXPERTS BELIEVE
VALUABLE COAL IS
FOUND in JAPAN

Recent surveys made at lOJtma ian
island in Nagasaki Harbor) have con-
frmed the opinion Of experts that a
valuable deposit OF coal exists there.
Its quality is said to be the same as
that of the Takashima colliery coal,
and in quantity it is thought to equal
the Nakanoshima field near Nagasaki.
II this deposit proves as valuable as
1t is supposed to be. Nagasaki will
be most fortunate in having an abun-
dant supply of fine coal near the en-.
trance OF its harbor, and local bust
ness circles anticipate a revival OF
prosperity as the result OF the open
ing of this mine.
The Takashima coal mine, referred
TO above, Is the generic name of the
two collieries located at Takashima.
mura and Hashima, Takahama-murs,
both in the Province of Hizen, Maya
saki Prefecture, and owned by the
Mitsu Bishi Kaisha. and although this
company has been working continu.
ously day and night for the last 80
years, the area mined SO far is hard
ly one-third OF the total area Of the
remaining field. Takashima, Futago.
shima, Nakanoshima, and Hashima
are the. four principal islands OF the
coal field ..-~4 .-......'
Ia somewhat detailed description of
the various seams, shafts, and mine
equipment Installed or in contempla.
tionl of the Mitsu Bishi Co. in this
field will be loaned to interested Amer.
.ican firms upon application to the Blu.
reau of Foreign and Domestic Com.
merce, Washington, d. CT The coal
deposits of the Mitsu Bishi Co. to be
worked In the future are those Of the
Nakanoshima field and the field lying
between Nakanoshima and Takashi
ma.
Promising Mine Near Sasebo.
A very promising coal mine has
been discovered near Sasebo naval
station, Sasebo, Hino-mura, Nagasaki
Prefecture. 1t Is estimated by those
who have examined the outcroppings
and seams that the workable area ex.
ceeds 1880 acres, The mine abuts on
the seashore, and outcroppihgs Of the
seams may be seen in the land. Work
will shortly be begun on this mine,
and 1t is expected that this district
(Sasebol will, as consequence, be.
come very prosperous. The quality OF
the coal is said to be equal to the "a.
nous Mike coal. e. Il. 4 ~.
AS Sasebo has no direct rail con.
nection with Moi or with Nagasaki,
and Is, by water nearer to Nagasaki
than to Moi, 1t will be cheaper and
more convenient to ship this coal to
Nagasaki for export than il viii be to
send it to MojL the present great coal,
ing port Of Kiushu. This fact, in
connection with the discovery of work.
able deposits Of coal on Iojima, viii
give great impetus to the already
well-started Improvement of the com.
mercial condition of Nagasah. 1t is
quite possible that this mine win soon
be controlled by either the Mitsui
Bussan or the Mitsu Bishi Kaisha, as
all the important mines in Rfushu
have passed into the hands of one or
other of these companies by purchase
or through contracts.
There is q growing tendency to ia
yor American machinery in the Kin.
shu coal mines. Companies desiring
a share Of this business may be able
to obtain profitable orders by personal
here. In this badly
crowded, highly competitive field II is
useless for any firm to expect con-
sideration for goods not known to the
buyer, and not properly brought TO his
-.s5s5 .-,t.5 +,
NJ. X. X. to Change coaiing Base.
These discoveries of coal in the
of NagasaM lend additional
to the Nippon Yusen Kaisha's
Of its Intention to abo.
lish its coaling station at Mojf and =,
to establish base for its European,
Indian, and Australian lines at Maya
saki. Motifs position In Shimonoseki
Straits at the entrance to the Inland
Sea makes il a more convenient port
Of call than Nagasaki for vessels
bound to China, the East Indies, and
Europe; and, too, its proximity to the
great Chikuno coal fields is of great |
benefit to Moji, the cost Of transport.
ing this coal to Nagasaki making II
high in this port
But these advantages of Moi as a
eoaling port have been counter.balanc.
ed by its unsuitability as an anchor. !
age, due to the swift current through |
Straits, which has caus.
ed numerous collisions of vessels. 1t
was in order to avoid all danger of
such accident to it's new boats that /
the Nippon Yusen Kaisha decided to
remove its coaling base from Moi.
and it has been considering the change
10 Nagasaki for some time, but was
deferred by the price of coal here.
With the working of the deposits at !