The sun., 1919-07-09

from seaweed, Is produced In practically
every part OF Japan where climatic
conditions are favorable, the prefeo-
lures OF Osaka, Kyota and Hyogo are
said to produce moro than two-thirds
of the entire production Of isinglass In
Japan. which was about 2.s0s,207
pounds. valued at ss77,ts2, In 1917.
The Japanese marine and IRE insur-
ance business Is showing great activity.
At the end OF 1918 there were twenty-sdx
insurance companies in operation. Since
January, 1919. Ave additional concerns
have been granted permission to conduct
this business Several of the marine In
surance companies recently organized
are controlled by large ship owners.
The development of the cocoanut oil
industry in the Philippines has been very
rapid, due to war conditions. The ex-
ports Of oil in 1913 amounted to $4,000
tons. as compared with $4,000 tons In
1917 and 10000 tons in 1916. There Is a
scarcity Of shipping to take copra to
Hull. England. and Marseilles, France.
which are the great centres for oil
crushing, hence II Is found more profit.
able to ship the less bulky oil to the
United States. A number of new oil
mills have been constructed In the Phil
ippines In order to fll the demand for
oil. but II Is a serious question whether
the present crushing capacity of the
Philippine mills Is not in excess OF the
normal supply OF copra.
The Philippine Islands tobacco exports
increased greatly in 1918. In that year
2s.7o0 tons Of tobacco were exported. as
anA ...lN L.. -
bulk Of this tobacco was shipped dur
ing the early months of 1918. and the
later months showed a marked decrease
The exports of cigars, however. showed
\ steady Increase during the entire year
the number shipped being 35s. 900. 900
valued at 100000. as against 1884.
100000 valued at $+.5oo.oo0 In 1917
Most Of this production was absorbed
by the American market. The increase
Is largely due to Government supervision
In order to guarantee the quality of al
shipments to the United States.
During the war the Japanese zinc in
dustry was very prosperous and larg,
profits were made on ore which was i'm
ported from Australia and the French
Indies. The signing OF the armistice
however. has dealt quite a blow to thii
ihuootTSs anu lS EtpOTtcu ttldt u COSt
$500 per ton to produce japanese zinc
while the market price IL only s1S7 pc
ton. II 10 expected that this will re
suit In a request Cor subsidies and i'm
port protection, since the deposits o
Japanese ore are Of such inferior quail
ity that competition with imported or,
cannot be met successfully.
There are said to be on sale II
Shanghai, China. more than 100 differ
snt brands OF soap. A recent three da,
investigation disclosed 81 separate
brands OF this number 35 were OF Chi
nese manufacture, 20 of British, s o
American. I OF japanese, 2 of Frencl
and Of German.
There are more motor cars on tn
streets OF Calcutta than any other kin,
/ Of vehicle. The number OF privatel!
owned cars Is said to be about 1000. an,
there are approximately 500 taxtca bs
; While this number OF automobiles seem
very small for city OF a million, tn
novelty OF automobiles and the purchas
ing power of the people must be takel
Into account. Il Is thought that Ameri
can cars will soon predominant on tn
streets OF India, and 1t is interesting L
note that all the motor cars importet
into the city Of Calcutta since the sign
ing OF the armistice and the removal o
the import embargo have been OF Amer
! lean manufacture.