New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-10-05
Many New Steel.
Projects in Japan
Steps Taken by Shipbuild'
ing Concerns to Insure
Supply of Materials

Shipbuilding interests in Japan, be-
ing cut off from supplies OF ship plates
and other steel products which nave
heretofore been obtained mostly IN the
United States. are making large invest
ments in steel and iron works to insure
an independent supply of materials
Two projects of this kind are now uh-
der way in the vicinity Of Yokohama
according to 1.-THE Japan Advertiser
Ono of them. the Asano Steel Works,
calls for an investment Of S2,49Z'ooo'
and is being promoted by 5. Asano,
who is president Of the Togo kisen
Kaisha and the founder Of the Asano
Shipbuilding Company. These snip
wards. established only ten months ago,
are. it is reported, now operating at
full capacity. Ryozo Asano, son OF
the shipbuilder, left Japan about
month ago for the United States, 1t
being his intention to investigate the
steel industry in this country and make
purchases of the latest steel producing
equipment.
Secures Switzerland Patent
The Japan Steel Pipe Factory is
second new project being developed in
the Yokohama district. This company
Japanese advices state, is planning TO
produce steel on n large scale, the an
nual capacity of the factory when com
pleted being figured at 10000 tons. 1t
is said to have acquired from Switzer-
land patent for producing sponge
iron. a material for making steel. Min
ing rights have been secured.
The Japan Steel Company. at Muro-
ran. in the Hokkaido, the largest steel
company in Japan, is TO double Its
capacity Of s7,477 800. according to The
Advertiser" This step already has been
approved by the two British companies
that are interested in this corporation
Armstrong and Vickers. Mr. kaba-
yama. managing director of the com
pany, has been visiting London to ne
gotiate with the British companies on
this proposed stock increase. The ad-
ditional shares will be taken up equally
by these two companies and the Hok-
kaido Colliery Company. The three are
the sole stockholders of the Japan Steel
Company.
The increase Of capital has been pro-
sion Of the company's business, which
has grown prosperous during the war.
Other Important Projects
Several other projects for establish
ing iron works In japan are reported
by "The Japan Chronicle" The Tokai
Kogyo Kaisha, recently established, has
bought an extensive tract Of land in
suburb of Wakamatsu, where work
shops are being erected These will be
completed soon, and when the plant and
equipment are ready the company will
be able to turn out 10000 tons of ship
building materials, iron plate and rails
year.
Another iron manufacturing com
pany in course of hotation is the FuJi
Seiko Kaisha, with a capital OF S2,99l,-
600. The Nippon Kotetsu Kaisha also
recently invited subscriptions from the
public TO its capital of s498,5OO. In
further discussion of the subject, Inc
Chronicle" says:
There is, besides, the gigantic pro-
ioct OF the Kuhara family, of Osaka
with capital of s4,9S5,000. Mr.. Yasu..
kawa. we'll known mine owner OF
Kyushu. has acquired an iron mine IN
China and is arranging to establish
company with capital of S4,965,OOO
for the purpose of exploiting 1t. The
Togo Seitetsu Kaisha has lately in
creased its capital to Sl4,955,0OO and
has bought an extensive site in Kyushu
for new workshops, the building of
which will be begun in April next
When these new factories have been
completed the company will be able to
produce 10000 tons of pig iron year.
| OF this quantity $4,000 tons will be
supplied as pig iron, and out of the re-
/ naming $4,000 tons it is planned to
produce $4,000 tons of steel. II will
| be a year or two, however, before the
new workshops of the company are in
| full working order.
Government Foundry Extended
"In addition, the South Manchuria
Railway Company and the Okura Com
pany have launched projects for large
undertakings in China. The Mitsu-
bishi and the Kawasaki Backyard COM
/ panies are credited with similar pro-
! jects. The government iron foundry,
! at Wakamatsu. is carrying out very
large extensions Of its operations, the
plan spreading over five years up to