The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1917-11-03
Has Made Tremendous Strides
I'm Manufacturing and Ex-
porting Since 1914.
HER INDUSTRIES THRIVING
s1as Captured Markets Held by Other
NatIops-Trade to Australia Quad
rupIed-BuiIdIng 100000 Tons Of
Shipping to Handle Export Expansion

In. the past few years Japan has I'M
dergone a tremendous Industrial devel
opment The enormous progress made
by her III manufacturing and export
ing since the outbreak of the war is
little realized in this, country.
It Ii not fully recognized that Japan
u gradually changing from an ag1icul-
fural to an Industrial country, and that
In her new drive to win some of the
forsign markets she has captured con
siderable OF the business which was
formerly held by. this country. The.
great ekpansion of her foreign trade
since 1914 is shown by the official re-
turns OF her trade in 1916.
Exports Far IN Excess OF Imports.
During that yearStne total value OF
increase of 224. 900, 900, while the ex-
ports for the same period amounted to
1,1275o0, 900 yen, being an increase Of
about 419. 900 900 yen. The actual ex-
cess of exports over imports for the
year was 81 900, 900 yen, as compared
with 10000, 900 yen~for 1915.
The p changed position which has
taken place since the beginning of the
war may be seEn from the fact that
for the year 1914 there was actually
an excess in the value of the imports
over exports of about 100000 ven.
Cotton manufacture Is one of her
principal industries, and the statistics
show that the average number Of spins
dies working daily in Japan in 1914
(the latest available year,. was nearly
2,E00,LJ0. Wool manufacture was not
carried on before the war to any great
extent. but it has now received a con-
side-able impetus. and Japanese fac
tories are executing orders from the
Russian Government.
The production of iron and steel
both in government and private works
has also. been very considerable, the
best i-cn ores being imported from
China. Japan has some 100000 tons
of shipping now under construction,
and the industry is In fiourishing
condition. Her merchant marine con-
sists of 2.17D steamers of 1,704, 7S5
tons, and 9,1s7 sailing ships of 572,40S
tons. Oceen-going steamers exceeding
10000 tons number AS, with a total
tonnage OF 1,428,212 tons. Thirtynfne
ocean-going steamers of 1925 tons
were launched from Japanese yards in
1916. 1'7's
May Use American Machinery.
1t might be added that Japan is now
investigating. the possibility Of using
American oottonspinning machinery
An their mills. The extent of purchases
already decided on is estimated at
200 900 spindles.
How her credit stands may be seen
6rom the fact that her Al per cent.
loan is, quoted on the London Stock
Exchange at Sly, yielding at that
price, interest of nearly 5 per cent.
Great Britain's Az per cent, loan is
quoted ut 92A, SO We see how the rela-
tive positions Of the two countries
have changed since 1914. Before that
Hateful time no one would have
Areamsd OF comparing the two credits.
Already Japanese manufacturers
navs Quadrupled their exports to Aus
straliA. Ships which in the past aver
aged q cargo Of $50 tons now bring to
Sydney $500 tons. The Japanese have
captured a great deal of the trade once
firmly held by American, British, Ger
man and French exporters. In the silk
market they nave won the premier
position, and Australian shops are now
Oiled to overlooking with cheap JAP
apese Silks.
.eThe following Japanese goods are
now sold with great success in the
Australian, market: Glasses, scientific
Instruments, silks, Panama hats. cot
GINS, toys, insulators, electric light APP
&9ratus, camphor, sulphur oil, matches.
tSsketwars. rubber tires. bottles, por-
cflain.
,eI1apan's rapid Industrial and COM
nercia1 strides win 4erye to intensity.