Charlevoix county herald., 1917-11-30
JAPAN FIGHTING
HARD IN WAR FOR
WORLD MARKETS
Has Made Tremendous Strides
In Manufacturing and EI-
porting Since 1914
HER INDUSTRIES THRIVING

Has Captured Markets Held BY Other
Natlons-Trads to Australia Quad
rupied-suIidlns 100000 Tons o,
Shipping to Handle Export Expansion
In the past few years Japan has IN
dergone q tremendous industrial devel
opment The enormous progress made
by her In manufacturing and export
Ing since the outbreak of the war II
little realized in this country.
It is not fully recognised that Japan
u gradually changing from an agricM
tural to an Industrial country. and that
in her new drive to win some Of the
foreign markets she has captured con
siderable OF the business which wal
formerly held by this country. The
great expansion OF her foreign trade
since 1914 is shown by the Official re
turns of her trade In 1915.
Exports Far In Excess Of Imports.
During that year the total value OF
imports was 756 500. 900 yen. being an
increase OF 224.000. 900, while the ex
ports for the same period amounted to
1,127 500, 900 yen, being an increase OF
about 4l9 ,OO0, 900 yen. The actual ex
cess Of exports over imports for the
year waA 371, ,Oo0. 900 yen. as compared
with l70. 0.OO0.000 yen for 1915.
The changed position which has
taken place since the beginning Of the
war may be seen from the fact tnat
for the year 1914 there was actually
an excess In the value OF the imports
over exports of about 4,6O0.000 yen.
Cotton manufacture is one Of her
principal industries. and the statistics
show that the average number Of spin
dies working daily In Japan in 1914
(the latest available year, was nearly
2,60O,Uo Wool manufacture was not
carried on before the war to any great
extent, but It has now received a con
siderable 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 Iron ores being imported from
China. Japan has some 600, 900 tons
of shipping now under construction
and the industry 10 in . nourishins
condition. Her merchant marine con
sists OF i.170 steamers Of 1,704. 7St
tons, and s.1s7 sailing ships Of 672.40s
tons. Ocean going steamers exceeding
10000 tons number AS, with q total
tonnage Of 1,<7s.212 tons. Thirty-nine
ocean going steamers of 14o.23e tons
were launched from japanese yards In
1915.
May Use American Machinery.
1t might be added that japan 10 now
investigating the possibility Of using
American cottonspinning machinery
In their mills. The sxtsnt Of purchases
already decided on 10 estimated at
zoe, 900 spindlss.
How her credit stands may be seen
from the fact that her ~ per cent.
loan is quoted on the London Stock
Exchange at s1h. yielding at that
price, interest OF nearly per cent
Great Brttain's AZ per cent loan 10
quoted at 92K, SO We sesh the reia'
tive positions Of f~fbS>two countries
have changed q fsl4. Before that
fateful ting one would navs
dreamed hpaFins the two creoi.s.
,AlT@ Japanese manufacturers
have ouadrupled their exports TO Aus
tralia. Ships which in the past aver
aged a 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 SIX
market they have won the premier
position, and Australian shops are now
filled to overfowing with cheap Jap
anese silks.
The following Japanese goods are
now sold with great success In the
Australian market: Glasses, scientific
instruments, silks, Panama hats, cot
tons. toys, insulators. electric light ap-
paratus. camphor. sulphur oil, matches,
basketwars. rubber tires. bottles. por'
celain.
Japan's rapid Industrial and com
mercial strides will serve to intensity
the formidable competition which the
American manufacturer will have TO
meet both In domestic and foreign
markets after the war. They AFFORD
another striking proof Of the necessity
for restoring friendly relations be
tween capital and labor, securing few.
or and better business laws and
moulding q better public attitude 70
ward business so that American In
dustry may be rid Of its harassments